Alex Whittingham serves as the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive quality control coach. (Photo: Tyler McFarland / Kansas City Chiefs)
Utes in the Pros: Connections at Super Bowl LIX
2/7/2025 2:54 PM | Football
NEW ORLEANS – With the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles squaring off on Sunday for all the marbles, both teams have a Utah connection as Super Bowl LIX nears.
Overall, this weekend marks the 13th straight Super Bowl to have at least one former Ute involved either as a player or coach.
Super Bowl LIX kicks off Sunday at 4:30 p.m. MT. FOX has the game covered on TV in the United States with the pregame show starting at 11 a.m. MT.
For the Chiefs, Alex Whittingham is winding down his seventh season on staff and sixth as defensive quality control coach, while wide receiver Britain Covey remains on injured reserve for Philadelphia. Covey did, however, have the practice window activated by the Eagles before the NFC Championship against Washington. He was placed on IR on December 28.
With Whittingham aiding the Chiefs' defense, the team has allowed just 19.2 points per game this season, ranking top-four in the NFL. Opponents have averaged 320.6 net yards per game, top-nine in the league. Covey finished the regular season with seven receptions for 34 yards, as well as six punt returns for 46 yards. He played in five games with one start.
Covey was a five-time all-America and Pac-12 All-Conference pick during his career at the U, which included the 2015 and 2018-21 seasons. He appeared in 47 games as a wide receiver and return specialist, making 23 starts as a Ute. The CoSIDA Academic All-American set the school record in career punt return yards and also ranks top-six in four other receiving and returning categories. Whittingham, the son of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, walked on to the squad in 2013. He redshirted that year, before appearing in 44 games from 2014-17 as a linebacker and earning three Pac-12 All-Academic nods.
Jaylon Johnson Returns to Pro Bowl Games
Former Utah All-American and All-Conference cornerback Jaylon Johnson represented the Chicago Bears last weekend at the Pro Bowl Games, helping the NFC to a victory in his second straight Pro Bowl appearance.
He was selected as a starter this year after being named as a reserve last season. Johnson is wrapping up his fifth NFL season—all spent with the Bears—starting all 70 games in that time including 17 during the 2024 campaign. He made 48 total tackles this year, forced one fumble and totaled eight passes defended with two interceptions.
UTES IN THE NFL (26)
Updated 2.7.25
Offensive Line (4)
Jackson Barton...................... Arizona (IR)
Garett Bolles................................. Denver
Braeden Daniels............................. Miami
Sataoa Laumea............................... Seattle
Quarterbacks (1)
Tyler Huntley................................. Miami
Running Backs (2)
Zack Moss........................ Cincinnati (IR)
Sione Vaki.................................... Detroit
Wide Receivers (3)
Britain Covey................. Philadelphia (IR)
Tim Patrick................................... Detroit
Devaughn Vele............................. Denver
Tight Ends (2)
Dalton Kincaid............................. Buffalo
Thomas Yassmin..................... Denver (F)
Defensive Line (1)
Leki Fotu.............................. NY Jets (IR)
Linebackers (5)
Cody Barton................................. Denver
Mohamoud Diabate................... Cleveland
Jonah Elliss.................................. Denver
Devin Lloyd.......................... Jacksonville
Nephi Sewell........................ New Orleans
Defensive Backs (6)
Miles Battle......................... New England
Cole Bishop................................. Buffalo
Julian Blackmon.................... Indianapolis
Jaylon Johnson............................ Chicago
Clark Phillips III............................ Atlanta
Marcus Williams....................... Baltimore
Special Teams (2)
Matt Gay (K)......................... Indianapolis
Mitch Wishnowsky (P). San Francisco (IR)
IR = Injured Reserve
F = Reserve/Future
FOLLOW UTAH FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow along with behind the scenes content and coverage on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
Overall, this weekend marks the 13th straight Super Bowl to have at least one former Ute involved either as a player or coach.
Super Bowl LIX kicks off Sunday at 4:30 p.m. MT. FOX has the game covered on TV in the United States with the pregame show starting at 11 a.m. MT.
For the Chiefs, Alex Whittingham is winding down his seventh season on staff and sixth as defensive quality control coach, while wide receiver Britain Covey remains on injured reserve for Philadelphia. Covey did, however, have the practice window activated by the Eagles before the NFC Championship against Washington. He was placed on IR on December 28.
With Whittingham aiding the Chiefs' defense, the team has allowed just 19.2 points per game this season, ranking top-four in the NFL. Opponents have averaged 320.6 net yards per game, top-nine in the league. Covey finished the regular season with seven receptions for 34 yards, as well as six punt returns for 46 yards. He played in five games with one start.
Covey was a five-time all-America and Pac-12 All-Conference pick during his career at the U, which included the 2015 and 2018-21 seasons. He appeared in 47 games as a wide receiver and return specialist, making 23 starts as a Ute. The CoSIDA Academic All-American set the school record in career punt return yards and also ranks top-six in four other receiving and returning categories. Whittingham, the son of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, walked on to the squad in 2013. He redshirted that year, before appearing in 44 games from 2014-17 as a linebacker and earning three Pac-12 All-Academic nods.
Jaylon Johnson Returns to Pro Bowl Games
Former Utah All-American and All-Conference cornerback Jaylon Johnson represented the Chicago Bears last weekend at the Pro Bowl Games, helping the NFC to a victory in his second straight Pro Bowl appearance.
.@NBAxJay1 is a two-time Pro Bowl Games winner ??
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 3, 2025
Uno recaps the vibes in Orlando after yesterday's NFC victory
He was selected as a starter this year after being named as a reserve last season. Johnson is wrapping up his fifth NFL season—all spent with the Bears—starting all 70 games in that time including 17 during the 2024 campaign. He made 48 total tackles this year, forced one fumble and totaled eight passes defended with two interceptions.
UTES IN THE NFL (26)
Updated 2.7.25
Offensive Line (4)
Jackson Barton...................... Arizona (IR)
Garett Bolles................................. Denver
Braeden Daniels............................. Miami
Sataoa Laumea............................... Seattle
Quarterbacks (1)
Tyler Huntley................................. Miami
Running Backs (2)
Zack Moss........................ Cincinnati (IR)
Sione Vaki.................................... Detroit
Wide Receivers (3)
Britain Covey................. Philadelphia (IR)
Tim Patrick................................... Detroit
Devaughn Vele............................. Denver
Tight Ends (2)
Dalton Kincaid............................. Buffalo
Thomas Yassmin..................... Denver (F)
Defensive Line (1)
Leki Fotu.............................. NY Jets (IR)
Linebackers (5)
Cody Barton................................. Denver
Mohamoud Diabate................... Cleveland
Jonah Elliss.................................. Denver
Devin Lloyd.......................... Jacksonville
Nephi Sewell........................ New Orleans
Defensive Backs (6)
Miles Battle......................... New England
Cole Bishop................................. Buffalo
Julian Blackmon.................... Indianapolis
Jaylon Johnson............................ Chicago
Clark Phillips III............................ Atlanta
Marcus Williams....................... Baltimore
Special Teams (2)
Matt Gay (K)......................... Indianapolis
Mitch Wishnowsky (P). San Francisco (IR)
IR = Injured Reserve
F = Reserve/Future
FOLLOW UTAH FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow along with behind the scenes content and coverage on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
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