Velus Jones Jr. is heading to the Super Bowl.
The former Tennessee standout has found himself on football’s biggest stage after the Seattle Seahawks punched their ticket to Super Bowl LX with a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship. While Jones didn’t suit up for the game-he was inactive on Sunday night-his journey to this moment has been anything but quiet.
Jones has spent most of the season on Seattle’s practice squad, but he’s had his moments in the spotlight. Just last week, in the Seahawks’ dominant divisional round win over the 49ers, Jones logged six carries for 10 yards, stepping in as Seattle continues to navigate the playoffs without running back Zach Charbonnet, who’s sidelined with a torn ACL. With Charbonnet out, there’s a real possibility Jones could be elevated to the active roster for the Super Bowl.
The path to this point has been a winding one for Jones. He began the 2025 season with the New Orleans Saints, signing in March with the goal of transitioning from wide receiver to running back.
It was a bold move, and while he bounced between the practice squad and active roster, it ultimately didn’t stick-he was waived in late October. But just days later, Seattle brought him in, and he’s been quietly grinding ever since.
Since joining the Seahawks, Jones has made a few appearances, including a solid showing on December 7 against the Falcons, where he picked up 32 yards on four carries. Not eye-popping numbers, but enough to show he can contribute when called upon.
Sunday’s win over the Rams wasn’t just a ticket to the Super Bowl-it was also a matchup of familiar faces for Tennessee fans. The Rams roster includes fellow Volunteers Byron Young and Jaylen McCollough, both of whom were on the wrong end of Seattle’s comeback win.
Now, the stage is set for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, where Jones and the Seahawks will face off against the New England Patriots. And in a twist that should have Vols fans grinning, there will be a Tennessee alum on both sidelines. Joshua Dobbs, another VFL, is backing up MVP candidate Drake Maye for the Patriots.
Jones’ college days in Knoxville were productive-he caught 84 passes for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns over two seasons, while also adding 31 yards on the ground. He’s always been a versatile weapon, and that adaptability might be what gives him a shot to see the field in the biggest game of his career.
From practice squad to potential Super Bowl contributor, Velus Jones Jr. is living proof that persistence pays off. And with one game left in the season, he’s one step away from football immortality.