Three Former NC State Standouts Headed to Super Bowl LX After Breakout Seasons
RALEIGH, N.C. - The road to Super Bowl LX has been anything but ordinary, and for three former NC State players, it’s ending on football’s biggest stage. Garrett Bradbury, Cory Durden, and Drake Thomas are all headed to the Super Bowl, capping off a postseason run that’s been as gritty as it has been inspiring. For NC State fans, it's a moment of pride - no matter who lifts the Lombardi Trophy, at least one Wolfpack alum will be bringing it home.
Let’s start in the AFC, where the New England Patriots punched their ticket with a hard-fought, 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos. It wasn’t pretty - in fact, it was a classic grind-it-out, defense-first kind of win - but it was enough to send Bradbury and Durden to their first Super Bowl appearances, both in their debut seasons with New England.
For Garrett Bradbury, this trip to the Super Bowl is the culmination of years of persistence and professionalism. After six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, including multiple playoff appearances, the veteran center finally gets his shot at the sport’s ultimate prize.
And it’s well-deserved. Bradbury has been a cornerstone for New England’s revamped offensive line all season - a steadying force in the middle who’s helped bring cohesion to a group that’s been crucial to the Patriots’ postseason success.
In the AFC Championship, the weather didn’t exactly cooperate. With conditions forcing a run-heavy approach, the Patriots leaned into the ground game, rushing 35 times for 141 yards. That kind of commitment to the run only works when the guys up front are winning their battles - and Bradbury was right in the middle of it, doing the dirty work that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet but absolutely shows up in the win column.
Cory Durden’s story, meanwhile, is one of perseverance. Undrafted out of college, Durden bounced around the league - from the Lions to the Rams to the Giants - before landing in New England.
He played in just eight games over his first two seasons. But this year, he stuck.
Durden suited up for all 17 regular-season games and carved out a meaningful role in the Patriots’ defensive line rotation.
Durden posted 43 tackles during the regular season, and while his stat line in the AFC title game was modest - one tackle - his presence was felt. The Patriots’ defense held Denver to just 181 total yards and seven points.
That kind of performance doesn’t happen without every piece of the rotation doing its job. For Durden, after years of fighting for a roster spot, this is more than a Super Bowl berth - it’s validation.
On the NFC side, Drake Thomas and the Seattle Seahawks are headed to Las Vegas after a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams. And if you’ve been paying attention this season, Thomas’ name shouldn’t surprise you. He’s been one of the most compelling breakout stories of the year.
Thomas started his career as a practice squad player and special teams contributor. This season, he became a full-time starter - and not just a placeholder, but a legitimate difference-maker.
His six tackles in the NFC Championship were just the latest example of his impact. Week in and week out, Thomas has been a tone-setter for a Seahawks defense that’s played with an edge all year.
By the end of the regular season, Thomas had put together a stat line that demands respect: 96 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, an interception, and a fumble recovery. That’s not just production - that’s playmaking. He’s evolved into a true three-down linebacker, and now he’s headed to the Super Bowl just three years after fighting to stay on an NFL roster.
So here we are - three former NC State standouts, three very different journeys, one shared destination. Bradbury, the seasoned vet finally getting his shot.
Durden, the journeyman who refused to quit. Thomas, the underdog who became a star.
All three will take the field on February 8 with a chance to cap off their seasons - and their stories - with the ultimate ending.
No matter which team comes out on top, NC State will be represented in the winner’s circle. And for the Wolfpack faithful, that’s already a win.