North Carolina State University Athletics
Thuney to Make #PackPro History with Super Bowl Start
2/10/2023 12:30:00 PM | Football
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Former NC State offensive lineman Joe Thuney will accomplish something only one other alum in school history ever has on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
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Thuney will be playing in the big game for the fourth time in his seven-year career. The only other #PackPro to ever play in four Super Bowls was offensive lineman Jim Ritcher, who appeared in four straight for the Buffalo Bills from 1991-94.
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It's not the first time Thuney has followed in the footsteps of the Hall of Famer. As a senior in 2015, he became the first Wolfpack offensive lineman since Ritcher to earn All-America honors.
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After graduating cum laude in three years, Thuney would go on to be named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy – given for a combination of academics and athletic performance.
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He was a third-round draft pick by New England in 2016 and as a rookie led the Patriots in snaps played and was named to the PFWA all-rookie team. He won his first Super Bowl ring that season as the Patriots defeated the Falcons.
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Following the 2017 season, he earned a second Super Bowl start in the loss to the Eagles (LII) and then went back to the big game the following year to earn the distinction of becoming the first player in NFL history to start three Super Bowls in their first three years in the league. He won his second championship ring that year as well, as the Patriots defeated the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
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After five seasons with the Patriots – where he would be named to the all-decade team for the 2010s - Thuney signed a five-year deal with Kansas City prior to the 2021 season and earned second-team All-Pro honors that year.
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This season, the left guard will start in the big game for the fourth time in Glendale, Arizona.
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Thuney might be the only #PackPro suiting up on Sunday, but he isn't the only one appearing in his fourth career Super Bowl. Former Pack linebacker David Merritt, an All-ACC performer for Dick Sheridan in 1992, will be coaching in his fourth Super Bowl this weekend.
Merritt has been the defensive backs coach for the Chiefs since the 2019 campaign which saw Kansas City defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. He also served coaching stints with the Jets, Giants and Cardinals, earning two Super Bowl rings with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI.
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Former NC State offensive lineman Joe Thuney will accomplish something only one other alum in school history ever has on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
Â
Thuney will be playing in the big game for the fourth time in his seven-year career. The only other #PackPro to ever play in four Super Bowls was offensive lineman Jim Ritcher, who appeared in four straight for the Buffalo Bills from 1991-94.
Â
It's not the first time Thuney has followed in the footsteps of the Hall of Famer. As a senior in 2015, he became the first Wolfpack offensive lineman since Ritcher to earn All-America honors.
Â
After graduating cum laude in three years, Thuney would go on to be named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy – given for a combination of academics and athletic performance.
Â
He was a third-round draft pick by New England in 2016 and as a rookie led the Patriots in snaps played and was named to the PFWA all-rookie team. He won his first Super Bowl ring that season as the Patriots defeated the Falcons.
Â
Following the 2017 season, he earned a second Super Bowl start in the loss to the Eagles (LII) and then went back to the big game the following year to earn the distinction of becoming the first player in NFL history to start three Super Bowls in their first three years in the league. He won his second championship ring that year as well, as the Patriots defeated the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
Â
After five seasons with the Patriots – where he would be named to the all-decade team for the 2010s - Thuney signed a five-year deal with Kansas City prior to the 2021 season and earned second-team All-Pro honors that year.
Â
This season, the left guard will start in the big game for the fourth time in Glendale, Arizona.
Â
Thuney might be the only #PackPro suiting up on Sunday, but he isn't the only one appearing in his fourth career Super Bowl. Former Pack linebacker David Merritt, an All-ACC performer for Dick Sheridan in 1992, will be coaching in his fourth Super Bowl this weekend.
Merritt has been the defensive backs coach for the Chiefs since the 2019 campaign which saw Kansas City defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. He also served coaching stints with the Jets, Giants and Cardinals, earning two Super Bowl rings with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI.
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