Seven Locals Earn Championship Rings In Super Bowl LIV Victory

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The state of Utah was well represented in Super Bowl LIV in Miami, Florida as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. It’s the second Super Bowl in franchise history with the previous championship 50 years ago.

The Chiefs completed their comeback in the fourth quarter after trailing 20-10 at the end of the third quarter. With 6:13 remaining in the game, the Chiefs found the end zone as quarterback Patrick Mahomes hit tight end Travis Kelce for a one-yard touchdown.

Kansas City took the lead with 2:44 remaining when Mahomes threw a five-yard touchdown pass to running back Damien Williams. The Chiefs put the game away when Williams ran in a 38-yard touchdown.

Mahomes was named Super Bowl LIV MVP after throwing for 286 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while running the ball 9 times for 29 yards and another score.

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/EQE78sd6HG

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 3, 2020

The state of Utah had seven individuals that were on the roster or coaching staff for the Chiefs, along with two players that lost in the Super Bowl as a member of the 49ers.

Andy Reid

The head coach of the Chiefs is former BYU player and graduate assistant coach Andy Reid. He won his first Super Bowl as a head coach after reaching the big game for just the second time in his 22 seasons as an NFL head coach.

Reid had one Super Bowl ring before Sunday’s win over the Chiefs. He was an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers when they beat the New England Patriots in the 1997 Super Bowl.

As a college football player, Reid was an offensive tackle at Glendale Community College before joining BYU from 1978-80 alongside Jim McMahon and current Athletic Director Tom Holmoe.

After his playing career at BYU, Reid stayed with the program as a graduate assistant during the 1982 season. Reid went on to coach at four different college programs as an assistant coach from 1983-91, including San Francisco State, Northern Arizona, UTEP and Missouri. He was an offensive line coach at all four schools.

HOW
'BOUT
THOSE
CHIEEEEEEEEEEFS?!?! pic.twitter.com/nIBNc1ILKr

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 3, 2020

Reid’s first NFL coaching job was with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive assistant. In total, Reid spent six seasons with the Packers in different roles such as assistant offensive line, tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach.

In 1999, Reid was named the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He led the franchise to five NFC Championship games. Reid and the Eagles reached one Super Bowl back in 2005 against the Patriots where they lost.

With the Eagles, Reid coached many former BYU players including Chad Lewis, Reno Mahe and Ty Detmer.

Reid was fired after the 2012 season. The Kansas City Chiefs hired him during the off-season in 2013.

Daniel Sorensen

Former BYU safety Daniel Sorensen was a part of the Super Bowl LIV win for the Chiefs. He recorded 6 tackles, including 4 solo tackles in the win.

Sorensen played at BYU in 2008 before serving a church mission. He returned to play for the Cougars from 2011-13.

“Dirty Dan” signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. Sorensen has one more season remaining on his current contract.

CONGRATS CHAMPS!!#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs #SBLIV #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/RqktnTWSG5

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) February 3, 2020

Darwin Thompson

Former Utah State Aggies running back Darwin Thompson couldn’t have asked for a better start to his NFL career. Thompson finished his first season with the Chiefs as a sixth round draft pick with a Super Bowl ring.

He nearly scored the first touchdown in the Super Bowl for the Chiefs. Thompson ran the ball for no gain but was inches away from the end zone.

The former Aggie spent one season at Utah State as a junior college transfer. After the 2018 season, Thompson announced he was skipping his senior season and entering the NFL Draft.

Thompson has three years remaining on his current contract.

Darwin THOMPSON the super bowl champ.. now that and my degree is what they can never take. Thank God, Call God, and tell him thank you for me! GODS PLAN.

— DARWIN THOMPSON (@DTRAINN5) February 3, 2020

Jackson Barton

Former Utah offensive lineman and All-Pac-12 selection Jackson Barton is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

He was inactive for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. Barton played four seasons at the University of Utah before being selected in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Barton was placed on the practice squad for the Colts. On November 11, 2019, Barton was signed off of the practice squad by the Chiefs.

Proud of heck of this kid! Could not happen to a better man, and hometown UTE! #utahfootball. #oblock pic.twitter.com/6WZH1zFVWd

— Jim Harding (@coachjharding) February 3, 2020

Marcus Kemp

Marcus Kemp played his high school football at Layton High School as a wide receiver. The Ogden, Utah native played at the University of Hawaii in college.

Unfortunately, Kemp suffered a season-ending injury during training came and was placed on the injured-reserve list.

Kemp joined the Chiefs in 2017 as an undrafted free agent.

Alex Whittingham

Alex Whittingham is the son of University of Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham. He was a walk-on with the Utes. Whittingham was a member of the Utah football program on special teams from 2013-17.

He joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 as a defensive assistant and quality control coach.

Porter Ellett

Ellett is from Loa, Utah and attended BYU. He is the assistant to the head coach Andy Reid in the Kansas City Chiefs front office.

Mitch Wishnowsky

The former Utah Utes All-American punter was on the short end of Super Bowl LIV in his rookie season. Wishnowsky was drafted by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

In the Super Bowl, Wishnowsky punted the ball twice for 86 yards, averaging 43 yards per punt. His longest punt was 46 yards and one punt landed inside the 20 yard line in the 49ers’ loss to the Chiefs.

Wishnowsky has three years remaining on his contract.

Fred Warner

Former BYU star linebacker Fred Warner and the 49ers came up short in Super Bowl LIV. He recorded 7 tackles, 5 solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass deflection and an interception for 3 yards.

Warner spent four seasons at BYU from 2013-17 before being drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The California native has two more seasons remaining on his rookie contract.

LIV Legendary @fred_warner‼️ pic.twitter.com/4jbLrn8xaA

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) February 3, 2020