Former Air Force great Ben Garland in third Super Bowl
1/24/2020 10:51:00 AM | Football
2010 USAFA graduate starting center for San Francisco 49ers
Ben Garland, a 2010 Air Force Academy graduate and four-year football letterman, will be participating in Super Bowl LIV (54) when his San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs Feb. 2 in Miami, Fla.
Garland will be making his third Super Bowl appearance, as he was also a member of the Denver Broncos for Super Bowl XLVIII (48) in 2014 and the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI (51) in 2017.
Garland is in his sixth season in the NFL and first with San Francisco where he is the team's starting center. He is part of an offensive line that helped the 49ers rush for 285 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries vs. Green Bay in the NFC championship game. The team's 285 yards are the second-most in a postseason game in franchise history and sixth-most by any team in the postseason since 1970.
Known for his work in the community, Garland was recognized as the winner of the NFL's Salute to Service Award in 2018, honoring his efforts of support to former and present members of the military. As the recipient of the award, Garland received $25,000 from the NFL to be donated to his military charity of choice, with USAA donating an additional $25,000 to be spread across the five military branches.
Garland signed with the Denver Broncos in 2010. Shortly after, he was placed on the reserve/military list and served two years of active duty. Now as a veteran in the NFL, Garland has traveled on two USO tours, to Italy and Germany followed by Iraq and Kuwait. Additionally, he frequently donates tickets to military members, raises awareness about PTSD, and visits with young members of the military to inspire and encourage them. Garland spends his offseason as a member of the Colorado Air National Guard, where he works in public affairs.
Garland, who is a two-time NFL Man of the Year nominee, is a tireless worker in his community and works with a number of military nonprofits, including Merging Vets and Players, Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, Shepherd Center SHARE Initiative and TAPS. He works with Pigskin Patriots to help raise funds and donate time for camps for military children and with Children of the Fallen Patriots Foundation on granting college scholarship funds.
Garland played in 39 games at Air Force with 34 starts as a defensive lineman, where he collected 115 tackles, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. He started all 13 games as a senior in 2009 and recorded 45 tackles and 4.5 sacks while earning second-team all-Mountain West honors. He started all 13 games in 2008 and finished fourth on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss while adding 39 tackles and 4.0 sacks. He graduated with a degree in systems engineering management.
Garland attended Central High School in Grand Junction, Colo., where he was a first-team all-state honoree as a senior and graduated in 2006.
Garland will be making his third Super Bowl appearance, as he was also a member of the Denver Broncos for Super Bowl XLVIII (48) in 2014 and the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI (51) in 2017.
Garland is in his sixth season in the NFL and first with San Francisco where he is the team's starting center. He is part of an offensive line that helped the 49ers rush for 285 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries vs. Green Bay in the NFC championship game. The team's 285 yards are the second-most in a postseason game in franchise history and sixth-most by any team in the postseason since 1970.
Known for his work in the community, Garland was recognized as the winner of the NFL's Salute to Service Award in 2018, honoring his efforts of support to former and present members of the military. As the recipient of the award, Garland received $25,000 from the NFL to be donated to his military charity of choice, with USAA donating an additional $25,000 to be spread across the five military branches.
Garland signed with the Denver Broncos in 2010. Shortly after, he was placed on the reserve/military list and served two years of active duty. Now as a veteran in the NFL, Garland has traveled on two USO tours, to Italy and Germany followed by Iraq and Kuwait. Additionally, he frequently donates tickets to military members, raises awareness about PTSD, and visits with young members of the military to inspire and encourage them. Garland spends his offseason as a member of the Colorado Air National Guard, where he works in public affairs.
Garland, who is a two-time NFL Man of the Year nominee, is a tireless worker in his community and works with a number of military nonprofits, including Merging Vets and Players, Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, Shepherd Center SHARE Initiative and TAPS. He works with Pigskin Patriots to help raise funds and donate time for camps for military children and with Children of the Fallen Patriots Foundation on granting college scholarship funds.
Garland played in 39 games at Air Force with 34 starts as a defensive lineman, where he collected 115 tackles, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. He started all 13 games as a senior in 2009 and recorded 45 tackles and 4.5 sacks while earning second-team all-Mountain West honors. He started all 13 games in 2008 and finished fourth on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss while adding 39 tackles and 4.0 sacks. He graduated with a degree in systems engineering management.
Garland attended Central High School in Grand Junction, Colo., where he was a first-team all-state honoree as a senior and graduated in 2006.
Football Press Conference - September 30th, 2025
Tuesday, September 30
Tim Jefferson - Hall of Fame SPEECH
Monday, September 29
Tim Jefferson - AF Athletics Hall of Fame Induction video
Monday, September 29
Air Force Football falls to Hawai'i on September 27, 2025
Sunday, September 28
