Former Buffalo Bills players on the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will faceoff in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Both sides have their various connections to the Bills.
Here’s that full rundown here:
49ers
WR Jordan Matthews
Jordan Matthews #87 of the Buffalo Bills. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Jordan Matthews was acquired by the Bills via a trade with the Eagles in 2017, playing one season in Buffalo. Matthews signed with the 49ers in March 2019, was a final cut in training camp, he then re-signed by the Eagles in November, cut a few weeks later, then re-signed with the 49ers in December. He’s been inactive.
2019 stats: 3 games played, four catches, 33 yards.
The Bills’ third-round pick in 2013 signed with the 49ers in 2017 after his rookie contract in Buffalo expired. Goodwin won’t be playing in the Super Bowl, though. Goodwin is the the 49ers’ injured reserve list due to knee and foot injuries.
Former Buffalo Bills players playing in the AFC and NFC Championship games in 2019.
The Buffalo Bills unfortunately won’t be suiting up this weekend as the Super Bowl participants will be decided via Championship weekend in the NFL.
In the AFC, it’ll either be the Titans or Chiefs. The NFC has the Packers and 49ers squaring off.
But there are a few familiar faces that will get their chance to play in the Big Game in a few weeks.
Here’s a team-by-team rundown of former Bills players getting after it this weekend for a spot in the Super Bowl:
49ers
WR Jordan Matthews
Jordan Matthews #87 of the Buffalo Bills. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Jordan Matthews was acquired by the Bills via a trade with the Eagles in 2017, playing one season in Buffalo. Matthews signed with the 49ers in March 2019, was a final cut in training camp, he then re-signed by the Eagles in November, cut a few weeks later, then re-signed with the 49ers in December. He’s been inactive.
2019 stats: 3 games played, four catches, 33 yards.
The Bills’ third-round pick in 2013 signed with the 49ers in 2017 after his rookie contract in Buffalo expired. Goodwin won’t be playing in the NFC Championship, though. Goodwin is the the 49ers’ injured reserve list due to knee and foot injuries.
Perhaps you’re looking for a team that has no former Bills players to root for because you’re sick of guys leaving Buffalo and getting that title? You’ll be saying “go pack go” this weekend then. Unless you remember some coaches…
In 2013, the Bills had Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator until 2014. A lot of Hackett’s career coincided with former Bills head coach Doug Marrone. The two were together at the University of Syracuse and Marrone hired him with the Bills. Then when Marrone left Buffalo and went to the Jaguars, he helped Hackett come on over as well, first as the QBs coach then OC from 2016-2018. Hackett was fired there and when offensive guru Matt LaFleur was hired in Green Bay prior to the 2019 season, he added Hackett as his OC.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine
Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
While with the Bills, like many offensive coordinators, you need someone to blame… so Hackett wasn’t very popular. On the other hand. Mike Pettine, who was Buffalo’s defensive coordinator in 2013, was popular. So much so that he landed as the Browns head coach in 2014. After being fired in 2015, Pettine’s next NFL job was in 2018, with the Packers, where he still is.
The 49ers tweaked their injury-riddled roster by adding a couple familiar names.
The 49ers on Wednesday made a flurry of expected roster moves official. They placed center Weston Richburg on Injured Reserve, ending his season. They also re-signed wide receiver Jordan Matthews and cornerback Dontae Johnson. The 49ers made a pair of practice squad additions as well.
Richburg tore his patellar tendon in the third quarter of the 49ers’ Week 14 win in New Orleans. Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday said Richburg would go on IR, but it wasn’t made official until Wednesday.
The Matthews re-signing came on the heels of Marquise Goodwin’s move to Injured Reserve. With Goodwin out, the 49ers had just five wide receivers on the roster. Matthews gives some added depth in his third stint with the club. He was with the team throughout camp and released at final roster cuts. He spent three weeks in October with San Francisco before getting cut again. Now he’s back after a short stop with the Eagles. This time in Santa Clara should be more permanent for Matthews with the 49ers so limited on available bodies. His experience with the offense should allow him to step in and play right away if necessary.
Johnson is another player making his third stop in Santa Clara. He was with the team in the offseason and for a few weeks in October and November. Johnson gives the 49ers some cornerback depth with Richard Sherman battling a hamstring injury. Adam Caplan initially reported his signing.
San Francisco also rounded out its 10-man practice squad with offensive lineman Kofi Amichia and cornerback Jermaine Kelly.
Amichia was a sixth-round pick of the Packers in the 2017 draft out of South Florida. He spent time on their practice squad, along with the Ravens and Panthers practice squads. He’s yet to play in an NFL game.
Kelly was a sixth-round pick of the Texans out of San Jose State in the 2018 draft. He was hurt his rookie season and eventually released before signing with the 49ers’ practice squad.
Since returning to Philadelphia, Matthews played in two games logging 137 total snaps and accounting for 33 yards on four receptions catches.
With Philadelphia once again moving on from Matthews, here are four takeaways from the move.
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1. Something’s going on with the front office
Either Howie Roseman isn’t happy with Doug Pederson’s coaching style or he just decides to make the day after an Eagles loss “Black Monday.” How else can you explain the Eagles cutting or releasing Zach Brown, Orlando Scandrick, Akeem Spence, Andrew Sendejo and now Matthews the day after bad losses?
The move comes one day after Greg Ward had six catches for 40 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in a loss. Matthews had three catches for 27 yards but hasn’t been the big-play threat that Philadelphia needs to help open up the offense down the stretch.
In two games since returning to the Eagles, Matthews has been targeted 12 times, with four catches for 33-yards.
The move ensures that the Eagles believe they’ll have both Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor back into the lineup, along with clearing a spot for Cre’Von LeBlanc.
Jordan Matthews could end up being the Eagles number one receiving option on Sunday when they face the Patriots.
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Jordan Matthews is living the American dream this week, going from being unemployed to the top dawg on an NFL roster. Recently cut by the San Francisco 49ers, Matthews returned to the team that originally drafted him, thinking he’d be an added weapon.
Now with Alshon Jeffery nursing an ankle injury, Matthews could be tossed into the role of No. 1 wide receiver when Stephon Gilmore and the Patriots come into town.
No sign of Alshon Jeffery (ankle) for the second straight practice. Sunday could provide opportunity for rookie JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who has been backing Jeffery up this season.
If Jeffery can’t go, Matthews will be called upon even more, while JJ Arcega-Whiteside could finally get an extended opportunity to make plays on the outside as well.
With the news that DeSean Jackson’s core muscle surgery will keep him out until at least the playoffs, the question has to be asked, can the Philadelphia Eagles make a lengthy playoff run without a true deep threat?
During the season opener, Jackson went off, catching two 50+ yard touchdowns and displaying the threatening deep speed that keeps coordinators up at night. Without Jackson, the Eagles are one of the worst in the NFL at pushing the ball downfield.
Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor have both underperformed at times, but Agholor’s inability to be a deep threat is most concerning. Mack Hollins has gone 200 offensive snaps without a catch, while JJ Arcega-Whiteside can’t get on the field. Eagles wide receivers have combined for 719 yards since Week 2, while the receiving corps rank 32nd in receiving yards per target, 31st in yards per reception and 30th in yards after the catch per The Athletic.
Jordan Matthews was recently signed, but he’s more of a possession style wide receiver and it’ll be interesting to see just how much of an effect he’ll have on the deep passing game.
We pose the question to you: Can the Eagles make a playoff run Share your thoughts and join the discussion at the Eagles Wire forum.
Matthews was one of the receivers we thought the Eagles might have interest in, seeing hows he’s close friends with star quarterback Carson Wentz and is familiar with the Birds offense.
