Trent McDuffie's postseason career in his three years at the University of Washington consisted of the second-tier 2019 Las Vegas Bowl in an aging now unused stadium, nothing the following year because of the COVID pandemic and a total whiff in 2021 when the Husky program nosedived.
McDuffie sure knows how to make up for lost time in the spotlight.
In just two NFL seasons, he's won a pair of Super Bowls.
In Sunday's game back in Vegas in the first-class upgrade that is Allegiant Stadium, the former UW cornerback arguably was the best defensive player on the field for either side during the Chiefs' 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
McDuffie finished with 3 tackles, but more importantly he came up with 3 pass break-ups.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes accepted the Most Valuable Player trophy, but McDuffie was worthy of one, as well, in Sin City.
One of his PBUs came in the end zone, when the 49ers tried to beat him over the top to receiver Deebo Samuel and McDuffie was all over it, slapping it away.
"He's so cerebral and smart," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of his cornerback. "You can do so many things with him."
Kansas City put everything in McDuffie's hands in overtime when San Francisco was driving, the two-minute warning had taken place, and a conversion on a third-and-4 play would have allowed the 49ers to run down the clock before kicking a go-ahead field goal, giving the Chiefs about a minute and no timeouts to match it.
Responding to a sense of urgency involving a pivotal play in the game, Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo sent McDuffie on a blitz that went unblocked, forcing 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to throw the ball away.
"Coach Spags dialed it up and every time he dials up a blitz for me, I know it’s gonna work,” McDuffie said. “I got a lot of trust in him. I’m just happy I was able to help the back end.”
While the Huskies didn't give him much of postseason experience, McDuffie has made a lifetime of memories in his two-year NFL career.
More must-reads: