Trenton Makes, Ji’Ayir Brown Takes. The capital city’s native son made his mark during his rookie season in Super Bowl LVIII when he intercepted future Hall of Fame quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Even though Brown and the San Francisco 49ers came up short in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs, the way he represented Trenton on the grandest stage makes him our Trentonian SportsPerson of the Year for 2024. “He is Trenton,” said former TCHS athletic director Sharron Grady said. “He’s not just a part — I did a little here, I did … no he is Trenton. Trenton High and Trenton.” Brown starred on the gridiron and hardwood for the Tornadoes before he moved on to Lackawanna College. There he caught the eye of the coaching staff at Penn State and earned a scholarship to the Big Ten school. He really shined in Happy Valley where he turned himself into an NFL Draft prospect. The 49ers selected him in the third round and by the midway point of his rookie season he was the team’s starting safety as it secured the top seed in the NFC. In the big game, Brown finished with 11 tackles — seven of them solo — and the interception. On a 3rd-and-12 play on the opening drive of the third quarter, Mahomes stepped up in the pocket and lofted a pass toward tight end Travis Kelce, but Brown read the play and swooped in for the interception. In many ways, it was a moment that could be traced back to his Trenton roots. “Trenton taught me how to navigate through life,” Brown said in the lead up to the Super Bowl. “… I believe Trenton has unique ways of helping people grow as men. I’m fortunate enough that God put me in that situation to be able to grow. In Trenton, there’s so many different things thrown at you, so many distractions thrown your way. To be able to see through that and still chase a dream, still chase a goal, it’s a blessing. Life throws things at you, the outside world throws things at you, how you navigate through it is the question.” Brown makes sure to give back to his hometown. He works with longtime Trenton High athletic trainer David ‘Poppy’ Sanderson and his Education Outweighs Them All foundation to put on a one-day football clinic for kids at the high school in the summer. He was awarded the key to the city in March. “What a great young man,” said Mercer County Commissioner Terrance Stokes, who was Brown’s Pop Warner coach. “He’s no longer Tig to me, he’s Mr. Brown.” Brown has continued to build on his reputation as a solid NFL safety in year two. He has started 13 of San Francisco’s 15 games and has 70 tackles and an interception — in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys. “Each chapter in Ji’Ayir’s story gets more and more exciting,” said former TCHS football coach Greg Hyslop. “I was talking to him about his first interception against Wisconsin — a normal Big Ten game on a Saturday — and how I jumped through the roof. Two years later, he’s on the Rose Bowl stage accepting the MVP award. And one year after that, he’s playing in a Super Bowl intercepting Patrick Mahomes.” San Francisco 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown (27) makes an interception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of the Super Bowl 58 on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Honorable Mention Dave Caldwell: A former SportsPerson of the Year winner, the only coach the Hopewell Valley football program has ever known was at it again by guiding the Bulldogs to their second undefeated regular season in three years. Hopewell finished with a 10-1 record and won the WJFL Capitol Division title. The Bulldogs are 28-4 over the last three seasons. Fisher Brothers: Two of the most recognizable names in Mercer County soccer (and two of the real good guys). Their teams at Robbinsville (Jeff) and Notre Dame (Bryan) were a combined 39-9-2 this season. Jeff’s Ravens won a third straight sectional title, while Bryan’s Irish made a memorable run to the Non-Public A South final by winning road games over Christian Brothers Academy and St. Augustine. Jeff has won at least 18 games in each of the last three years — he shared SportsPerson of the Year in 2022 — and Bryan has won 65 of 89 matches (73%) in the four years since ND hired him away from West Windsor South. Jenn Melker: When Steinert had to hire a softball coach to take over for a legend, it couldn’t have made a better choice than Melker. All she’s done in average 22 wins per season and has the Spartans going for a third straight state title after capturing it in each of the past two years. Melker’s career record in five seasons is 110-23 (.827). Hollin Pierce: The Trenton native has been a stalwart at both tackle spots for Rutgers throughout his career where he has started 50 games. The 6-8, 344-pounder has gone from walk-on to likely NFL draft pick in April. Coach Greg Schiano remarked there is “no greater story in college football,” when asked about Pierce. Rhian Stokes: Now a freshman at Saint Joseph’s University, Stokes became the Ewing girls basketball team’s all-time leading scorer last winter with 1,773 points. The 5-foot-9 guard added 694 rebounds, 667 steals, 644 assists and 123 blocks in her incredible career. In her four years, the Blue Devils went 94-11 and won the Group III state title in the 2022-23 season. Honorable Mentions for SportsPerson of the Year include Dave Caldwell, the Fisher brothers: Jeff and Bryan, Jenn Melker, Hollin Pierce and Rhian Stokes.