Mississippi made players shine on the NFL’s biggest stage in New Orleans for Super Bowl 59

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have proven they are the best two teams in the NFL. There’s no argument to be made as they are the final two teams competing for the Lombardi trophy.

This year, the Magnolia state is all over both rosters – starting at the very top.

A.J. Brown, Darius Slay, and Chris Jones have more in common than they may know. Sure, they are all three playing in Super Bowl 59. In addition to playing on the biggest stage football has to offer on Sunday, Feb. 9, all three played their college football in the Magnolia state.

Brown, who attended Ole Miss, is excited for his family to have an easy week of travel.

“It’s cool,” A.J. Brown said. “My family can drive, they don’t really have to take a flight. So, I think for a majority of them that is what they are going to do.”

Meanwhile, Kansas City Chiefs all-pro defensive tackle Chris Jones was born and raised in Houston, MS and attended Mississippi State University. Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay also spent his college days in Starkville, MS.

“Mississippi State is everything to me,” Jones said. “They offered me when I was a junior – my first year playing football. I have so much love for my Mississippi State family and my Bulldog family. Hail State for life, man.”

“Hail State, Hail State man,” Slay said. “I told them guys to keep working. I know this year wasn’t the year we wanted. We had a bad record but if you keep putting that work in it’s going to pay off and you can be at this level too.”

For Slay, his MS roots began before playing at Mississippi State despite being born in GA, as the veteran defender started his college career at Itawamba Community College.

“Itawamba, man, I love y’all,” Slay said. “I appreciate y’all. I went from JUCO to D1 to today. I went through the whole rough patch. Believe it. Believe and trust in yourself and you can make it.”