#FromStateToSundays: Conference Championship Update
January 30, 2024 | Football
Mississippi State will be well represented in Super Bowl LVIII this year in Las Vegas.
A pair of defensive dynamos for the Bulldogs, Chris Jones and Willie Gay Jr., are bidding to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the second straight season as members of the Kansas City Chiefs.
It will be the fourth trip to the Super Bowl for Jones and third for Gay. Historically, 41 MSU players have made 61 appearances on Super Bowl rosters with 25 Bulldogs going on to win 27 Super Bowl rings.
Jones and former Dallas Cowboys linebacker D.D. Lewis are the only two-time Super Bowl winners in school history.
Jones started the AFC Championship game at Baltimore and was credited with a quarterback hurry and a pass defense in the Chiefs' 17-10 win over the Ravens. He recorded the third-best run defensive grade by an interior defender on conference championship weekend according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Gay was a game-time scratch from the active roster for the AFC Championship due to a neck injury.
Also representing State in the Super Bowl this year is former Diamond Dawg Brad Freeman. Freeman will serve as the back judge on the officiating crew.
In other news, cornerback Darius Slay of the Philadelphia Eagles was added to the Pro Bowl roster. Slay joins fellow Bulldogs Dak Prescott and Montez Sweat for the Pro Bowl Games on Sunday at 6 p.m. CT in Orlando, Florida. It is the sixth time Slay has been a Pro Bowl selection in his career.
Jones was also voted to this year's Pro Bowl but will be unable to participate due to the Chiefs advancing to the Super Bowl.
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay was inactive in a 17-10 win at the Ravens in the AFC Championship game.
Postseason: Five tackles (two solo, three assists), one tackle for loss
Regular Season: 58 tackles (44 solo, 14 assists), four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, three quarterback hurries, four pass defenses, one interception
CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and had one quarterback hurry and one pass defense in a 17-10 win at the Ravens in the AFC Championship game.
Postseason: Four tackles (two solo, two assists), 0.5 sack, four quarterback hurries, two pass defenses, one forced fumble
Regular Season: 30 tackles (20 solo, 10 assists), 10 1/2 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses
