World Champions
Nick Gruber
On Feb. 7, 2026, the Seattle Seahawks were crowned Super Bowl LX champions. Among those celebrating on the field were two former Boise State football standouts: George Holani and DeMarcus Lawrence.
The duo became only the second pair of former Broncos to win a Super Bowl as active teammates, and the 11th and 12th Boise State athletes to earn a Super Bowl ring as players.
But they weren’t the only Broncos to hoist the Lombardi that night. Behind the scenes, two more Boise State alumni helped make it all possible.
Boise State Broncos
Equipment managers are often the unsung heroes of any football program. First in the building and often the last to leave, they handle everything from preparing helmets and shoulder pads to ensuring practice gear is clean, organized, and ready for the players.
At Boise State, that standard is no different. Led by Associate Director of Athletic Equipment Operations Dale Holste and Assistant Director Blake Schulte, the Broncos’ equipment room relies on undergraduate workers and graduate assistants to meet the demands of a Division I football program.
Among those graduate assistants were two future NFL equipment staff members: Doug DeKerchove and Easton Hudson. DeKerchove and Hudson both graduated from the Master's of Athletic Leadership graduate program (DeKerchove in 2024, Hudson in 2025), a program designed in part by Boise State Hall of Fame football coach Chris Petersen. The program equips young professionals with leadership skills and hands-on experience in athletics. Graduate assistants earn a master’s degree while functioning as integral members of their teams.
DeKerchove, a Boise native and lifelong Bronco fan, discovered the equipment room late in his undergraduate career. After just one season, the opportunity to join the MAL program was an easy decision.
“That was the easiest yes I’ve ever had in my life,” DeKerchove said. “I thought, ‘absolutely, I want to keep doing this.’”
Hudson’s path was slightly different. He didn’t start in equipment until his senior year at Eastern Washington. A connection between his supervisor and Schulte opened the door for him to join Boise State’s staff as a graduate assistant in 2023.
“It was almost fate,” Hudson said. “I called Dale, told him I was moving to Boise, and it just happened that a GA spot opened up. Everything lined up perfectly.”
For both, the MAL program offered more than a degree. It was a front-row seat to the inner workings of a major college athletics program, and a chance to grow as leaders in a high-pressure environment.
Graduate assistants in the equipment room handle responsibilities similar to full-time staff: managing laundry, preparing practice and game-day gear, assisting with trips, and leading undergraduate workers.
“You really learn what it takes to run a program,” DeKerchove said. “It’s a lot of work, but you get to see how much goes into every single thing the players and coaches do.”
Hudson echoed that sentiment.
“You don’t realize how much work goes on behind the scenes until you’re in it. The laundry, packing trips, making sure every little thing is ready for practice or a game. It’s all critical.”
The day-to-day demands of the Boise State equipment room mirror what’s expected at the professional level. For DeKerchove and Hudson, the foundation they built in Boise prepared them for the NFL.
“Having the College Football Playoff experience helped a lot with what I do now,” Hudson said. “Blake and Dale were always willing to explain anything I needed or had questions about.”
“The MAL program really primed me to step into a leadership role in the equipment room,” added DeKerchove. “I owe so much to Scott Moorcroft. The program truly helped me a lot.”
Seattle Seahawks
As DeKerchove’s time as a graduate assistant came to a close, he hoped to stay at Boise State, but the opportunity didn’t materialize. His passion for equipment work led him to seek positions at the professional level.
“I probably emailed or applied to half of the teams in the NFL,” DeKerchove said. “I only heard back from one, and it happened to be the Seattle Seahawks. It couldn’t have been a more perfect fit. I never imagined I’d be working in the NFL, and now we’re here.”
The transition from college to the pros wasn’t seamless, but DeKerchove credited his time with the Broncos as a major help.
“That hard-working mentality I learned as a Bronco really stuck with me,” he said. “At Boise State, I was put in a lot of different roles, which made me feel familiar with the job in Seattle.”
Meanwhile, Hudson stayed at Boise State to complete his final year as a graduate assistant. Despite the distance, he and DeKerchove remained close. When openings arose in Seattle, DeKerchove knew who to call first.
“I knew Easton was finishing up his master’s program, and it was a no-brainer to give him a call and see if he’d be interested,” DeKerchove said.
“I remember him calling and saying, ‘We have some guys leaving, and I know you could help change the culture here,’” Hudson said. “It just felt like a great opportunity.”
Hudson also noted the dynamic with DeKerchove.
“Being able to see him, watch him grow from when he was at Boise State and in the MAL, and how he would lead in the equipment room, it’s just been really cool for me to watch him step into that role, and he pushes me. I’m trying to be right there with Doug.”
Reunited, the two Broncos helped the Seahawks finish the regular season 14-3, secure the top NFC seed, and advance through the playoffs to the Super Bowl.
After the NFC Championship, Hudson and DeKerchove stood on the field, reflecting on how far they’d come.
“Some guys spend their whole careers in the NFL and never even reach a conference championship,” Hudson said. “Doing it with one of my best friends made it even more special.”
But the work didn’t stop there. The pair spent the following days moving the Seahawks’ entire operation from Washington to Santa Clara, packing trunks, prepping gear, and making sure every detail was ready for the biggest game in football. “It was long days, from 8 a.m. to past 11 p.m.,” Hudson said. “But I’m very fortunate to be able to say I was packing for a Super Bowl.”
All that preparation, long hours, and early mornings finally culminated when the clock hit zero. The Seattle Seahawks, along with Doug DeKerchove and Easton Hudson, were Super Bowl champions. A testament not only to their dedication on the field, but also to the foundation they built years earlier at Boise State.
As the celebrations continued, those who watched their journey from Boise State couldn’t be prouder.
“Doug and Easton embody what it means to be a Bronco,” said Schulte. “They take their blue collar mentality everywhere they go and we are beyond proud of them.”
