Florida Gators Football: Tim Tebow and Other Gators in NFL Playoffs

Hey, have you heard? Tim Tebow led the Denver Broncos to an overtime playoff victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend.

He wasn't the only former Gator to suit up last weekend. In fact, had Maurkice Pouncey been healthy, Pittsburgh would have lined up UF alums at right tackle (rookie Marcus Gilbert), left tackle (Max Starks) and center (Pouncey).

The games will continue this weekend. Here is a look the former Gators who will be participants.

New Orleans at San Francisco (4:30 p.m. Saturday)

Gator Saints: There won't be a single one-time Florida player suiting up for New Orleans, though offensive tackle Phil Trautwein is a member of the practice squad.

Gator Niners: San Francisco has just one former Gator, Ray McDonald, on its roster.

A fifth-year defensive tackle, McDonald has started all 15 games he has played in this year and is one of the cornerstones of one of the league's top defenses.

He enters the Saints' game with 39 tackles (29 solo), 5.5 sacks, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The tackle, sack and forced fumble totals are career-bests.

Denver at New England (8 p.m. Saturday)

Gator Broncos: Tebow has captivated America and became the most famous white Bronco since the O.J. chase. In case you didn't know, he shattered the mold—according to a mix often played on ESPN's First Take.

And why not? After taking over for Kyle Orton on a 1-4 team, Tebow has since led Denver to an 8-4 record, including last week's defeat of the Steelers.

For the season, he is 126-of-271 for 1,729 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has carried 122 times for 660 yards (5.4 YPC) with six touchdowns.

But, even though it may seem that way at times, he's not the only Bronco on the roster. He's not even the only former Gator on the roster.

Defensive tackle Marcus Thomas had a troubled career in Gainesville, but he seems to have grown up while in the NFL.

Thomas has started 11 of the 12 games he has played in this season, recording a career high in tackles (43, with 29 solo) to go along with a pass break-up. He had a season-best nine tackles in Denver's 43-29 loss to New England in Week 15.

Former UF defensive end Derrick Harvey has recorded four tackles in five games this season, and his college roommate and close friend Cornelius Ingram is on the Broncos' practice squad.

Gator Pats: Due in part to a good relationship he has with former UF coach Urban Meyer, New England coach Bill Belichick has always liked Gators.

In fact, he drafted three of them (outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, inside linebacker Brandon Spikes and tight end Aaron Hernandez) in 2010. He was said to be looking at Tebow, had he dropped out of the first round.

Hernandez is half of the NFL's best tight end tandem (along with Rob Gronkowski), and he has had a productive second season.

In 14 games (12 starts), the Connecticut native has 79 receptions for 910 yards with seven touchdowns. He also has five carries for 45 yards.

Spikes has played in eight games, starting six, in an injury-plagued sophomore campaign. He has 47 tackles (32 solo) and a pass defense.

Eleven-year veteran defensive tackle Gerard Warren has been a key reserve, recording 12 tackles (eight solo) with a sack and a fumble recovery.

Cunningham is on injured reserve.

Houston at Baltimore (1 p.m. Sunday)

Gator Texans: There are no former Florida players on Houston's roster.

Gator Ravens: There are no former Gators on Baltimore's roster, though starting outside linebacker Jarret Johnson (Alabama) played his prep ball in Chiefland, 35 minutes from Gainesville.

New York Giants at Green Bay (4:30 p.m. Sunday)

Gator Giants: The only former UF player with the Giants is rookie defensive end Justin Trattou, who has one tackle in six games.

One-time Florida commitment Linval Joseph, who grew up in Alachua (20 minutes from Gainesville), has started 15 of 16 games in this, his second year.

Joseph ended up at East Carolina after UF pulled his scholarship offer midway through his senior year at Santa Fe High School. Instead, the Gators signed Lakeland's John Brown, who ended up being a bust and ultimately transferred to Tennessee (where he was booted before ever playing), Joseph grew into a second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Gator Packers: There are no former Gators on the roster, though practice squad offensive lineman Sampson Genus grew up 35 minutes from Gainesville in Lake City and played his college ball at South Florida.

Also, Nick Collins, who scored a touchdown off an interception in last year's Super Bowl, grew up in Cross City—45 minutes from Gainesville—where he wanted to be a Gator. He had grade issues and ended up at Bethune-Cookman.

Collins injured his neck early in the season and is on injured reserve.