There are a bevy of things that stand out about Super Bowl XLIX, but one thread remained true throughout the roller coaster game: in the NFL, it doesn’t matter where a player comes from. All that matters is if he can make a play when his number was called.

One of the most pivotal points in the game was the injury suffered by Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane as he returned a first-quarter interception of Tom Brady in the end zone. There was still plenty of game left – no one had even scored yet – but Tharold Simon proved to be an inadequate replacement as Lane never returned after injuring his arm. Simon was beaten on two of Brady’s four touchdown passes, including the game-winner to Julian Edelman with 2:02 left.

Lane is perhaps the most unheralded member of the Legion of Boom, but his absence spoke volumes about his importance. That wasn’t the way Lane and Simon were perceived coming out of high school – Lane played at FCS Northwestern (La.) State while Simon starred for state flagship and national power LSU.

Lane wasn’t the only significant player to come from obscurity and shine on the game’s biggest stage.

Before being promoted from Seattle’s practice squad on Dec. 6, wide receiver Chris Matthews’ last actual game experience took place with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Halfway through the game he looked like a potential MVP candidate with four catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. He was also one of the primary reasons the Seahawks were even in the game thanks to his onside kick recovery against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game.

The biggest play of the game was made by a rookie from a Division II school.

A year ago Malcolm Butler was starting for West Alabama. His final college game was played in front of a crowd of 2,843. In April, he went undrafted. On Sunday, he was making the first interception of his career on the goal line in the final minute of the Super Bowl.

“I just had a vision I was going to make a big play and it came true,” Butler said.

The Super Bowl success of Butler, Matthews and Lane demonstrates how significant the next few months of the offseason are to every team. A team needs stars to reach the Super Bowl, but it is the under-scouted gems who often step up for the unexpected play that turns a team into a champion.