Mississippi Well Represented in Super Bowl 60 Matchup Between Seahawks and Patriots
Mississippi will once again have a strong presence on football’s biggest stage when the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.
The championship game is set for Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. CT on NewsTalk 107.7 FM, www.vicksburgradio.com, and on tv with NBC, with the kickoff coming from Santa Clara, California. New England earned its spot by defeating the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship, while Seattle advanced after a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game.
In total, 15 players and coaches with Mississippi ties will be part of Super Bowl LX. While most are not on active game-day rosters, both teams feature contributors whose paths began in the Magnolia State.
Seahawks Loaded With Mississippi Connections
Seattle’s most prominent Mississippi representative is Charles Cross, the Seahawks’ starting left tackle and a Laurel native. A former Mississippi State standout, Cross played three seasons with the Bulldogs before being selected No. 9 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Earlier this year, he signed a four-year, $104.4 million contract extension with $75 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in franchise history.
The Seahawks’ roster and staff include several additional Mississippi ties. Cam Akers, a Clinton native, was elevated to the active roster for the NFC Championship after joining Seattle following his release from the Minnesota Vikings. Derick Hall, a Gulfport native who played college football at Auburn, appeared in 16 games this season and recorded 33 tackles and two sacks.
Former Ole Miss linebacker Jared Ivey is on Seattle’s active roster after signing as an undrafted free agent before the 2025 season, while Jamie Sheriff, a Terry native who played at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, remains on the practice squad. Other Ole Miss alumni include Chris Paul Jr., currently on the practice squad, and AJ Finley, who is on injured reserve.
Seattle’s coaching staff also features Mississippi connections. Leslie Frazier, a Columbus native and Alcorn State alumnus, serves as an assistant coach, while former Ole Miss co-defensive coordinator Chris Partridge is the Seahawks’ outside linebackers coach.
Patriots Feature Mississippi Talent on Roster and Staff
New England’s lone Mississippi connection on the active roster is Ben Brown, a Vicksburg native and former Ole Miss center. Now in his third NFL season, Brown has appeared in 17 games as a backup offensive lineman. He originally signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has also spent time with the Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders.
The Patriots’ practice squad includes several former Ole Miss players, including linebackers Otis Reese and Darius Harris, the latter a Horn Lake native, as well as safety John Saunders Jr. Cornerback Miles Battle, who played for Ole Miss from 2018–22 before transferring to Utah, is also on the practice squad. Defensive tackle Isaiah Iton, who played at Ole Miss before transferring to Rutgers, is currently on injured reserve.
On the coaching side, former Jackson State linebacker Milton Patterson serves as a defensive assistant for New England.
Mississippi’s Continued Super Bowl Presence
From starting linemen and rotational defenders to practice squad players and coaches, Mississippi’s influence will again be felt when the Lombardi Trophy is on the line. While only a handful may take the field on Super Bowl Sunday, the state’s football footprint remains firmly planted in the NFL’s biggest game.
