Cal Poly football alum Elijah Ponder is headed to the Super Bowl

Elijah’s Ponder’s football story has taken him from five seasons starring at Cal Poly to going undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft to eventually then signing as a free agent with the New England Patriots.

Then, the Patriots went 14-3 and won the AFC East.

Next up? Playing for a championship on the NFL’s biggest stage.

Ponder made his pro debut this season after he was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in May, surviving the final roster cuts to make his regular-season debut in a 33-27 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.

After the Patriots edged the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship on Sunday, Ponder and the Patriots are headed to Super Bowl LX.

Ponder almost scored a touchdown on defense

The conference championship game nearly had the highlight moment of Ponder’s life.

Late in the first half, just before the two-minute warning, the Patriots’ defense collapsed on Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham as he backpedaled deep into his own territory. The pressure forced a loose ball, and Ponder appeared to scoop it up and take it into the end zone from the 12-yard line.

The play was been blown dead — ruled as an incomplete pass and intentional grounding — and the touchdown was waved off, wiping out what would have been the first TD of Ponder’s NFL career.

A review, however, showed it was a backward pass and a live ball, with the 261-pound linebacker recovering possession deep in Denver territory. That set up the Patriots’ lone touchdown — a 6-yard quarterback keeper by Drake Maye.

Wouldn’t be first Cal Poly alum to win a Super Bowl

Ponder has already been part of more wins in New England than he ever experienced during his time at Cal Poly.

He recorded four sacks in the regular season, matching the total of Abdul Carter, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

Three of Ponder’s four sacks came in a four-week stretch in the middle of the season, signaling his growing role in the Patriots’ defense at the right time.

During his time at Cal Poly, Ponder played in 47 games and finished his college career with 167 tackles, 26.5 sacks and a touchdown on an interception return.

A Patriots Super Bowl win would make Ponder the latest Cal Poly alum to earn a ring.

The last Mustang to do so was J.J Koski, who was a member of the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021-22 season when they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

Super Bowl LX will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Feb. 8. The New England Patriots will face the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks following their win over the Rams on Sunday.