Tag: super bowl liv

Tech N9ne reflects on early Chiefs fandom, Super Bowl anthem ‘Red Kingdom’

@EdEastonJr spoke to Strange Music co-founder Tech N9ne about his earliest memory as a Chiefs fan and his creation of ‘Red Kingdom.’

The Kansas City Chiefs have the ultimate soundtrack to their success over the past few seasons, created by one of their most famous fans. This track electrifies the crowd for every game with a unique local flair.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Strange Music co-founder Tech N9ne about his earliest memory as a Chiefs fan and his creation of the team anthem, ‘Red Kingdom.’

“I should say it goes all the way back to five years old with my uncle Ike. My uncle Ike has always been intertwined with the Kansas City Chiefs. Uncle Ike has been intertwined in anything sports,” Tech N9ne explained. “I remember him taking me when I was five years old. Every year, I’d go to the game with him, and I’ve been a fan since I was five. Bro, I’m about to be 53 this year. I remember us going to see J.T. Smith. I was young, bro, but I remember going to see J.T. Smith a lot.”

The hit song ‘Red Kingdom’ has quickly become the team’s anthem. It is often played at Arrowhead Stadium and has been performed live during games and Super Bowl rallies since 2019.

“I remember having ‘Red Kingdom’, specifically the Chiefs organization, calling me to perform that song and other songs,” Tech N9ne said. “I went to my first Super Bowl that year, and I’ve witnessed them win, and I’ve been a fan for all those years. It’s such a magical feeling. My uncle Ike, who took me when I was five, sat next to me in the front row at the Super Bowl. If you have the Chiefs bench right there, if you look behind it, we were right there, and we got to witness the Chiefs win the Super Bowl together.

“I mean (we) looked at each other with big eyes. It is a magical feeling for me because he goes every year; ever since I was a little boy, no matter who played, he would be in that city, but I never went. I was always working on Tech N9ne, and when I started going, we started winning. Maybe I’m a good luck charm.”

For more information from Tech N9ne, follow him on X, Instagram and log on to strangemusicinc.com

Former Chiefs defensive back credits Steve Spagnuolo for reviving his career

Former Kansas City #Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu credits Steve Spagnuolo for reviving his career | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory was a monumental moment in the franchise’s history, helping start the current dynasty. Many players from that season remain, while others have found new teams, but they still maintain respect and support for the coaching staff.

During a recent conversation with Sportscasting’s Kyle Odegard, former Chiefs Pro Bowl safety Tyrann Mathieu praised his experience with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

“Spags (Steve Spagnuolo) rejuvenated me, because there was three to four years where my coach wasn’t calling plays for me,” said Mathieu. “They didn’t think I could do that. He knew I could. He played a big part in my revival.”

Mathieu spent three seasons in Kansas City, earning Pro Bowl selections twice, first-team All-Pro honors in 2020 and second-team honors in 2019. He thanked Spagnuolo for allowing him the freedom to make plays during games.

“Every play that came into the huddle was, ‘Alright, Tyrann, what do you want to do: Play quarters, play half field, do you want to rob the middle?’ I had that freedom. I had the green dot to do what I wanted. That sh– helped me too.” said Mathieu. “So much of the game is psychological, man, mental, and that sh– was important for me. It was a few years before I went to work thinking, ‘This sh– is about to pop off like I’m about to make a play.’ That sh– helps you get out of bed every morning.”

Mathieu is entering his third season with the New Orleans Saints. He is still making plays and maintaining plenty of appreciation from the Chiefs fanbase.

Ryan Fitzpatrick reflects on 2019 season finale that clinched first-round bye for Chiefs

#Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Ryan Fitzpatrick, discussing the aftermath of his game-winning drive in the 2019 season finale. | @EdEastonJr

Many consider the Kansas City Chiefs to be the NFL’s latest dynasty. The team won its second Super Bowl title in franchise history during the 2019 season, and one of the most underrated factors in their success that year was quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who wasn’t on Kansas City’s roster.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Fitzpatrick ahead of the American Century Championship golf tournament and discussed the upcoming event on the links as well as the aftermath of his game-winning drive in the 2019 regular-season finale that clinched Kansas City a first-round bye.

“The American Century Championship is awesome. It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year. I know that so many athletes, celebrities, and comedians play in this thing every year that I really look forward to it, and Americans Century does such a great job putting it on,” said Fitzpatrick of the golf tournament. “[It] seems like it’s getting bigger and bigger every year. With the fans, there’s prize money for the golfers, which is competitive and great, and American Century’s commitment to their charitable causes. You know, almost $8 million has been given away to charity through this term.”

As a member of the Miami Dolphins, Fitzpatrick led a game-winning drive against the heavily favored New England Patriots in the 2019 regular-season finale. The victory didn’t help the already-eliminated Dolphins, but it did catapult the Chiefs into the number two seed which, at that time, secured them a first-round bye in the postseason.

“Every time I see a Chiefs fan, they come up to me and say something,” Fitzpatrick explained. “I’ve been in Kansas City a few times for Thursday night football or my cousin’s wedding, but Chiefs fans in general, in the airport, I get that quite a bit still. It was a great memory for me, and obviously one that Chiefs fans really appreciate and will always remember.”

The victory was critical for the Chiefs on their way to winning Super Bowl LIV as they kept home-field advantage through the AFC Championship game. Fitzpatrick was still acknowledged for his heroics in this happening, and it wasn’t limited to just fans in Kansas City.

“Jonathan Thomas, the CEO of American Century, sent me some Kansas City barbecue,” said Fitzpatrick, “because he was so appreciative of that win.”

Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.

49ers vs. Chiefs: Recent matchups haven’t been kind to San Francisco

The 49ers have had a ton of trouble beating the Chiefs in recent years.

The 49ers and Chiefs will face off in Super Bowl LVIII in what defensive end Nick Bosa called a perfect matchup for San Francisco.

Bosa was referring not necessarily to the head-to-head matchup between the clubs, but rather the chance for his club to cap their tough road back to the Super Bowl with some redemption against the team that defeated them in Super Bowl LIV to cap the 2019 season.

As for the head-to-head matchup, that one hasn’t been kind to the 49ers since the turn of the century. Here’s a look at each showdown between San Francisco and Kansas City since the year 2000:

Most of 49ers Super Bowl preparations will happen during bye week

Kyle Shanahan explains how preparation, experience can help the #49ers in the Super Bowl:

By the time the 49ers are in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl they’ll be almost fully prepared to play in the NFL’s championship game despite there being a week until the game kicks off.

With the added responsibility that comes with the big game, head coach Kyle Shanahan he learned that the week off between the NFC championship and the Super Bowl is essential for pre-game preparation. That means when they leave Santa Clara for Southern Nevada, the 49ers will have a full game plan installed.

“You try to get as much in this first week as possible,” Shanahan said in his Thursday press conference. “When you get out there, we go through it again. But it is different. Our Monday’s totally different with the media deal. Our routine’s off because you’ve got to do these press conferences every day. So you get about an hour off from all your normal times. So when you usually do red zone and stuff, you’re two hours behind. A little more tired. All that stuff adds up. If you put stuff off to that week and think it’s going to be a normal week you’re going to get to that Thursday or Friday and not quite feel as comfortable.”

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Shanahan indicated he was happy with the team’s preparation ahead of Super Bowl LIV, which the 49ers lost to the Chiefs to cap the 2019 season. However, that group had far less Super Bowl experience than this year’s team. 11 players on the roster were with the club the last time they went, and that’s something Shanahan thinks could be helpful.

“I think all those guys for the most part were young guys and it was their first one,” Shanahan said. “I think always when you go your first time you experience a lot of stuff, but I think when you go your second time, all that stuff you experienced, it’s about one thing. It’s about what happens in those three hours. I think it’s real cool for those guys who have gone to be able to talk to players who it’s their first time kind of help them not get caught up in stuff. Especially guys who are rookies and guys like [WR] Deebo [Samuel] and things like that. So, having experience always helps.”

While the 49ers’ experience may help them, they’re going against perhaps the most experienced group in the league with the Kansas City Chiefs where head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have been to three of the last five Super Bowls.

Ultimately, as Shanahan noted, all that matters is what happens between kickoff and the clock hitting 0:00. Preparation and experience help, but the 49ers will need to be at their very best if they’re going to knock off a Chiefs club that’s dominated the decade so far.

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11 players with 2023 49ers were on 2019 Super Bowl team

Here are the 11 players on this year’s 49ers team who were also with the team for the 2019 Super Bowl season:

The 49ers are back in the Super Bowl after a three-season hiatus where they fell a game short twice in the last two years.

San Francisco’s dominance over the last half decade has led to a core of players that’s stuck with the team since that 2019 season. 11 players who were with the club that year are still with the club in 2023 as they ascend back to the NFL’s biggest stage.

Here’s a quick rundown of those 11 players who were on both iterations of the 49ers:

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CB Charvarius Ward reveals Chiefs game plan vs. 49ers in Super Bowl

49ers CB Charvarius Ward, who was on the Chiefs team that beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl, revealed via @tidalleague what KC’s game plan was:

While several 49ers are on a quest to avenge their Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs after the 2019 season, cornerback Charvarius Ward finds himself in a different boat. Ward was part of that Kansas City team that came back from a 20-10 deficit to defeat the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.

In an appearance on ‘Third and Long,’ Ward revealed that the 49ers played right into the Chiefs’ defense’s hands when they abandoned their run game in the fourth quarter.

“The game plan was to put the ball in Jimmy (Garoppolo)’s hands, man,” Ward told Third and Long host, 49ers defensive tackle Arik Armstead. “I hate to say this. Our game plan was to put the ball in Jimmy’s hands, but Kyle Shanahan, he was just calling run after run. For some reason in the fourth quarter they stopped running the ball, and we kinda took over a little bit.

“I don’t want to say too much about it because I’m part of the organization now. Going into the game we were extremely confident, but once y’all came out doing all that y’all were doing, we were like ‘(expletive) these boys are kinda good. We gotta like man up and thud up.’ And that’s kinda like what we did in the fourth quarter.”

It was clear in the fourth quarter that Kansas City was focused on stopping the 49ers’ rushing attack. Defensive end Terrell Suggs, at that point in his career a run stopper, spent a ton of time on the field to try and help a defense that allowed 88 rushing yards on 12 first-half carries. Through three quarters the 49ers had 109 rushing yards on 17 attempts. San Francisco won the third quarter 10-0 to take a 20-10 lead into the final 15 minutes.

That’s when the Chiefs’ plan to put the ball in Garoppolo’s hands worked. By selling out to stop the run they pushed Shanahan into a pass-happy set of play calls. The 49ers in the fourth quarter ran it five times for 39 yards.

After the Chiefs made it 20-17, the 49ers ran it once with RB Raheem Mostert for five yards. Then they threw it twice, both incomplete, and punted.

Kansas City then made it 24-20 with 2:44 to go. Mostert again opened the drive with a 17-yard run. A false start on WR Emmanuel Sanders made it first-and-15, but the 49ers still managed to get a first down at the Chiefs’ 49 after a couple throws. They never ran it again and turned it over on downs, effectively ending the game.

It was pretty clear during the game what Kansas City (and any team playing the 49ers) wanted to do to defend them, and Ward’s confirmation just makes it all the more baffling that the 49ers would so willingly play into their hands.

Perhaps a more dynamic passing attack with Brock Purdy under center will help the 49ers avoid becoming too one-dimensional because of defensive personnel.

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Here’s what Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wishes he would’ve known for his first Super Bowl

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes reflected on the lessons he has learned since his first Super Bowl appearance. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to appear in their third Super Bowl in the past four years. During their recent run of success, the leader has been All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has his sights on another victory and some redemption from his Super Bowl loss two years ago.

Mahomes is entering next weekend’s Super Bowl in Arizona with experience in the big game. The festivities and pageantry of football’s biggest game have affected quarterbacks for decades, but Mahomes is more focused than ever. He reflected on the lessons learned since his first Super Bowl appearance during Thursday’s press conference.

“Yeah, no, it’ll be awesome, man,” said Mahomes. “You get there the first time, and you don’t know what to expect, and you’re kind of going through a whirlwind of media days, and you have practice, but it’s not the normal schedule you usually have and meetings and trying to find time to watch film and everything like that whereas now you have a plan. Chad (Henne) was with me last time, so I have a plan with him already.

“We’re going to be able to go out there and do what we usually do throughout a week with the added stuff that we have to do. It’s nice to have that experience before. I can teach other guys and help them along as well because even though it’s the same team, we have a lot of new players, and so I’m excited to get these guys down there to get that experience, and at the end of the day you want to win the game, so I just want to make sure those guys keep that in mind.”

Mahomes helped lead the Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl LIV over the San Francisco 49ers, largely due to a daring fourth-quarter comeback. He’s made sure to pass down his experiences to his younger teammates so that they’re better prepared for the distractions they’ll face before the big game.

“Yeah, just trying to give them a blueprint of how that week goes,” said Mahomes. “Obviously, you can see it on the schedule, but I want them to see it from a player’s perspective of how much stuff you have to do outside of football and how you can still manage that and get your stuff done the right way. The Super Bowl week is special, it’s a special week, but it’s not about being down there the week of the Super Bowl – it’s about winning the game. I want guys to keep that at the front of mind and so enjoy it, enjoy the whole entire week but make sure you’re prepared to go out there and play your best football as well.”

Mahomes remains focused on the ultimate goal and wants to ensure that his teammates, especially those who haven’t been in this position before, maintain the same level of focus and poise. It’s the type of commitment the team will need if they’re to come away with a win over the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

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Will the 49ers get stung by Chiefs’ Jet Chip Wasp again in Week 7? Don’t count on it.

Expecting a redux of 2-3 Jet Chip Wasp when the #Chiefs face the #49ers in Week 7? Andy Reid says not so fast.

With Week 7 on the horizon, memories are flooding in for Chiefs Kingdom.

The last time the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers squared off was in Super Bowl LIV. It also happened to be when one of the most iconic plays in franchise history was born.

Only 65 Toss Power Trap compares to 2-3 Jet Chip Wasp in terms of its infamy. Third-and-15 and down by 10 points, the Chiefs needed some magic and Patrick Mahomes delivered.

“Do we have time to run wasp?” Mahomes asked offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

They did have time to run it.

The offense needed 15 yards, but Mahomes targeted Tyreek Hill on the play and they got 44 yards, which wasn’t too uncommon for the duo. That moment was the turning point in the game for Kansas City as they’d come back to defeat San Francisco 31-20.

The play call, 2-3 Jet Chip Wasp, immediately became a favorite among fans. The Chiefs Kingdom had it printed on T-Shirts, and it was added to the Madden NFL video game franchise.

Could the Chiefs revisit this iconic play in Week 7? Perhaps they can catch the 49ers off guard by using it again? Andy Reid says not so fast.

“Yeah, that play got a lot of publicity,” Reid said. “I’m sure they’ve worked on it, but we don’t run it anymore so.”

It appears the Chiefs have retired 2-3 Jet Chip Wasp from the playbook, or at least that is what Reid would have you believe. Of course, Hill is no longer on the team and this play was specifically designed for him.

Patrick Mahomes explained in the 2020 offseason that they’ve run variations of that play in the past prior to Super Bowl LIV. He reiterated that sentiment when asked about Reid’s comments on the iconic play.

“Yeah when you have a top offense in the league, I mean teams are going to study you in the offseason,” Mahomes explained. “They’re going to see what you do because it goes around the league too. I mean offenses steal from each other and run some of the same plays and so you see that defenses have accounted for that, accounted for some of the stuff that we’ve done so how are we going to combat that? How are we going to go out there and make plays that go off of it to get other guys open? That’s something that we – that’s a challenge every day – and we try to continue to do every week. We know that we’re going to have to continue to evolve if we want to be a top offense in this league.”

So, while there might not be a return to wasp this week, maybe we’ll get “Murder Hornet” or  “Killer Bee” as a variation or twist on the play. The question remains will they actually have time to run it against a talented 49ers defensive front?

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Tom Brady one-upped Patrick Mahomes by joking about his awful NFL Combine

Brady gets another one over from Mahomes.

When a draft event like the NFL Combine rolls around every year, a lot of players like to reminisce about how they did while throwing on air or catching passes while running a straight line. Sometimes the conversation is about how they were incredible athletes, true physical specimens destined for pro football. And sometimes it’s about how they beat the odds after an awkward jump or a less-than-special 40-yard dash.

Patrick Mahomes is, of course, an outstanding NFL player. To highlight Desmond Riddler’s run as a quarterback, the official league account referenced Mahomes’ 40-yard dash from the 2017 Combine (a respectable 4.80). The Super Bowl MVP took exception (in jest) on Twitter.

Tom Brady —a former rival of Mahomes who went 3-1 against the Chiefs quarterback — had to throw his name and famous “unathletic sixth-rounder” story into the mix to one-up Mahomes one more time.

Mahomes undoubtedly proved a lot of critics wrong when he became the face of the NFL after the Chiefs’ 2020 Super Bowl win. But Brady’s starting point as someone who didn’t fit the stereotypical quarterback mold to then become arguably the greatest player of all time? That’s a little more impressive, as Brady wasn’t afraid to remind Mahomes.