South Florida Vibes
What to watch for as Chiefs, 49ers meet in Miami
THE DROUGHT BOWL
The Kansas City Chiefs last won a Super Bowl in the 1969 season — think Hank Stram, Len Dawson, Richard Nixon and the moon landing. The San Francisco 49ers last won in 1994 — think George Seifert, Steve Young and O.J. Simpson in a white Ford Bronco. That’s a half century and quarter century ago. Of the 20 franchises that have won an SB, only the Jets (by one year) have waited longer to win again than the Chiefs. A Niners’ win would tie the Patriots and Steelers with six Super Bowl titles. The Niners’ and Chiefs’ combined 75-year gap between wins is the longest of any Super Bowl matchup between clubs that have before. The previous record combined drought was 57 years by the Colts and Bears in the 2006season game.
QUARTERBACKS
Patrick Mahomes vs. Jimmy
Garoppolo: Mahomes’ arrival has been the most instantly dynamic the NFL has seen of a quarterback since Miami’s Dan Marino in 198384. But can the chief Chief now accomplish what Marino never could? Unlike K.C., the Niners don’t live and die with their QB’s arm, but primarily with running and defense. Heck, Garoppolo needed throw only eight passes in the elimination of Green Bay. Still, as Tom Brady fades fast, you know Bill Belichick is wishing his Patriots had never traded Jimmy G. in midseason 2017.
HEAD COACHES
Andy Reid vs. Kyle Shanahan: We love a contrast, and get one in K.C.’s Reid vs. San Fran’s Shanahan. Reid, 61, is the seventh-winningest coach of all time with 207 in 21 seasons, the past seven in Kansas City. But what he mostly is the man who has coached the most playoff games (28) without ever winning a Super Bowl. Can he finally get off the schneid? His 15-year gap between Super Bowls is the second-longest by a coach, to Dick Vermeil’s 19 years. Reid has a compelling backstory, too. His oldest sign died of an accidental heroin overdose in 2012. Another son, Britt, overcame his own addiction to painkillers and is now the Chiefs’ linebackers coach. Shanahan, 40, in his third season on the Bay, is the son of two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan (Broncos, 1997-98). They now become the first father and son to be head coaches in a Super Bowl.
BACK AGAIN
This is Miami’s 11th time hosting an SB, one better than New Orleans’ 10. Hard Rock Stadium is located in the suburb of Miami Gardens, which has around 115,000 residents. Please do not refer to the Super Bowl as being in South Beach, or the locals will look at you funny. South Beach is a touristy neighborhood or area, not as city. It is OK to say the game is in Miami or in South Florida, even though the mayor of Miami Gardens may be disappointed in you.
KATIE SOWERS
It might not be the most familiar name in Miami, but it’s an important one. Sowers is in her second season as an offensive assistant coach with the 49ers. That makes her the only female who is a fulltime coach on an NFL staff — and the first woman to coach in a Super Bowl.
THE SPECIAL K’S
George Kittle of the Niners and Travis Kelce of the Chiefs are the two best tight ends end in the NFL, offensive playmakers likely to be a force in the big game. They are what Rob Gronkowski was until Gronk retired from football to become a fulltime partyer.