Super Bowl LIX Gets Personal for New London

If you need another reason to watch Super Bowl LIX, here it is. The punter for the Philadelphia Eagles has a New London connection. His roots are in Southeast Iowa and they run deep.

His grandparents, Ron Coberley and Claudia Young Coberley, grew up in Danville and graduated from DHS in the ‘60s. After college, Ron became the band instructor at New London High School, producing excellent bands year after year. It was a position he held until retirement.

Their daughter, Pam, graduated from New London High School in 1986 and went to Iowa State. She became a teacher, and it was there that she met and married Jim Mann, whose dad called Muscatine home. They had two children - Braden and Kylee - and made their home in Texas.

Even as a child, Braden had a special place in his heart for New London. His mom tells the New London Journal that Braden’s favorite place in the country to visit is that very town.

“I seriously am not kidding,” she said. “He loved going to my parents every Christmas and summer. He kicked on the New London field several times when we were back.”

Born in 1997, Braden went to Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas. During his freshman year, he fractured his back, but refused to quit football. Instead he learned a new position, how to kick and punt. And boy, did he learn it! Out of high school, he was rated nationally as the number two kicker by Rivals.com and the number five by 247Sports.com.

He was recruited by Texas A&M University and became an Aggie. He broke several records and was a unanimous All-American in 2018. That year he was also the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and won the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s best collegiate punter.

Mann’s NFL journey has been a roller coaster ride. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round with the 191st overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He was waived by the Jets after landing on the injured reserve list. After a short stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. In his first year with the Eagles, he established a single-season franchise records in both gross (49.8) and net (43.9) punting average. In 2024, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Eagles and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after the win over the Ravens in Week 13. He is having a great season.

In the off-season in 2023, he married “his best friend in the world” Kylie Cobb. When his playing days are over, Braden wants to be a strength and conditioning coach. But for now, all his focus is on Feb. 9.

So when you see #10 for the Eagles run onto the field, wish him every success… yes, even you Kansas City fans. New London is claiming this guy as one of our own! Go Braden, Go Eagles!