Five Independence Bowl Alumni Headed to Super Bowl LIX
SHREVEPORT, La. (Jan. 27, 2025) – The Super Bowl LIX matchup is set – featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles – and will include five players who have played in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
The Eagles roster two Independence Bowl alumni – linebacker Oren Burks (Vanderbilt, 2016) and defensive lineman Milton Williams (Louisiana Tech, 2019), while the Chiefs feature three former Independence Bowl players – defensive back Deon Bush (Miami, 2014), defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi (Florida State, 2017) and tight end Noah Gray (Duke, 2018).
Burks greatly impacted the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders, as the seven-year NFL veteran finished the game with nine total tackles, one sack, one tackle-for-loss (TFL) and one forced fumble (FF). Williams has been a key cog in the Eagles’ defensive line rotation – playing 48 percent of the defensive snaps this season and finishing the year with five sacks, seven TFLs, one FF and 10 quarterback hits.
Nnadi has been a mainstay on the Chiefs since being drafted by them in 2018, as he is a three-time Super Bowl champion. Gray is a two-time Super Bowl champion and has been the key backup to Travis Kelce for the past few years. The former Blue Devil signed a three-year, $18 million extension this past offseason and caught 40 passes for 437 yards and five touchdowns this season for Kansas City. Bush has won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs and is a good special teamer for them – playing 63 percent of special teams snaps this year.
Super Bowl LIX will kick off at 5:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, February 9 in New Orleans. Gray, Nnadi, Bush and the Chiefs will be looking to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls, while Williams and Burks will be looking for their first Super Bowl title as members of the Eagles.
ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™
Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is college football’s 11th most historic bowl game. No. 22/19 (CFP/AP) Army West Point defeated Louisiana Tech, 27-6, in the 48th edition on Saturday, December 28, 2024. Huntsville, Ala.-based Radiance Technologies is the bowl’s title sponsor through the 2025 Bowl Season. The bowl’s conference, team and television agreements also run through the 2025 season.
The Independence Bowl Foundation is prevalent in the Shreveport-Bossier City area throughout the year, hosting events to help enhance the economic impact and growth of our community. The Mission of the Independence Bowl is to attract and provide quality, nationally recognized football competition oriented to the Ark-La-Tex region. For more information, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com or follow the bowl on Facebook, X and Instagram at @IndyBowl.
Independence Bowl Foundation
425 Ashley Ridge Blvd, Suite 360, Shreveport, LA 71106 | P.O. Box 6834, Shreveport, LA 71136
318.221.0712 | 888.414.BOWL | [email protected]