From QB to Champion: Chazz Surratt’s Unlikely Journey Ends with Super Bowl Glory
Super Bowl 60 gave us a little bit of everything - a defensive slugfest, a fourth-quarter scoring explosion, and a rematch 11 years in the making between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. But for those who’ve followed Chazz Surratt’s football journey, Sunday night’s game was something more: the culmination of one of the most dramatic position changes and career arcs in recent memory.
Let’s start with the game itself. Seattle controlled the tempo early, leaning on their defense to build a 12-0 lead heading into the final quarter.
That’s when the fireworks started - 30 points combined in the fourth, including a touchdown connection between two former UNC standouts, rookie quarterback Drake Maye and wideout Mack Hollins, who finally got New England on the board. But it wasn’t enough.
Seattle sealed the deal with a 29-13 win, bringing home their first Lombardi Trophy since 2013.
And while Maye and Hollins were making their Super Bowl debuts, it was another Tar Heel alum - Chazz Surratt - who walked away with a ring.
Now, Surratt didn’t light up the stat sheet in this one. In fact, he didn’t record a stat at all.
But his presence on the active roster was notable. Just days before kickoff, Seattle activated him from injured reserve, a quiet but significant move for a player who’s carved out a role on special teams and depth charts rather than highlight reels.
Surratt’s path to this moment is anything but conventional. Rewind to 2017 - he was North Carolina’s starting quarterback under Larry Fedora, starting seven of the nine games he played that season.
He threw for 1,341 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 210 yards and five scores on the ground. Not bad for a redshirt freshman.
But after redshirting again in 2018, Surratt made a bold decision: he switched sides of the ball.
By 2019, he was a First Team All-ACC linebacker and nearly won ACC Defensive Player of the Year. In 2020, during UNC’s COVID-shortened campaign, he was a semifinalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy - an award given to the best defensive player in college football. That’s the kind of transition you just don’t see often, and it speaks volumes about his athleticism, football IQ, and willingness to reinvent himself.
His NFL career started with the New York Jets, where he struggled to find footing amid a franchise that’s had its share of instability. But in Seattle, Surratt’s found something steadier.
He played in 11 regular season games this year, primarily on special teams, racking up 11 tackles along the way. Not flashy, but foundational - the kind of role that winning teams need.
And now, just four years into his pro career, he’s a Super Bowl champion.
Surratt’s story isn’t just about a position change or a team switch - it’s about persistence. It’s about adapting, evolving, and finding a way to contribute, even when the spotlight isn’t on you.
Sunday night, the Seahawks were crowned champions. And while the headlines will go to the stars, players like Chazz Surratt are the glue behind the scenes - the ones who grind, adjust, and help build a championship culture.
From quarterback to linebacker, from redshirt to All-ACC, from the Jets to the Seahawks - Chazz Surratt’s journey has been anything but ordinary. And now, it ends - or maybe just begins - with a ring.