Former Trojans take on the NFL Playoffs

Troy football was prominently represented in the NFL Wildcard weekend, with some former Trojans advancing even further into the NFL Playoffs. 

There were four former Men of Troy who suited up with four different teams. Of the four, three of them saw victories in the opening round of the playoffs. 

Javon Solomon made sure to show his roots, as the Buffalo Bills defensive end entered the Jacksonville Jaguars facility proudly wearing a Troy Athletics jacket. Solomon saw limited action but recorded one tackle in the Bills’ close win over the Jaguars. The Bills will head to Denver to take on the top seeded Broncos this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. 

Two former teammates faced off against one another as Kimani Vidal stood in the backfield for the Los Angeles Chargers and safety Dell Pettus on the opposing sideline with the New England Patriots. The primetime Sunday Night Football clash featured Vidal as the lead running back for the Chargers. The 2023 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year had 11 carries and two receptions for a total of 51 yards. 

Pettus and the Patriots defense made it a struggle for the Chargers offense though. The Huntsville native had three total tackles with two solo tackles. The Patriots kept Los Angeles at bay with a 16-3 win at home. Pettus will suit up at home again on Sunday against the fifth seed Houston Texans. 

The Texans will also feature a Trojan in that matchup on Sunday, as Jake Andrews competed with the team last Monday night against the Steelers, stunning the Aaron Rodgers-led team in Pittsburgh. 

The Millbrook, Ala. native continued his role as the starting center and helped protect quarterback C.J. Stroud as he threw for 250 yards and a touchdown. With a 23-0 final quarter, Houston dominated the Steelers with a 30-6 final score.  

Three Trojans will now compete in the Divisional round this weekend. With Houston’s Jake Andrews and New England’s Dell Pettus going against one another, the Trojans are guaranteed to be represented in the AFC Championship game on Jan. 25, just one game away from the Super Bowl.  

The trio are striving to become the first Trojan to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy since Steve McLendon did so with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, 2021.