Velus Jones Jr. Becomes Tennessee’s Latest Super Bowl Champion After Seahawks' Victory
Velus Jones Jr. has officially joined the ranks of Tennessee football legends with a Super Bowl ring to his name. The former Vols standout played a key role on special teams as the Seattle Seahawks rolled past the New England Patriots in a 29-13 win in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night.
Jones, who was elevated from Seattle’s practice squad ahead of the game, didn’t light up the stat sheet on offense, but his impact was felt in the game's less glamorous - yet crucial - third phase. He was active across multiple special teams units, serving as a kickoff returner, gunner on the punt team, and perimeter blocker on punt returns. Twice, he was in position to down punts deep in Patriots territory, pinning them at their own 2- and 4-yard lines - a field-position swing that any coach will tell you can change the rhythm of a game.
With that performance, Jones becomes the 41st former Tennessee Volunteer to win a Super Bowl, edging out fellow Vol Joshua Dobbs, who suited up as the Patriots' backup quarterback.
A Long Road from Knoxville to the Super Bowl
Jones’ path to the NFL’s biggest stage hasn’t been a straight line. The Mobile, Alabama native began his college career at USC, where he played from 2016 to 2019.
While he didn’t break out as a receiver there - finishing with 20 catches for 312 yards and a touchdown - he carved out a name for himself as a return specialist. His 1,243 kickoff return yards rank ninth in Trojan history, and he earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019 after averaging 24.3 yards per return, including a 100-yard touchdown against Fresno State.
After four seasons in Los Angeles, Jones transferred to Tennessee in 2020, joining a team in the midst of a pandemic-shortened, three-win season. Despite the struggles, he showed flashes - finishing third on the team in receptions (22) and receiving yards (280), while leading the SEC in kickoff return yards (398). His debut against South Carolina featured five catches and a 40-yard kickoff return, and he closed the season with a breakout game at Vanderbilt: seven catches, 125 yards, and two touchdowns.
But it was the 2021 season - his bonus year of eligibility - that unlocked the full Velus Jones experience. Under new head coach Josh Heupel, Jones became one of the most dynamic all-purpose players in the country.
He was the only player in college football that year to eclipse 800 receiving yards, 200 punt return yards, and 600 kickoff return yards. He hauled in 62 receptions for 807 yards and seven touchdowns, notched three 100-yard receiving games, and racked up 1,722 all-purpose yards - the third-most in the SEC and second-most in Tennessee history for a single season.
He led the SEC in punt return average (15.11 yards) and ranked second in kickoff return average (27.3 yards). His 900 combined return yards that year were the most by a Vol since Willie Gault - another Tennessee legend and Super Bowl winner - posted 987 in 1981.
Jones’ final game in orange and white was a fitting sendoff: 209 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in the Music City Bowl against Purdue. That spring, he clocked a blazing 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, helping boost his draft stock.
NFL Journey: From Chicago to Seattle
The Chicago Bears selected Jones in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 71st overall. But his time in the Windy City didn’t go as planned.
Ball security issues, particularly on punt returns, limited his opportunities. In 27 games with the Bears, he totaled just 19 carries for 165 yards and 12 receptions for 135 yards.
Still, he showed flashes - scoring both a rushing and receiving touchdown as a rookie and averaging 26.7 yards on 39 kickoff returns.
After a position switch to running back during the 2024 preseason, the Bears released him midway through the year. From there, Jones bounced around practice squads - first with the Jacksonville Jaguars, then the Carolina Panthers, where he appeared in two games.
In 2025, he signed with the New Orleans Saints and played in five games before being released in October. That’s when Seattle came calling. The Seahawks added him to their practice squad, and he was elevated to the active roster for three regular-season games and two playoff contests.
He made the most of limited touches - including four carries for 32 yards in a Week 14 win over Atlanta and six carries for 10 yards in a blowout win over the 49ers in the Divisional Round - but his bread and butter remained special teams. He played at least 16 special teams snaps in each of his three regular-season games with the Seahawks, and his role only grew more critical during the postseason run.
From Practice Squad to Super Bowl Contributor
Jones’ journey is a testament to perseverance. He’s played for four NFL teams in less than two seasons, changed positions, and battled through setbacks. But on the sport’s biggest stage, he found a way to contribute - not as a star wideout or a feature back, but as a special teams ace doing the gritty work that often goes unnoticed.
“Love me or hate me, Super Bowl Jones!” he tweeted after the game. “Thank you God!”
It’s a well-earned moment for a player who’s carved out a niche in the league by staying ready, staying versatile, and embracing every role thrown his way. Velus Jones Jr. may not have taken the traditional route to NFL glory, but on Sunday night, under the bright lights of Levi’s Stadium, he became a champion - and cemented his place in Tennessee football history.