When the curtains drew on the Super Bowl 2025, it was the Philadelphia Eagles that soared to a dominant 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, dethroning the two-time champions.
On the sidelines, a tearful Mekhi Becton, nicknamed “Big Ticket,” struggled to process the triumph. The victory was a stark contrast to his tumultuous first four NFL seasons—years filled with challenges that once brought him to tears for all the wrong reasons, according to the New York Post.
Becton, once labeled a first-round draft bust for the Jets, likely endured moments of solitude and reflection amid relentless ridicule during his early career struggles.
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“This is the happiest and most emotional I’ve ever been other than my son being born,’’ Becton told The Post after the game. “As a player, this is something you dream about.”
What was going through his mind on that sideline?
“Just life,” Becton said. “Thinking about all the trials and tribulations I’ve been through, all the doubters, everybody who told me I couldn’t do it.
“I’m a kid from Richmond, Virginia,” Becton went on, getting emotional again. “People don’t make it out of Richmond from where I’m from. I’m not supposed to be here right now. I was thinking about that and thinking about all the people watching me back home. I was doing it for them, man.”
Becton, drafted 11th overall by the Jets in 2020, faced weight issues and recurring knee injuries that cut short his time with the team.
Released after the 2023 season, the Jets acknowledged their error, while Becton sought redemption by signing a one-year contract with the Eagles, working under respected offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
Stoutland revived Becton’s career by shifting him from left tackle to right guard.
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After missing nearly two full seasons due to injuries, Becton made a remarkable comeback, starting 15 regular-season games and all four postseason matches, including the Super Bowl.
Becton’s “prove-it” season with the Eagles earned him a Super Bowl ring and the prospect of a lucrative long-term contract.
This turnaround comes just months after the Jets, which initially drafted him, cut ties following years of injuries and setbacks.
“There were definitely dark days, for sure,” Becton said. “I was in those dark days for a good little minute. It just feels good to actually cry tears to joy.”
Becton confessed he struggled to grasp the reality of his success as he stood on the sideline, watching the final seconds tick away and later basking in a confetti-filled celebration.
“I’m one of those guys that’s going to work no matter what,” he said. “I’m just going to keep my head down no matter what anybody says. I just work. Good things come to people who do good things. I’ve put the work in, and now I’m being rewarded for it.”
