AUGUSTA, Ga. – Fernando Velasco says his journey to reach and stay in the NFL, is much like his current team’s motto, “Keep Pounding.” On Sunday, February 7 he will suit up to play for the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California against the Denver Broncos.
Velasco, a Jefferson County native, turned pro in 2008 after four years as an offensive lineman at the University of Georgia. He went undrafted before being signed by the Tennessee Titans, where he played through the 2012 season. He then bounced from the Pittsburgh Steelers (2013), to his first stint with the Panthers (2014), to being a practice squad member back with the Titans (2015.) His winding journey through pro football’s top level led him back to the Panthers at the start of the 2016 season.
He is now a key member of the Panthers offensive line, backing up All-Pro center Ryan Kalil. He is on a one-year contract and will be a free-agent at the end of the season. Velasco says he wants to play at least two more seasons in the NFL before venturing into the coaching profession, preferably he says, at the college level.
This season the Panthers finished with the best regular season record in the NFL, 15-1, capturing the NFC South Division championship, as well as the NFC championship. Kickoff at Super Bowl 50 is set for 6:30 pm in Levi’s Stadium.
