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Penn Hills grad Flynn part of Super Bowl honors | TribLIVE.com
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Penn Hills grad Flynn part of Super Bowl honors

Michael Love
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Ken Reabe Jr. | For The Tribune-Review
Penn Hills athletic director John Peterman (right) presents Tom Flynn, Penn Hills graduate and member of the National Football League New York Giants' Super Bowl XXI team, with a golden Wilson football during a ceremony prior to a basketball game on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at Penn Hills High School. Wilson presented the commemorative footballs to roughly 3,000 players and coaches, along with over 2,000 high schools where they played, in recognition of their participation in one of the past Super Bowl games leading up to the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl in 2016. Flynn, who now resides in Murrysville, was a defensive back out of the University of Pittsburgh when selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1984 NFL draft. He played in Green Bay from 1984 to 1986, and for the New York Giants from 1986 to 1988.

Murrysville resident Tom Flynn, who starred on the football field at Penn Hills and the University of Pittsburgh before a five-year career in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants, was recognized for his participation in Super Bowl XXI before Friday's boys basketball game between Franklin Regional and Penn Hills at Penn Hills High School.

The NFL is marking its 50th Super Bowl this season, and it is celebrating the players and coaches of the past 49 Super Bowls.

More than 3,000 players and head coaches and more than 2,000 high schools are being recognized.

As a member of this group, Flynn was honored as Penn Hills' representative, and a commemorative golden football produced by Wilson was sent to Penn Hills High School in his honor.

Flynn helped the Giants defeat Denver to cap the 1986 season and claim the Super Bowl title at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

That season, Flynn, a safety, was cut by Green Bay and later signed by the Giants. He gained a measure of revenge in a late-season game between the Packers and Giants by blocking and returning a punt for a touchdown.

“When I joined the Giants, they were on fire,” Flynn said. “It was such a special time for me. It was such a big deal. As the years go by, there are so many great memories to remember.”

The 1986 Giants team finished 14-2 in the regular season, won the NFC East and outscored the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins 66-3 in the NFC playoffs.

Flynn lives in Murrysville and has four children, Zach, Jake, Jillian and Zane.

Zane is a current member of the Franklin Regional boys basketball team.

For additional information, visit www.NFLFoundation.org.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-388-5825 or at mlove@tribweb.com.