The Super Bowl will once again feature a bit of local flavor this year, as former Mississippi State players Willie Gay Jr. and Chris Jones are one win away from another ring with the budding Kansas City Chiefs dynasty.
Gay, a starting linebacker, grew up in Starkville and helped Starkville High win the 2015 MHSAA Class 6A state championship,
then remained in his hometown for college. He spent three years with the Bulldogs, recording five sacks as a sophomore in 2019. Despite being limited to five games the following year, Gay was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he has started 47 games for Kansas City over the last four years.
Over his NFL career, Gay has racked up 233 total tackles, five sacks, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. He has started eight playoff games in the last three seasons, tallying 25 tackles, four of them for a loss.
Jones, who grew up in Houston, Miss., has blossomed into a perennial Pro Bowler for the Chiefs and was
named First-Team AP All-Pro for the second straight year. A defensive lineman, Jones played at MSU from 2013-15, totaling 102 tackles (18 for a loss), 8.5 sacks and 10 pass
breakups. He was also taken in the second round, 37th overall, by Kansas City in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Since arriving in the pros, Jones has consistently ranked among the NFL’s sack leaders, recording 15.5 in both 2018 and 2022 and 10.5 this year. He will be after his third ring Sunday when the Chiefs battle the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
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