UTAH – The Kansas City Chiefs will be making a second straight appearance in the Super Bowl, thanks to their 38-24 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in the AFC championship game, and a handful of Utah ties will be trying for another ring when the Chiefs play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.
Kansas City overcame an early 9-0 deficit against Buffalo to advance to the NFL’s title game, as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday’s win.
Chiefs’ Utah ties headed back to the Super Bowl
- Former BYU safety Daniel Sorensen, who had six tackles in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win last year, has been a starter in the Kansas City secondary in his seventh pro season.
- Former Utah State running back Darwin Thompson earned a ring last season as a rookie. He’s been a reserve in his second year.
- Marcus Kemp, a former Layton High wide receiver, recently rejoined the Chiefs’ practice squad. He was on injured reserve last year when Kansas City won the title.
- Chiefs coach Andy Reid, a former BYU lineman and grad assistant, won his first Super Bowl title as a head coach last year. He’s in his 22nd season as an NFL head coach.
- Defensive quality control coach Alex Whittingham, a former Utah player and the son of Utes coach Kyle Whittingham, is in his third season on Reid’s staff.
- Offensive quality control coach Porter Ellett, a BYU grad from Loa, Utah, spent the previous three years as senior assistant to Reid before moving into his current role this season.
The opponent: Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers, the Chiefs’ opponents in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7 after Tampa Bay beat Green Bay 31-26 in Sunday’s NFC championship game, do not have any Utah ties on their roster.
Tom Brady outdueled Aaron Rodgers, as the Buccaneers built a 28-10 lead before withstanding a late rally attempt from the Packers. Tampa Bay becomes the first team who will play in its home stadium for the Super Bowl.
How Utah ties performed on Sunday
A look at how Utah ties on active rosters performed in Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship games:
Buccaneers 31, Packers 26
Tampa Bay
- No Utah ties.
Green Bay
- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Not active for game.
- Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: 7 carries, 23 yards; 4 receptions, 22 yards; 1 kickoff return, 30 yards.
Chiefs 38, Bills 24
Kansas City
- Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: Started at free safety, 6 tackles (5 solo stops), 1 quarterback hurry.
- Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State: Played as a reserve.
Buffalo
- Jordan Devey, OL, Snow College and American Fork High: Not active for game.
- Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Started at nickelback, 5 tackles (3 solo stops), 2 pass deflections.