USA TODAY International Edition
From Hard Rock concessions to champ
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – When Rashad Fenton was in high school, he used to walk the four blocks from his house to work the concession stands at Hard Rock Stadium, pouring drinks and serving food for fans watching games.
On Sunday, Fenton returned to that stadium as a cornerback for the Chiefs and became a Super Bowl champion.
The 22- year- old rookie bounced all around the locker room after the 31- 20 victory over San Francisco in Super Bowl LIV.
After dancing with his teammates, he struggled to express what had just happened.
“I used to work here every weekend,” Fenton said. “I was making beers, making pizzas from scratch. Now I’m a world champion here. It’s surreal.”
Fenton, a 2019 sixth- round pick from South Carolina, played mostly in nickel packages, which meant he didn’t see much action in the first half as San Francisco tried to establish its heralded running attack. But he was called on frequently in the fourth quarter as the 49ers were forced into passing situations as the Chiefs gained ground.
The rookie was lined up frequently against two- time Pro Bowler Emmanuel Sanders. Down 24- 20 with 1: 40 left in the game, Jimmy Garoppolo took one deep shot to Sanders down the middle of the field. Fenton was right behind him as the ball floated too deep. Receivers did not catch a pass against Fenton in the game.
“Zero catches,” he said. “None.” His lone tackle came earlier in the fourth quarter when Garoppolo was trying to scramble on 3rd- and- 14. Fenton knocked him out of bounds on a hit. Niners fans roared their disapproval, wanting a penalty for a late hit. But no flag was thrown, and Fenton was able to celebrate a clean play.
He said his mother was able to get a field pass for the postgame celebration. She held him tight as the confetti rained down and the Lombardi Trophy was passed around. The son of Bahamian and Jamaican immigrants, he said that was the only way to end his dream night.
His mother still lives in the same house and walked to Sunday’s game. Fenton said he can only imagine what that walk home was like for her.
“It was unbelievable because without her I don’t know where I’d be,” Fenton said. “I was raised in a single- parent household. My mom did it all. She was able to produce a world champion. It’s unbelievable.”