Joshua Dobbs is headed to the Super Bowl - and while he won’t be the starting quarterback, that doesn’t make the moment any less significant for the Tennessee legend.
The New England Patriots punched their ticket to Super Bowl LX with a gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon in the thin air of Mile High. Dobbs didn’t take a snap in the game, but he was suited up and ready - a backup behind rookie starter Drake Maye - and now, for the first time in his NFL career, he’s bound for the sport’s biggest stage.
This is a milestone moment for Dobbs, who’s carved out a role in the league as a trusted backup and a consummate professional. In 2025, he’s appeared in four games for New England, completing 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards and adding 10 yards on the ground. The stat line may be modest, but his presence in the quarterback room has been a steadying force for a Patriots team that’s leaned heavily on its defense and timely playmaking to reach this point.
And if this postseason has reminded us of anything, it’s how quickly a backup can become the guy. Just look at Denver - their playoff run was derailed when Bo Nix went down with a season-ending injury. It’s a stark reminder that depth at quarterback isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Dobbs’ journey to this Super Bowl moment hasn’t been linear. In 2024, he was with the San Francisco 49ers, backing up in a season that fell well short of expectations. The Niners stumbled to a 6-11 finish, losing seven of their final eight games and missing the playoffs altogether.
But rewind one more year, and Dobbs was in the spotlight. The 2023 season was the best of his NFL career, a whirlwind campaign that saw him suit up for both the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings.
He started eight games for Arizona, throwing for 266 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions, while also adding three scores on the ground. After being traded midseason to Minnesota, Dobbs played in five more games, where he added five more passing touchdowns, five picks, and another trio of rushing touchdowns.
It was a year that showcased his dual-threat ability and resilience, bouncing between systems and still making plays.
Dobbs’ NFL journey began back in 2017 when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the fourth round, 135th overall, out of the University of Tennessee. In Knoxville, he was a fan favorite and a dynamic playmaker, finishing his college career with 7,138 passing yards, 53 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions. But his legs were just as lethal - he rushed for 2,160 yards and 34 touchdowns over four seasons, leading the Vols to a 22-15 record during his tenure.
Now, nearly a decade after being drafted, Dobbs is on the doorstep of the Super Bowl. The Patriots will face the NFC champion - either the Seattle Seahawks or the Los Angeles Rams - on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
There’s a little Tennessee flavor on both sides of that NFC Championship matchup, too. The Seahawks have former Vols wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., while the Rams feature a pair of Tennessee defenders in outside linebacker Byron Young and safety Jaylen McCollough.
Dobbs may not be the headline act in Super Bowl LX, but make no mistake - his story is one worth watching. Because in a league where opportunity can come in an instant, he’s proven time and again that he’s ready when called. And now, he’s one win away from adding “Super Bowl champion” to a résumé that already speaks volumes about perseverance, preparation, and poise.