Local grad leaves his mark for Chiefs
Wissahickon grad making his mark as KC gets ready to face 49ers in Super Bowl LIV
“Who’s that?”
That’s what Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson appeared to ask the Chiefs sideline while pointing at Kansas City’s thirdyear defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon when the two went face-toface after a play in the AFC Divisional Round earlier this month.
Kpassagnon and the Chiefs defense held Watson and the Texans offense to seven points after that interaction, which took place just before halftime, and went on to win, 51-31. In the AFC Championship Game, Kansas City defeated the Titans, 35-24, and Kpassagnon registered a career-high two sacks.
If people didn’t know who he was against the Texans, they should now.
Of course, sports fans in the Suburban One League area remember Kpassagnon from his time at Wissahickon High School. The 25-year-old, born in Kalamazoo, Michigan before moving to Ambler, lettered in football, basketball and track for the Trojans, earning first-team All-League honors in football and basketball.
He went on to play college football at Villanova University. As a senior he posted 11 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 13 games to earn first-team Associated Press
FCS All-American honors.
The Chiefs drafted Kpassagnon in the second round, 59th overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft and signed him to a four-year, $4.32 million contract.
The 6-foot-7, 290-pounder recorded two sacks as a rookie — both coming in his first career start in the final week of the regular season. After playing a reserve role in 2018, he took on more responsibility this year. He appeared in all 16 regular season games and earned eight starts. He posted four sacks and six tackles for loss. He started both playoff wins against the Texans and Titans, totaling two tackles for loss, two sacks and three quarterback hits.
“We’re not done yet,” Kpassagnon said. “We’ve got one more game to play, but I feel like it’s definitely been a development year for me, definitely a time of growth and just a big year for our whole team, our defense in general.”
Next up is the Super Bowl Sunday evening against the 49ers.
Playing (and likely starting) the biggest sporting event in the country is an accomplishment for any player, but especially for someone who went to a college more known for its basketball program.
“It’s amazing,” Kpassagnon said of reaching the Super Bowl. “Growing up (in Ambler) you always hear about A.I., Kobe Bryant, just basketball. Basketball everything, but I wouldn’t say the Super Bowl was a dream since I was little, but since I’ve been playing football for sure. It’s crazy to be here now.”
Kpassagnon, who grew up a big-time Eagles fan, will try to achieve that dream with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who held the same position in Philadelphia from 1999-2012.
“Being from there, growing up there, watched Andy Reid all the time,” he said, “so to be a part of it with Andy is awesome.”
Kickoff between Kansas City and San Francisco is set for 6:30 p.m. Sunday on FOX from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.