University of Tennessee Athletics
Five Vols Aim For Super Bowl LX Berth Conference Championship Weekend
January 23, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Five former Tennessee Vols are still aiming for a Super Bowl LX berth as the AFC and NFC Championship Games will be played this Sunday.
Two VFLs are on the New England Patriots, who travel to take on the AFC top-seeded Denver Broncos at 3 p.m. ET on CBS. Joshua Dobbs serves as the Patriots' backup quarterback, while defensive end Darrell Taylor joined the practice squad two weeks ago.
Two additional former Vols are with the Los Angeles Rams when they face the NFC top-seeded Seattle Seahawks at 6:30 p.m. on FOX. Outside linebacker Byron Young logged five tackles and one QB hit in the divisional round victory at Chicago. Young has been limited in practice all week with a knee injury. Safety Jaylen McCollough tallied one tackle and one pass breakup last week. Both were instrumental defensive players in the Josh Heupel era.
Running back and former wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. is on the practice squad for Seattle, which seeks its first NFC title and Super Bowl berth since 2015. Â
With players on three of the four conference title weekend teams, a former Vol is guaranteed to appear in the Super Bowl for the fourth consecutive year. Kansas City offensive lineman Trey Smith made the last three appearances.
VFLs on 2026 NFL Playoff Conference Championship Rosters (5 total, 3 active)
Joshua Dobbs, QB – New England Patriots
Velus Jones Jr.*, RB – Seattle Seahawks
Jaylen McCollough, S – Los Angeles Rams
Darrell Taylor*, DE – New England Patriots
Byron Young, OLB – Los Angeles Rams
* -Â denotes practice squad
Two VFLs are on the New England Patriots, who travel to take on the AFC top-seeded Denver Broncos at 3 p.m. ET on CBS. Joshua Dobbs serves as the Patriots' backup quarterback, while defensive end Darrell Taylor joined the practice squad two weeks ago.
Two additional former Vols are with the Los Angeles Rams when they face the NFC top-seeded Seattle Seahawks at 6:30 p.m. on FOX. Outside linebacker Byron Young logged five tackles and one QB hit in the divisional round victory at Chicago. Young has been limited in practice all week with a knee injury. Safety Jaylen McCollough tallied one tackle and one pass breakup last week. Both were instrumental defensive players in the Josh Heupel era.
Running back and former wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. is on the practice squad for Seattle, which seeks its first NFC title and Super Bowl berth since 2015. Â
With players on three of the four conference title weekend teams, a former Vol is guaranteed to appear in the Super Bowl for the fourth consecutive year. Kansas City offensive lineman Trey Smith made the last three appearances.
VFLs on 2026 NFL Playoff Conference Championship Rosters (5 total, 3 active)
Joshua Dobbs, QB – New England Patriots
Velus Jones Jr.*, RB – Seattle Seahawks
Jaylen McCollough, S – Los Angeles Rams
Darrell Taylor*, DE – New England Patriots
Byron Young, OLB – Los Angeles Rams
* -Â denotes practice squad
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