FARGO — Joe Haeg, a former North Dakota State offensive lineman, wasn't the only local connection to Tampa Bay's Super Bowl victory.
Jack Cichy, grandson of legendary Fargo Shanley head coach Sid Cichy , was a member of the Buccaneers' team that defeated Kansas City 31-9 in Super Bowl LV. Cichy, a third-year linebacker out of the University of Wisconsin, was on the team's injured reserve list and didn't play in the game.
That didn't stop him from celebrating. A photo of Cichy holding the championship trophy was posted on the Fargo Shanley High School alumni Facebook page.
Jack is the son of Steve and Lisa Cichy. Steve is a 1978 Shanley graduate and played on Sid Cichy's final Deacons team in 1977.
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The Bucs re-signed Cichy in early January after losing a pair of linebackers to the COVID-19 list. He was later placed on the injured list after those players returned.
Cichy began 2020 with Tampa Bay. He was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots, but they waived him after Cichy failed a physical. The Patriots then signed him to their practice squad.
Cichy played five regular-season games for the Bucs, all on special teams. He suffered a hamstring injury, spent time on injured reserve, then was waived by Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay drafted Cichy in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. Most of his three seasons in the NFL have been hampered by injuries.
Cichy went to Hill-Murray High School in Maplewood, Minn., before walking-on with the Badgers.
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Sid Cichy coached Shanley from 1948-1977, and made a name for himself and the Deacons nationally. He was home-run champion Roger Maris' football coach. Shanley won a state-record 53 straight games during his tenure, it won 13 state championships and had an unblemished postseason record in those three decades.
Steve Cichy was a high school All-American at Shanley and played college ball at Notre Dame .
