Sunday night, we watched the epic conclusion of the 2023 football season with a dramatic overtime victory by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. While the San Francisco 49ers came out on the losing end, former Penn State football standout Ji’Ayir Brown had a massive impact on the game, picking off superstar QB Patrick Mahomes in the second half. The interception elicited an outburst of responses from the Nittany Lions community, with former teammates and coaches, including James Franklin, flocking to social media to celebrate the highlight-reel end to Brown’s rookie season.
Ji’Ayir Brown comes up big in the Super Bowl
Despite falling short in his first NFL championship appearance, former Penn State and current 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown came up big in Super Bowl LVIII. As he did throughout his Nittany Lion career, Brown found himself at the right place at the right time, intercepting Chiefs’ star Patrick Mahomes on the opening drive of the third quarter.
The player was the highlight of a strong performance for the rookie safety. Ji’Ayir Brown finished the Super Bowl with 11 total tackles and his first postseason interception.
James Franklin, Penn State football coaches, and former players react to Brown’s interception
Brown’s big play was the feel-good moment of the night for the Penn State football program. Fans, lettermen, and coaches alike rushed to social media to congratulate the former standout Nittany Lion.
Penn State football coach James Franklin got the messages going. “Proud of you!” Franklin wrote to Brown, followed by the hashtag “Made in Happy Valley.”
Several Nittany Lions assistant coaches and support staff chimed in as well. Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith followed up with the simple “Lockdown U” graphic, while Director of Player Personnel Kenny Sanders exclaimed Brown’s nickname, “Tig.”
A former standout Penn State defensive back in his own right, Justin King got in on the congratulations, as well.
Current Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker also had a celebratory message for Ji’Ayir Brown. The moment was likely particularly touching for Brisker, teammates with Brown both at Penn State and at Lackawanna Community College.
From community college to the NFL’s biggest stage
The story of Ji’Ayir Brown is one of the more inspirational to come out of Happy Valley in recent memory. With limited opportunity to play major college football out of high school, Brown started his career at Lackawanna Community College. He then transferred to Penn State in 2020, where he became a standout on the Nittany Lions defense.
Brown finished his Penn State football career with 153 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 10 interceptions. He left his mark on his final game in the Blue and White, earning the defensive MVP in the 2023 Rose Bowl.
Brown was then selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by San Francisco. Brown became a starter for the 49ers as a rookie, finishing the year with 35 tackles and two interceptions in the regular season. The former Nittany Lion had a standout postseason, recording 21 tackles and his Super Bowl interception.
Penn State football played a critical role in Brown’s success story this season, as he reiterated to incoming recruits during Super Bowl media day last week.
“Believe in the culture over there,” he said. “Penn State has a strong culture. Positive attitude, great work ethic, compete in everything you do, and be willing to sacrifice. Those core values at Penn State will forever live through me. I think those are core values that anybody in football or not can live by and be pretty successful in life.”
Ex-Nittany Lion gets second ring
There was a former Penn State football player who did end up on the winning end in Super Bowl LVIII. Ex-Nittany Lions OT Donovan Smith got to host the Lombardi Trophy with the victorious Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night. Smith has now earned his second Super Bowl ring, after getting his first as part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2020 season.
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