Ten Tennessee Vols Represented in 2026 NFL Playoff Divisional Round
- Ellie Williamson
- Jan 19
- 3 min read
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The NFL Playoff Divisional Rounds put the 10 in Tennessee. Ten former Tennessee Volunteers were on rosters this weekend, with seven active. Fans of the Vols saw their alumni featured in every divisional-round game.
The Bills were the first to lose out in the Divisional rounds. The Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game, keeping their Super Bowl aspirations alive. Former Vol Josh Palmer was eliminated as the Broncos capitalized on multiple Bills turnovers.
The Texans and The Bears were the next to be eliminated. Both teams were competitive late in the 4th. The NFL has had record reach and viewership from the Wild Card rounds. Nielsen ratings averaged 32 million viewers, the highest since 2015.
The Active Former Vols In Divisional Games
Derek Barnett, DE – Houston Texans
A first-round pick in 2017, Barnett continues to anchor the Texans’ defensive line. He’s expected to play a key role in Houston’s matchup against the New England Patriots.
Joshua Dobbs, QB – New England Patriots
The versatile quarterback provides depth behind New England’s starter. Dobbs’ mobility and experience make him a reliable option in critical playoff situations.
Jauan Jennings, WR – San Francisco 49ers
A former high school quarterback from Murfreesboro, Jennings has been a dynamic offensive weapon. In the wild card round, he connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey on a double-reverse play and added a 45-yard reception. He is the first player in NFL history to post a perfect 158.3 passer rating in multiple playoff games for the same team.
Jaylen McCollough, S – Los Angeles Rams
McCollough played a key role in the Rams’ wild card win over Carolina, recording critical tackles and providing leadership in the secondary.
Darnell Wright, OT – Chicago Bears
An All-Pro right tackle, Wright anchors the Bears’ offensive line in their matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, protecting the quarterback in frigid Soldier Field conditions.
Byron Young, OLB – Los Angeles Rams
Young contributed defensively in the wild card round and is expected to continue his impact as an outside linebacker in the divisional round.
Palmer helped the Bills reach the divisional round with his reliable receiving skills and will be active as Buffalo travels to face top-seeded Denver.
Other Vols on Playoff Rosters (Not Active )
Jakob Johnson, FB – Houston Texans (Practice Squad)
Velus Jones Jr., RB – Seattle Seahawks (Practice Squad)
Darrell Taylor, DE – New England Patriots (Injured/Reserve)
With multiple active former Volunteers on the LA Rams roster, fans can catch Tennessee representation in the NFC conference championship game set for Jan. 25th. The game will be broadcast nationally on the FOX television network and streamed on NFL plus and Fox one. The Kickoff at 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT will be at the home of the Seattle Seahawks. VFL Venus Jones is non active for the Seahawks.
The AFC Championship will showcase The New England Patriots and The Denver Broncos. Non active Patriot QB and VFL Josh Dobbs will be part of his first NFL Conference Championship game. Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT / 2:00 PM CT on CBS Sports and streamed on Paramount plus.
As for my picks this weekend: I’m taking Pats and Rams for the 60th Super Bowl.
Stay connected online and share your favorite Tennessee memories of these former Vols on socials. Tag TPL and we will share your support on our platform.
📸: Tennesse Athletics/151 creative.
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