Legendary broadcaster Bob Costas: Chiefs are ‘America’s Team’

Legendary broadcaster Bob Costas explained why he views the Kansas City Chiefs as “America’s team” during a segment on CNN’s “King Charles”

The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most popular teams in sports because of their success on the field and the star power of their players. Super Bowl LVIII will be their fourth appearance in the big game in five years, making them a mainstay on the NFL’s biggest stage.

On Wednesday night, the Chiefs received another level of significant praise as legendary broadcaster Bob Costas appeared as a guest on CNN’s “King Charles” with Gayle King and Charles Barkley to discuss the Super Bowl. Costas, who has spent many years hosting NFL broadcasts, labeled the Chiefs with a title that will upset Dallas Cowboys fans.

“I think the Chiefs, now it can safely be said, are America’s Team,” Costas said. “The Dallas Cowboys have had that moniker for a long time, and there’s still a glamour franchise, but they haven’t been at the Super Bowl since the mid-’90s. But now the Chiefs have been to four of the last five Super Bowls. They have the best quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) in the game, even though others are really good. He’s exciting. He improvises. He’s charismatic.”

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The Cowboys have been known as “America’s Team” since an NFL Films highlight reel bestowed them with the moniker in 1978. It has been synonymous with the franchise ever since, but according to Costas, it’s time to give the Chiefs that label.

“Andy Reid’s been around a long time and went to the Super Bowl with Philadelphia and now with the Chiefs,” Costas said. “They’ve got Travis Kelce and his romance with Taylor Swift, and it’s a big deal to begin with. And now it blows up bigger. Plus, the State Farm commercials. Yes, you don’t have to know a screen pass from a field goal to know something about the Kansas City Chiefs. So they’re America’s Team.”

Costas could be on to something if Super Bowl LVIII ends with ring No. 3 for the Chiefs franchise.

Panthers great Luke Kuechly offers advice on how to cover Travis Kelce

Luke Kuechly knows that Travis Kelce is trouble when he walks in.

How do you stop the unstoppable? Well, maybe one of the greatest defenders of all-time has the answer.

Carolina Panthers legend Luke Kuechly was a guest on Wednesday’s episode of Up & Adams. When asked how one could possibly prevent Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce from completely wrecking a game as he often does, the former linebacker offered some interesting advice:

Kelce, even at 34 years old, continues to force opposing defenses to play the guessing game—a futile exercise that the future Hall of Famer usually wins. Over his three games this postseason, the 11th-year veteran has reeled in 23 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

Kuechly, a future Hall of Famer in his own right, does know a thing or two about defending against the pass. The 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and five-time first-team All-Pro earned at least an 82.7 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus in six of his eight NFL campaigns.

But over those eight campaigns, the two have met just once—in Week 10 of the 2016 season. That contest, which resulted in a 20-17 win for Kansas City, saw Kuechly allow one 10-yard catch on one target to Kelce.

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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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NFL 2024 offseason schedule, events calendar

NFL 2024 offseason schedule, events calendar

The offseason is in full swing for some NFL teams. In fact, it’s officially the offseason for all by two NFL teams — that would be the Chiefs and 49ers who will be playing in the Super Bowl.

So, for the other 30 teams — and those two teams as well here in a little over a week — here is the schedule of events this offseason.

Feb 1 East-West Shrine Bowl
Feb. 3 Senior Bowl
Feb. 4 Pro Bowl Games
Feb. 11 Super Bowl LVIII, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Feb. 27 – March 4 NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
March 5 1pm (4pm ET) deadline for designating Franchise player.
March 11 Free agent negotiating perfod begins at 9am (noon ET)
March 13 League year begins at 1pm (4-m ET) along with free agency and trade period
March 24-27 Annual League Meeting, Orlando, FL
April 1 Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2023 season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 15 Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 17 Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical exam with draft- eligible player at its facility.
April 19 Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 25-27 NFL Draft, Detroit
May 2 Deadline for Clubs to exercise Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the 2021 Draft.
May 3-6 or 10-13 Three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
May 13 Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
May 20-22 Spring League Meeting/Coach Accelerator, Nashville, TN

Cam Newton: Brock Purdy is still not a game changer

Cam Newton praised Brock Purdy for his NFC title performance, but he’s still standing on business.

Good luck moving Cam Newton, because he continues to stand on business.

The Carolina Panthers legend got quite a few requests to speak on this past Sunday’s performance from San Francisco 49ers quarterback and new NFC champion Brock Purdy.

Newton, in a prior video that went quite viral, previously labeled Purdy—along with Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa and Detroit’s Jared Goff—as a “game manager.”

And Cam, in Wednesday’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, gave the people what they’ve wanted . . .

Purdy exploded in the second half of this year’s NFC title game, helping push his 49ers to an improbable win after facing a 17-point deficit at the break. The second-year quarterback tossed for 267 yards and a touchdown and added another 48 yards on the ground in the 34-31 victory over the Lions.

Despite giving Purdy his props in his latest offering, Newton will still assuredly draw ire for not moving off his “game manager” stance. So, yeah, welcome to just another day in the NFL.

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NFL rookies played well on Championship Sunday

Some quality rookie performances on Championship Sunday are a strong indicator that the NFL is becoming more competitive.

Here’s a look at the NFL rookies who played well on Championship Sunday as we prepare for SBLVII next weekend.

4-Down Territory: Dan Campbell. Ravens’ offense, Kyle Shanahan, Worst of the Week

Dan Campbell, Lamar Jackson, Kyle Shanahan, and the Worst of the Week! All up in this week’s “4-Down Territory!”

Now that Super Bowl LVIII is set between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, it’s time once again for Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, and Kyle Madson of Niners Wire, to come to the table with their own unique brand of analysis in “4-Down Territory.”

This week, the guys have some serious questions to answer:

  1. Should Dan Campbell be pilloried for his fourth-down decisions?
  2. What have we learned about the Baltimore Ravens after their AFC Championship game loss?
  3. Why should Kyle Shanahan have more faith in a possible first Lombardi Trophy?
  4. What was our Worst of the Week?

You can watch this week’s “4-Down Territory” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “4-Down Territory” podcast on Spotify…

and on Apple Podcasts.

49ers to wear white jerseys in Super Bowl LVIII vs. Chiefs

The 49ers will be pulling out their white jerseys for Super Bowl LVIII vs. Chiefs.

The single most important news leading up to the Super Bowl just officially dropped.

Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers have elected what jerseys they will be wearing for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Sunday, February 11.

Via @49ers on Twitter:

With the AFC’s Las Vegas Raiders set to host, the Chiefs will wear their red jersey, meaning the 49ers will don their white road uniforms.

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Historically, the 49ers are 2-1 while wearing white in the Super Bowl, with their one loss coming against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV in Miami. The Chiefs’ red against the 49ers’ white will mirror the same uniform combination from their meeting in the Super Bowl four years ago in Miami.

Last year, the Chiefs wore white when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl in Arizona.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid responds to WR Kadarius Toney’s social media rant

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid responds to wide receiver Kadarius Toney’s social media rant.

The countdown to Super Bowl LVIII is underway as the Kansas City Chiefs are set to battle the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas on February 11th. After their upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game, spirits were so high that many had forgotten the unexpected message left by a team member before last Sunday’s kickoff.

During Monday’s weekly Zoom press conference, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was excited to praise his coaching staff and players for a job well done against the Ravens. Reid also took time to address the elephant in the room regarding wide receiver Kadarius Toney’s rant on Instagram regarding his injury status.

“Yeah, I actually haven’t seen it. I’ve heard people talk about it,” said Reid. “But um, yeah, he’ll be back out there. And we’ll see how he does.”

Toney was reportedly out of action for an ongoing hip and ankle injury. At the same time, reports surfaced before the AFC Championship game that he was out for personal reasons to be on hand for the birth of his daughter. Reid disputed Toney’s denial of the injury report as he seemed unfazed by the comments.

“Yeah, well, I mean, he’s been on the injury report,” Reid explained. “That part, that’s not made up by any means, but he’s been working through some things, and he’ll be back out there.”

The potential return of Toney to practice in the coming days should be something to watch out for as the team prepares for Super Bowl LVIII. Toney has missed the last six games but was vital to the team’s victory in Super Bowl LVII the previous season.

LOOK: Chiefs reveal Super Bowl LVIII patch, tease red jerseys

The #Chiefs revealed their Super Bowl LVIII patches on social media and seemed to tease that they may wear red jerseys against the #49ers.

The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to donning Super Bowl patches in the Patrick Mahomes era and revealed the latest update to their uniforms on Tuesday ahead of their championship matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on February 11.

The pictures of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII jerseys released on social media seem to hint that Kansas City will wear red during the highly-anticipated game against San Francisco but, as of now, nothing is known for certain.

Patrick Mahomes’ No. 15 jersey was used for the photo-op and can be seen with four distinct patches on it. At the top left is the red and purple Super Bowl LVIII patch with a football-shaped insignia under it commemorating the late Norma Hunt.

On the right, Mahomes’ gold captain patch sits above the Chiefs’ traditional AFL badge that honors the team’s founder Lamar Hunt.

This stylish look is sure to turn heads in the coming weeks as fans anticipate Kansas City’s appearance in Super Bowl LVIII.