The names to know for Super Bowl LV
The Super Bowl LV matchup is set between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The storylines are numerous, led by star quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady. As we enter the game, these are the biggest names to know.
Chiefs: Andy Reid, head coach
Reid is in his 22nd year as a head coach and eighth season with the Chiefs. He finally won his first Super Bowl last year and is considered one of the top offensive masterminds of his era.
Buccaneers: Bruce Arians, head coach
The former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, Arians left coaching for one year before returning to coach Tampa Bay last season. He's appearing in his first Super Bowl as a head coach but has won two Super Bowls as an assistant in Pittsburgh.
Chiefs: Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator
A former running back under Andy Reid, Bieniemy was the Chiefs running backs coach from 2013-2017 before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2018. He's been routinely named a top NFL head coaching candidate but has yet to be hired.
Buccaneers: Byron Leftwich, offensive coordinator
A former first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars at quarterback, Leftwich entered coaching under Arians in Arizona. After serving as the Cardinals offensive coordinator in 2018, he joined Arians in Tampa Bay last year.
Chiefs: Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator
Spagnuolo is known for his dynamic defensive scheme that helped the Giants win two Super Bowls over Tom Brady's Patriots. He briefly served as the St. Louis Rams head coach from 2009-2011 and took over the Chiefs defense last year.
Buccaneers: Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator
Bowles has had stints as Arians' defensive coordinator both in Arizona and Tampa Bay. Between that time, he was the Jets head coach from 2015-2018. He also has experience coaching under Andy Reid as an assistant for the Eagles in 2012.
Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, QB
The 10th overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Texas Tech, Mahomes has had an unmatched beginning to his NFL career. He won the NFL MVP in 2018, Super Bowl last year, and is going for his second consecutive Super Bowl win this year. He's also a regular-season MVP candidate again after going 14-1 as a starter with 4,780 yards passing and 38 touchdowns.
Buccaneers: Tom Brady, QB
Considered by many to be the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Brady is set to appear in his 10th Super Bowl and won six of his previous nine appearances. He joined the Bucs this season at age 43 after 20 seasons in New England, throwing for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns during the regular season.
Chiefs: Darrel Williams, RB
Williams has emerged as the Chiefs primary running back late in the year after injuries to Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Le'Veon Bell. The third-year pro out of LSU had only 39 rush attempts during the regular season while serving as the team's third-down back, but he had 13 carries in each of KC's first two playoff games.
Buccaneers: Ronald Jones, RB
Jones is having a breakout year in his third NFL season. The running back had 1,143 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in 14 regular-season games. He missed the Wild Card Round due to injury but has 23 carries over the last two playoff victories for the Bucs.
Chiefs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB
Edwards-Helaire returned from a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship after serving as the Chiefs starting running back during the regular season. The first-round rookie was a star at LSU last year and had 1,100 yards from scrimmage in 13 regular-season games this year.
Buccaneers: Leonard Fournette, RB
A former first-round pick by Jacksonville, Fournette was cut before Week 1 and scooped up by Tampa Bay. He had an up and down year for his new team but has performed well in the playoffs with five touchdowns in three games.
Chiefs: Tyreek Hill, WR
The "Cheetah" has had another outstanding year for the Chiefs, with 87 catches for 1,276 yards and 15 touchdowns during the regular season to be named an All-Pro for the third time in five seasons. Hill made a key play on third-and-long for the Chiefs in last year's Super Bowl and has consecutive 100-yard games in this year's playoffs.
Buccaneers: Mike Evans, WR
Evans has long been a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses due to his size and speed, posting his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2020. He's scored touchdowns in each of Tampa Bay's last two playoff games.
Chiefs: Sammy Watkins, WR
Watkins has yet to appear in the playoffs due to a calf injury, though he did come close to playing in the AFC Championship. He's struggled with injuries this year but made several huge catches for the Chiefs in last year's playoffs.
Buccaneers: Chris Godwin, WR
Godwin has regressed slightly after finishing with over 1,300 yards receiving last year, but he still had a strong season with 840 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 regular-season games. He had five catches for 110 yards in the NFC Championship.
Chiefs: Mecole Hardman, WR
The speedy Hardman serves as Kansas City's primary punt returner, though he did make a critical error by muffing a punt in the AFC Championship. The speedy wideout is also a key player in the team's offense.
Buccaneers: Antonio Brown, WR
Brown was a former superstar wide receiver in Pittsburgh, but off-field troubles have plagued him over the last year. He signed by the Bucs during the season, making 45 catches in eight regular-season games. Brown's status for the Super Bowl is up in the air after missing the NFC Championship due to a knee injury.
Chiefs: Travis Kelce, TE
Kelce had a history 2020 season with 105 catches for 1,416 yards and 11 touchdowns, breaking the all-time receiving yardage record by a tight end in a single season. He's had over 1,000 yards receiving in five consecutive years and has now scored at least one touchdown in six consecutive games.
Buccaneers: Rob Gronkowski, TE
Gronkowski established himself as one of the greatest tight ends ever in New England but retired after the 2018 season. He returned to play with Brady in Tampa Bay this year and finished with 45 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season.
Chiefs: Frank Clark, DE
Clark was acquired by the Chiefs before last season and played a key role during last year's playoffs. He had six sacks during the regular season this year and had two sacks in the AFC Championship.
Buccaneers: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
Pierre-Paul played eight seasons with the Giants before joining the Bucs in 2018. He had 9.5 sacks during the regular season in 2020 and contributed two sacks in the NFC Championship.
Chiefs: Chris Jones, DT
Jones made his second consecutive Pro Bowl this year after recording 7.5 sacks during the regular season. He's quickly become one of the top interior defenders in the NFL.
Buccaneers: Ndamukong Suh, DT
Suh has been in the NFL since 2010 and is now with his fourth team, contributing six sacks during the regular season for Tampa. The intimidating defensive tackle has been named to five Pro Bowls in his career.
Chiefs: Anthony Hitchens, LB
Hitchens has been a key part of the Chiefs defense since he signed as a free agent in 2018. He had 78 tackles during the regular season and had eight tackles in the AFC Championship.
Buccaneers: Shaquil Barrett, OLB
Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks last year and recorded eight this season. He had his best game of the year in the NFC Championship with three sacks.
Chiefs: Charvarius Ward, CB
A former trade acquisition from Dallas, Ward is in his third NFL season and second as a full-time starter for the Chiefs. He contributed seven sacks in the AFC Championship.
Buccaneers: Devin White, ILB
White has become a star defensive player in his second NFL season. The LSU alum had 140 tackles and nine sacks during the regular season and recorded 15 tackles in the NFC Championship.
Chiefs: Bashaud Breeland, CB
Breeland joined the Chiefs last year and could now win his second Super Bowl in two seasons. He had seven tackles in the AFC Championship after leaving with a concussion the previous week.
Buccaneers: Lavonte David, ILB
David has been with the Bucs since he was drafted in 2012. He recorded 117 tackles during the regular season and has continued to be a key part of the defense in the playoffs.
Chiefs: L'Jarius Sneed, CB
Sneed has had a terrific rookie season for the Chiefs after being taken in the fourth round. Remarkably, he's recorded sacks in four consecutive games, and he also had three interceptions in nine regular-season contests.
Buccaneers: Carlton Davis, CB
Davis has become a top cornerback in his third NFL season, recording 68 tackles and four interceptions this year. He had seven tackles in the NFC Championship.
Chiefs: Tyrann Mathieu, S
Mathieu has been Kansas City's defensive leader since he joined the team in 2019. He was an All-Pro in 2020 for the second straight year, recording six interceptions. Mathieu was also drafted by Arians in Arizona back in 2013.
Buccaneers: Sean Murphy-Bunting, CB
Murphy-Bunting has had a strong sophomore season in Tampa Bay, with 70 tackles and one pick during the regular season. He's come on in the playoffs with a pick in each of the Bucs three games.
Chiefs: Daniel Sorensen, S
Sorensen has been known for making key plays for the Chiefs in the playoffs, including a forced fumble near the goal line against Cleveland in the Divisional Round. He plays a do-everything role for the Chiefs as a nickel corner and safety.
Buccaneers: Antoine Winfield Jr., S
Winfield had a tremendous rookie season with 94 tackles and three sacks. He missed the NFC Championship due to an ankle injury.
Chiefs: Harrison Butker, K
Butker is known as one of the best kickers in the NFL, and he made 25-of-27 field-goal attempts during the regular season. He has struggled with extra points this year, missing six in the regular season and one in the playoffs.
Buccaneers: Ryan Succop, K
Succop is a former seventh-round pick by the Chiefs who played five seasons in KC. He joined the Bucs this year after six seasons in Tennessee and made 28-of-31 field goal attempts during the regular season.
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