MARYVILLE, Mo. (KCTV) – Maryville’s own Jalen Sundell will play in his first Super Bowl on Sunday night, with the support of his entire hometown from afar.
Sundell’s journey to the big game. and his spot as the Seattle Seahawks’ starting center, involved hard work, perseverance, and patience.
“We were elated, shocked,” Sundell’s parents, Bob and Korena, said about the moment Seattle won the NFC Championship.
His high school coach, Matt Webb, recalled a conversation he had with Sundell when he realized he had what it took to play football after high school.
“I said ‘Hey, someday if you wanna play college football I think you have the ability to do that.’ And he looked at me and said, ‘Really coach?”
His coach’s prediction came true, and Sundell went on to showcase his versatility on the offensive line for five years at North Dakota State.
Sundell went undrafted after graduation due to injury, but he held onto his hopes of making his NFL dreams come true.
“The summer after he graduated was a lot of unknown, a little bit dark,” Sundell’s dad, Bob, told KCTV5. “He was literally a couple weeks away from saying, ‘This was a great journey, but football’s not for me. It’s just not gonna work out.’”
“He was driving for Uber,” his mom, Korena, recalled about the weeks he spent waiting for a call from any NFL teams. “It got to a point in his summer where it was very challenging to stick with it.”
He eventually got that call from Seattle, inviting him to tryout. He was determined to not let his ‘Undrafted Free Agent’ status define him.
Seattle Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) warms up before an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)(Lindsey Wasson | AP)
He proceeded to make it to training camp, and eventually made the 53-man roster.
“He texted us and said I’m a Seahawk,” Korena said. “It was something I’ll never forget.”
Now less than two years later, he’s their starting center, and is about to play in the Super Bowl.
“All you need is a chance, and Seattle gave him that chance,” added Korena.
Since making his NFL dreams come true, Sundell has also welcomed his first child with his wife, Kaleesa.
His family will get to watch him play on Sunday night in person. That includes his sister Serena, a former K-State basketball star, who’s flying to Santa Clara from playing professionally in Australia.
Though his family has only missed three or four Chiefs games in the last 30 years, they’ve adjusted quite well to rooting for a different team now.
If you walk or drive past the Maryville High School football field, you’ll find a video on constant loop highlighting Jalen and wishing him and the Seahawks luck in the big game on the video board.(KCTV5)
“The Chiefs are now our second favorite team,” his parents said with a laugh.
Bob and Karena also said that no matter where they’ve gone around town recently, everyone has had something positive to share about Jalen.
And back in Maryville, Jalen’s entire hometown will be cheering him on from 1,800 miles away, just as they have been all season.
“There’s a lot of Chiefs fans up here, and we’ve all enjoyed the Super Bowls in the last few years. But our team and everything has been pulling for the Seahawks just because he’s one of our own,” Coach Webb said, while sporting a Seattle Seahawks sweatshirt.
If you walk or drive past the Maryville High School football field, you’ll find a video on constant loop highlighting Jalen and wishing him and the Seahawks luck in the big game on the video board.
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