As Super Bowl LX approaches, Alabama’s football roots will be on full display under the bright lights of Levi’s Stadium. Thirteen players who honed their skills in the Heart of Dixie-either at Alabama high schools or colleges-are suiting up for the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks when the two teams clash on February 8 to decide the NFL’s 2025 champion.
This year’s Super Bowl matchup was set after a pair of gritty conference championship games. The Patriots edged out the Denver Broncos in a defensive slugfest, 10-7, to take the AFC crown, while the Seahawks outlasted the Los Angeles Rams in a 31-27 thriller to punch their ticket from the NFC. Now, the stage is set in Santa Clara, and Alabama’s football pipeline is front and center.
Crimson Tide and Auburn well represented
The Patriots’ defensive front will feature Christian Barmore, a disruptive interior lineman out of Alabama, and linebacker Anfernee Jennings, who starred at Dadeville High before suiting up in Tuscaloosa. Add in tight end CJ Dippre, another Alabama product, and it’s clear the Tide’s impact on New England’s roster runs deep.
On the back end, the Patriots are also leaning on cornerbacks Carlton Davis (Auburn) and Marcus Jones, who played his high school ball in Enterprise and later at Troy. Safety Dell Pettus, another Troy standout from Sparkman High, adds more Alabama flavor to the secondary.
Seattle, meanwhile, brings its own wave of Alabama talent to the big game. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, who came into his own at Alabama, is one of the more intriguing names to watch. He’s joined by fullback Robbie Ouzts, offensive tackle Amari Kight (Thompson), and defensive stalwarts like nose tackle Jarran Reed and cornerback Josh Jobe-all of whom wore the Crimson Tide uniform.
The Seahawks’ Auburn lineage is strong as well. Linebacker Derick Hall and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett both made their names on The Plains and now find themselves on football’s biggest stage.
Practice squad players waiting in the wings
Both teams will have the option to elevate two players from the practice squad for the Super Bowl, and that opens the door for a few more Alabama-connected names to make an impact.
The Patriots have wide receiver Jeremiah Webb, a South Alabama product, waiting in the wings. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have three South Alabama standouts on their practice squad: linebacker Jamie Sheriff, nose tackle Bubba Thomas, and running back Velus Jones Jr., who also played high school ball at Saraland.
While these players may not be on the game-day roster just yet, don’t count them out. Super Bowl week often brings surprises, and depth can be the difference between a ring and a runner-up finish.
One sidelined, but still part of the journey
Unfortunately, one Alabama native won’t be suiting up on Super Bowl Sunday. Seahawks safety A.J.
Finley, a product of St. Paul’s Episcopal, is on injured reserve and will miss the game.
Even so, his contributions throughout the season helped Seattle reach this point, and he remains part of the team’s championship push.
Alabama ties extend to the sidelines
The Alabama connection doesn’t stop with the players. Several coaches on both sidelines have ties to the state’s football programs.
Seattle’s defensive assistant and linebackers coach Josh Bynes played linebacker at Auburn from 2007 to 2010. On the Patriots’ side, offensive line coach Doug Marrone spent time coaching Alabama’s offensive line in 2021, while defensive assistant Milton Patterson was part of Alabama State’s strength and conditioning staff in 2017.
The Seahawks’ coaching staff is especially loaded with Alabama connections. Offensive passing game coordinator Jake Peetz served as an analyst at Alabama in 2013 and again in 2018.
Defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Karl Scott was the Tide’s DBs coach from 2018 to 2020. And defensive assistant Neiko Thorpe, who played at Auburn from 2008 to 2011, now helps guide Seattle’s secondary.
A showcase of Alabama football’s reach
From the trenches to the secondary, from the quarterback room to the coaching booth, Alabama’s football influence is all over Super Bowl LX. Whether it’s the blue bloods of Tuscaloosa and Auburn or smaller programs like South Alabama and Troy, the state continues to be a fertile ground for NFL talent.
When the Patriots and Seahawks take the field in Santa Clara, it won’t just be a battle for the Lombardi Trophy-it’ll be a celebration of how deep Alabama’s football roots run in the fabric of the NFL.