Little-known linebacker could be the best story of Super Bowl LIX

Hunt started all 11 games for the Huskies that year, leading the team with 11.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and three forced fumbles. He was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and earned an invite to the Senior Bowl, where Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt was waiting for him.

"Every step of this process, he just checked every box," Hunt said. "He went through the season and you say, 'OK I can't wait to see him at the Senior Bowl.' He does well there and you say, 'OK, I can't wait to see him in Indianapolis at the Combine.' He does everything there, then you see him at the Pro Day and you love him there."

The Eagles have to like what he’s done so far. Hunt appeared in 16 games but got off to a slow start with three tackles and a sack in Philadelphia’s first 10 games. Since then, he had 18 tackles in the team’s last six regular-season games and eight tackles with a sack in three playoff appearances.

If not for players like Hunt and second-year linebacker Nolan Smith Jr., the Eagles could be watching Super Bowl LIX at home this weekend. In a year where Philadelphia received just 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks from free-agent edge-rusher Bryce Huff, the team was fortunate to have players like Hunt and Smith step up.

But while Smith was a first-round pick with a championship pedigree from Georgia, Hunt was the exact opposite. He may be one of the team’s more anonymous players but that could change with a sack or two against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Sunday night.