From Darrell Griffith to Lamar Jackson: Revisiting Louisville's Sports Illustrated covers
Gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated is an iconic achievement.
Friday's news of mass layoffs at the magazine, which for more than a half-century has been a world-class source for sports writing and photography, has generations of readers reminiscing about their favorites.
With SI's future uncertain — the magazine and its website will still exist, just in a greatly diminished form — it's worth a trip down memory lane to revisit the covers cherished by Louisville Cardinals fans.
SI's cover database shows U of L with seven standalone covers since the magazine's inception in 1954. Factor in instances where future, or former, Cards have made the cut and you'll find more.
Here’s a look at 10 of the most memorable Sports Illustrated covers with Louisville ties in chronological order:
Louisville basketball's 1980 NCAA championship Sports Illustrated cover
The March 31, 1980, edition of SI featured Dr. Dunkenstein — Darrell Griffith — preparing to do what he did best as Denny Crum and the Cards beat UCLA to bring home the program's first national title.
Louisville basketball's 1986 NCAA championship Sports Illustrated cover
Future No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Pervis Ellison starred on the front of SI's April 7, 1986, edition to commemorate Louisville's victory over Duke for its second championship.
Sports Illustrated pays tribute to former Louisville football QB, NFL Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas, who played at U of L from 1951–54, went down as one of the best quarterbacks to ever grace the gridiron. Here's SI's tribute to the NFL Hall of Famer after his death at age 69:
Louisville football star Brian Brohm graces Sports Illustrated cover while at Trinity High School
For all the Brohm family has accomplished in the football world, Louisville offensive coordinator Brian Brohm is the only one with a Sports Illustrated to his name. The former Cards great was one of the faces of SI's four-part series on high school sports, published during his standout career at Trinity.
Louisville basketball's Terrence Williams among those taking center stage in Sports Illustrated's 2009 NCAA Tournament preview
Louisville was the No. 1 overall seed in the 2009 edition of March Madness; and Terrence Williams was one of several players getting the star treatment on SI's tournament preview issue. Williams and the Cards reached the Elite Eight, where they lost to No. 2-seeded Michigan State, 64-52.
Louisville's Peyton Siva stars on cover of Sports Illustrated's 2012-13 college basketball preview
The first of Peyton Siva's three SI cover appearances was the magazine's issue previewing the season that ended with U of L winning its third national championship.
Sports Illustrated cover featuring scene after Kevin Ware's injury commemorates Louisville basketball's 2013 Final Four berth
A photo taken during the heartbreaking aftermath of Kevin Ware's gruesome leg injury during Louisville's Elite Eight win against Duke turned into a touching tribute on the cover of SI's April 8, 2013, edition.
Louisville basketball's 2013 NCAA championship Sports Illustrated cover
As a foil to the Ware cover, SI chose to commemorate the Cards' victory over Michigan in the national title game with a shot of Siva and Luke Hancock celebrating. Hancock was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.
Louisville's Russ Smith opposite Kentucky's Julius Randle for Sports Illustrated's 2013-14 college basketball preview
Siva's backcourt running mate, Russ Smith, got his moment in the spotlight when he and UK's Julius Randle were featured dueling on SI's Nov. 18, 2013, issue previewing the college hoops season.
Lamar Jackson's first Sports Illustrated cover during Heisman Trophy season for Louisville football
In addition to being Louisville's first Heisman Trophy winner, Lamar Jackson is also the first to be featured on the cover of SI in a Cards uniform. This photo was taken during U of L's 62-20 romp over then-No. 2 Florida State, in which Jackson racked up five total touchdowns.
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Sports Illustrated covers: Remembering Louisville's best amid layoffs
