Drake Thomas is headed to the Super Bowl - and it's been one wild road to get there.
The former NC State linebacker, who went undrafted just two years ago, has become one of the Seattle Seahawks’ most reliable defensive players this season. And after a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, Thomas and the Seahawks are officially bound for Super Bowl 60, where they’ll face off against Drake Maye and the New England Patriots.
Thomas started the game and made an early impact with six tackles before exiting after 38 snaps due to a shoulder injury. He was listed as questionable to return, and while the Seahawks will be monitoring his status closely, the hope is he’ll be ready to suit up for the biggest game of his life.
And what a journey it’s been.
Coming out of NC State in 2023, Thomas didn’t hear his name called on draft weekend. He signed with the Raiders as a free agent but was waived before the season even began.
The very next day, Seattle picked him up - a move that, at the time, seemed like a depth play for special teams. That’s exactly where Thomas spent most of his first two seasons, logging just 42 defensive snaps across eight games.
Fast forward to this season, and Thomas has flipped the script.
After beginning the year as a backup, he cracked the starting lineup in Week 4 and never looked back. He’s started every game since, becoming a cornerstone of Seattle’s defense and earning a 73.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus - a strong mark that reflects his consistency and versatility on the field.
Statistically, Thomas’ breakout has been undeniable. He finished the regular season with:
- 96 total tackles
- 3.5 sacks
- 10 tackles for loss
- 6 quarterback hits
- 1 interception
- 1 fumble recovery
He ranked second on the team in total tackles and became a fixture in the Seahawks’ defensive rotation, showing the kind of sideline-to-sideline range and instincts that made him a standout in college.
Now, Thomas is preparing for the Super Bowl - and he won’t be the only former Wolfpack player on the field. He’ll be lining up against two familiar faces in Patriots center Garrett Bradbury and defensive tackle Cory Durden, both of whom also played at NC State. It’s a reunion of sorts, but with the highest stakes imaginable.
With this appearance, Thomas becomes the 13th former NC State player to reach the Super Bowl as a player. The list includes some notable names - Joe Thuney leads the pack with six Super Bowl appearances, tied for second-most in NFL history behind only Tom Brady’s ten. Other former Wolfpack stars like Russell Wilson, Torry Holt, and Steven Hauschka have also made multiple trips to the big game.
Here’s a look at NC State’s Super Bowl alumni:
- Joe Thuney - 6 appearances
- Jim Ritcher - 4
- Mike Cofer - 2
- Perry Williams - 2
- Mike Jones - 2
- Torry Holt - 2
- Russell Wilson - 2
- **J.R.
Sweezy** - 2
- Steven Hauschka - 2
- Garrett Bradbury - 1
- Cory Durden - 1
- Drake Thomas - 1
- (Bill Cowher - 2 - as a head coach)
Thuney’s six appearances put him in elite company, tied with Stephen Gostkowski and Mike Lodish, and behind only Brady’s legendary ten.
For Thomas, this Super Bowl trip is more than just a career milestone - it’s a testament to perseverance, development, and seizing the moment when opportunity knocks. From undrafted to indispensable, he’s become a key piece of a championship-caliber defense. Now, all eyes turn to Las Vegas, where the next chapter of his improbable rise will be written on football’s biggest stage.