NJCAA Alumni will compete in Super Bowl LIX
Charlotte, NC: The 2024-25 NFL season is nearing its end, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles battling for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Over 10 NJCAA alumni will take the field as a player or coach in Super Bowl LIX and try to earn the most significant honor in football, NFL Champion.
Darius Slay has been a lockdown corner for most of his NFL career. "Big Play Slay," as he is nicknamed, has spent 12 seasons in the NFL, half of which he was named an NFL Pro Bowler. Slay has played for the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles, currently the NFC Champions. He started his college career at Itawamba Community College (MS), where he was named a First-Team Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State and earned NJCAA All-Region 23 honors. During the said season, he totaled 41 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. In his sophomore season, Slay recorded 32 tackles and one forced fumble. After being at Itawamba, he transferred to Mississippi State and spent two seasons with the Bulldogs. Slay was later drafted in the second round by the Lions. This season for the Eagles, Slay earned 49 tackles, 13 pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
Defensive lineman Mike Pennel has been a part of two Super Bowl Kansas City Chiefs teams over his 11 year NFL career. Pennel played at Scottsdale Community College (AZ) for two seasons. He then spent a season each at Arizona State and Colorado State University Pueblo. After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Pennel signed with the Green Bay Packers and played 13 games in his rookie season. He would spend three seasons with the Packers and two seasons with the Jets before signing with the Chiefs in 2019, who would go on to win the Super Bowl. After stints in Atlanta and Chicago, Pennel resigned with the Chiefs in 2023 and has spent the last two seasons with the AFC Champions. This season, he has appeared in all 17 regular season games, earned a career high 3 sacks and 25 total tackles.
Lane Johnson attended Kilgore (TX) College and played quarterback and tight end for the Rangers. He transferred to Oklahoma and originally served as the practice squad quarterback during a redshirt season. He would switch to tight end, and later defensive end in the fall of 2010. After some injuries on the offensive line, Johnson made the switch and his career changed forever. He became a staple on the Sooners offensive line, and was named a third-team All-American by CBS Sports his senior season. Johnson was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the fourth overall pick in 2013. Throughout his NFL career, Johnson has been named First-Team All-Pro twice, Second-Team All-Pro three times, a six time pro bowler, and will be playing in his third Super Bowl with the Eagles.
Kansas City Chiefs assistant special teams coach Andy Hill has been in his role for the last five seasons. Hill has been a big part of the back-to-back Super Bowl champions success on the coaching staff, having a big role in coaching Chiefs punter/holder Tommy Townsend. Prior to the NFL, Hill spent 24 seasons at the University of Missouri working as various position coaches. Prior to Mizzou, Hill was the head football coach at Hutchinson Community College (KS) for two seasons. Under Hill, the Blue Dragons went 18-6 and won its first conference title since 1969. He was the offensive coordinator for two seasons prior to becoming the head coach of Hutchinson.
