FAYETTEVILLE, NC — As Super Bowl LX unfolds on football’s biggest stage, there is a powerful local connection worth highlighting. Linebacker Harold Landry’s journey from Cumberland County to the NFL spotlight offers an inspiring reminder for young athletes across the area.
Harold Landry, currently competing with the New England Patriots, was raised in Spring Lake, North Carolina, and is a 2014 graduate of Pine Forest High School. Long before national broadcasts and packed stadiums, Landry played on the same local fields where families throughout Fayetteville and Spring Lake continue to gather on Friday nights. Known to many in the community as one of the “525 Boys” — a reference to Pine Forest’s 525 Andrews Road address — his foundation was built right here at home.
After high school, Landry went on to play college football at Boston College, where he developed into one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top defensive players and a nationally recognized pass rusher. His speed, discipline, and relentless play earned him league-wide attention.
Landry entered the NFL as a second-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the majority of his professional career with the Tennessee Titans, establishing himself as a consistent defensive force and team leader before joining the New England Patriots.
Now competing on football’s biggest stage in Super Bowl LX, Landry’s presence represents more than individual achievement. For many in Cumberland County, it’s another proud hometown moment. For young athletes watching from the stands, classrooms, or living rooms, it’s proof that NFL stories can begin on local practice fields.
His path reinforces the importance of investing in youth development, supporting school athletics, and encouraging the next generation to stay disciplined and focused on their goals.
As the Super Bowl spotlight shines nationally, it also reflects back on the community that helped shape one of its own.
Kres Thomas
FayToday News
