As Rhamondre Stevenson gears up to play in Super Bowl LX for the New England Patriots, his powerful journey to get here was fueled by grit, triumph, and a father's enduring spirit
As the confetti cannons stand primed and the roar of a sold-out Levi's Stadium echoes across the bay on this crisp February night in 2026, one figure from Oklahoma's crimson heartland is set to etch his name into football immortality. Rhamondre Stevenson, the bulldozing running back for the New England Patriots, steps onto the turf for his first Super Bowl appearance—not just as a Patriot, but as a proud product of the University of Oklahoma.
For Sooners fans, tonight's clash against the Seattle Seahawks isn't merely a championship tilt; it's a homecoming of sorts, a testament to the grit forged in the shadows of Memorial Stadium and the relentless spirit of the Oklahoma plains.
Stevenson's journey from the Sooners' backfield to Foxborough's frost-kissed fields reads like a script from a Hollywood underdog tale, laced with triumph, tragedy, and unyielding determination. A native of Las Vegas, Stevenson arrived in Norman in 2019 after two years of JUCO ball at Cerritos College. His stocky 6-foot, 220-pound frame was hinting at the power that would soon redefine OU's ground game.
Under the watchful eye of then-head coach Lincoln Riley, Stevenson played a big role immediately in the Sooners' offense. He carved out 515 rushing yards and five touchdowns that season, but it was his senior year in 2020 that turned heads league-wide.
In just six games played that year, Stevenson ran for 665 yards and 7 scores. His bruising style complementing the aerial wizardry of quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Spencer Rattler.
Yet, it was the 2020 Cotton Bowl—a pandemic-era classic against Florida—that cemented Stevenson's legend in Oklahoma lore. In a 55-20 blowout, the Las Vegas native was a one-man wrecking crew. He rumbled for 186 yards and a touchdown on just 18 carries, earning MVP honors in a game that showcased his vision, patience, and sheer physicality.
For Sooners faithful, Stevenson's heroics offered a reminder that Norman breeds warriors who thrive under pressure.
That Cotton Bowl shine carried Stevenson straight to the NFL Draft in 2021, where the Patriots selected him in the fourth round (No. 120 overall). It was a steal for New England, a team then rebuilding under Bill Belichick's steady hand (and now thriving under Mike Vrabel's fresh vision).
From day one, Stevenson embodied the Patriot Way: blue-collar, no-frills excellence. But his path wasn't without heartache. Just months before this Super Bowl run, Stevenson's father, Raymond, passed away after a battle with illness. The loss hit hard, but in true Oklahoma fashion—where resilience is as much a birthright as barbecue—Stevenson channeled the pain into purpose.
Speaking at Super Bowl Opening Night about his father's impact on his work ethic he said, "He just kept pushing man. A lot of my adversity was coming from the football field, he had real life things he had to push through. Me not pushing through would be a disservice to him and who he raised me to be."
That paternal fire has fueled Stevenson's meteoric rise in the pros. In each of his five NFL seasons, he's eclipsed 600 rushing yards—a streak of consistency that's the envy of backfields everywhere.
Last year alone, he reached 969 yards from scrimmage, blending his ground-pounding prowess with a receiving touch that makes him a nightmare for defenses. Pro Football Focus (PFF) dubs him one of the league's most physical runners, noting that a staggering 77.5% of his rushing yards over the past two seasons have come after contact. It's a stat that screams Sooners DNA: tough, tackle-breaking runs reminiscent of Billy Sims or Adrian Peterson, minus the Heisman flash.
Next Gen Stats paint an even rosier picture. Stevenson ranks No. 1 among all running backs in rush yards over expected per carry—a metric that quantifies how he turns average holes into extraordinary gains—and yards per reception, where his soft hands and savvy routes have netted 32 catches for 345 yards this season.
If New England is going to beat Seattle, they'll need to get the most out of Stevenson and dual-threat arsenal could be the X-factor. Even Jon Gruden, the former Raiders coach turned broadcast sage, threw his hat in the ring this week on Barstool Sports. "Stevenson's my dark horse for MVP," Gruden barked with his trademark intensity. Gruden alluded to his pass-catching abilities and compared his toughness to a Chevy Silverado.
No one knows Stevenson's arc better than Lincoln Riley, now steering USC's Trojan ship. In an exclusive chat with NBC10 Boston ahead of kickoff, the former OU maestro didn't hold back his pride.
"Rhamondre is a really talented player," Riley said, his voice carrying the warmth of a mentor revisiting a star pupil. "We had a lot of fun working with him. He really improved throughout his time with us and was just outstanding there in his last year with us at Oklahoma. So I'm excited to see him in the Super Bowl. It's a pretty cool story and journey for him. He's an extremely talented player."
Stevenson's success? It's validation—a bridge from the Big 12 glory days to NFL validation. As the clock ticks toward 5:30 p.m. CT, Sooner Nation has one of their own to root for in the big game.
Stevenson's story transcends stats. It's about a kid from the desert who found his stride in the heartland, honored a father's legacy through sweat and scars, and now stands on football's grandest stage.
Win or lose against Seattle, Rhamondre Stevenson has already won the hearts of the Sooner State.
Tonight, under the brightest lights—on football's biggest stage—the physical force from OU gets to write the biggest chapter of his story yet.