As the NFL season barrels toward its grand finale, a pair of former Tennessee Volunteers are still standing-just one win away from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Super Bowl LX will feature the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, and while neither Josh Dobbs nor Velus Jones Jr. are likely to take center stage, their presence on the league’s biggest night is a testament to the winding, unpredictable nature of life in the NFL.
Let’s start with Josh Dobbs, the former Tennessee quarterback whose NFL journey has been anything but linear. Now backing up rookie Drake Maye in New England, Dobbs has seen limited action this season-four games, 7-of-10 passing for 65 yards, and 10 rushing yards on four carries.
On paper, those numbers don’t jump off the page. But anyone who’s followed the NFL long enough knows that backup quarterbacks are one play away from becoming the story of the night.
Just ask the Broncos, who had to scramble in the postseason after Bo Nix went down. In a league where chaos is always lurking, Dobbs’ clipboard could turn into a helmet at a moment’s notice.
If the Patriots win on Sunday, Dobbs would join elite company. He’d become just the second Tennessee quarterback to be part of a Super Bowl-winning team.
The first? Peyton Manning, who went 2-2 in the big game with wins in 2007 and 2016, and losses in 2010 and 2014.
The only other former Vol QB to make a Super Bowl roster was Matt Simms, who suited up as Atlanta’s third-string quarterback in their infamous 2017 showdown with the Patriots.
On the other sideline, Velus Jones Jr. is hoping for a shot to contribute for Seattle. The former Tennessee wide receiver has transitioned into a depth piece in the Seahawks’ backfield.
His 2025-26 season has been a rollercoaster-bouncing between the practice squad and active roster, with his most recent status being inactive for Seattle’s NFC Championship win over the Rams. But he was active the week before, logging six carries for 10 yards in the divisional-round victory over the 49ers.
Jones’ path to the Super Bowl has been equally winding. He started the season with the New Orleans Saints, splitting time between the active roster and practice squad before being waived in late October. Seattle scooped him up the very next day, and while he’s mostly been a depth option, he’s made the most of his touches-10 carries for 42 yards this season, postseason included.
Whether either player sees the field on Sunday remains to be seen. The final inactive list won’t be released until game day. But for Dobbs and Jones, just being part of a Super Bowl roster is a significant milestone in careers that have required perseverance, adaptability, and a deep love for the game.
Super Bowl LX kicks off Sunday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. While stars like Drake Maye and Geno Smith will dominate the headlines, don’t forget about the guys in the wings-because in the NFL, the next man up is never too far away.