This year for Super Bowl XLIX the game balls will be handled by Tony Medlin, the Bears equipment manager who is also an alumnus of North Carolina Central University.

From ESPN, “…the process of overseeing the game balls for the Super Bowl will fall on Chicago Bears equipment manager.”

Prior to the Super Bowl game Medlin also managed equipment at NCCU from 1982-1987, according to ESPN.

There has been some controversy over the footballs used in the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts, in particular by New England in which the team allegedly deflated 11-12 of the footballs used in the game.