Super Bowl 2020: Raheem Mostert among many Eagles connections to the Chiefs and 49ers

The Eagles won’t be playing in Super Bowl LIV, sadly, but Philadelphia will certainly not be lacking representation in this year’s big game. Here’s a look at a bunch of Eagles connections to this year’s conference champions: the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

ANDY REID - HEAD COACH

Duh.

Reid coached the Eagles from 1999 through 2012, going 130-93-1 in the regular season and 10-9 in the playoffs. The Eagles appeared in five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl during his tenure.

Unfortunately, the Eagles could never get over the hump with Reid. But there’s no question Big Red had an influence on the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win. Doug Pederson obviously used to be a Reid assistant and Nick Foles was a Reid draft pick.

Now it’s time for Andy to finally get a ring of his own.

LESEAN MCCOY - RUNNING BACK

The Eagles’ all-time leading rusher had 101 rushes during the regular season but he hasn’t played since Week 15. McCoy has been a healthy scratch at times ... will that be the case in the Super Bowl?

TRAVIS KELCE - TIGHT END

The Chiefs’ starting tight end is the little brother of Eagles starting center Jason Kelce.

STEFEN WISNIEWSKI - LEFT GUARD

Wisniewski made 27 starts in 49 total games played for the Eagles from 2016 through 2018. He started at left guard during the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win. The Eagles released Wis in final cuts prior to the 2019 season after he struggled in training camp and preseason games. The Chiefs picked him up and he served as a backup until injuries forced him into the starting lineup late in the season.

JAMES WINCHESTER - LONG SNAPPER

Winchester spent two weeks in Eagles training camp back in 2013 when Jon Dorenbos was recovering from a concussion. Winchester has been the Chiefs’ long snapper since 2015.

BRETT VEACH - GENERAL MANAGER

The Chiefs’ GM was a coaching intern for the Eagles from 2004 through 2007 before serving as a direct assistant to Reid for two years. Veach then moved into scouting from 2010 through 2013 before leaving for Kansas City. The Chiefs fired former general manager John Dorsey in the summer of 2017 and replaced him with Veach.

STEVE SPAGNUOLO - DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

The Chiefs fired much-maligned defensive coordinator Bob Sutton after last year and replaced him with Spagnuolo. Spags previously worked under Reid in Philly from 1999 through 2006.

ERIC BIENIEMY - OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

KC’s OC didn’t coach for the Eagles but he did briefly play for the Birds in 1999. He had 12 carries in Reid’s first year in Philly.

MIKE KAFKA - QUARTERBACKS COACH

The Eagles selected Kafka with a fourth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. The only 16 pass attempts of his NFL career came with Philly. If Jeremy Maclin doesn’t drop a perfect pass, Kafka is remembered for leading a comeback against the Falcons ... and the Eagles make the 2012 NFL playoffs instead of the New York Giants, who went on to win the Super Bowl.

The Eagles are reportedly expected to request an interview with Kafka for the team’s offensive coordinator vacancy.

GREG LEWIS - WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

Lewis played for the Eagles from 2003 through 2008. He was the wide receivers coach on Pederson’s original staff in 2016 before the Eagles fired him after one season.

BRITT REID - LINEBACKERS/OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH

Andy’s son was the Eagles’ training camp coordinator in 2009.

RICK BURKHOLDER - VICE PRESIDENT OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND PERFORMANCE

Burkholder used to be Reid’s head athletic trainer in Philly. The Eagles used to make Burkholder available to the media to ask about injuries. It’s a bummer the Eagles aren’t nearly as transparent about injuries now.

BARRY RUBIN - STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

Rubin worked for the Eagles from 2008 through 2012.

TRAVIS CRITTENDEN - STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ASSISTANT

Crittenden worked for the Eagles in 2012.

MIKE FRAZIER - STATISTICAL ANALYSIS COORDINATOR

Frazier previously held this position with the Eagles from 2003 through 2012.

CHRIS SHEA - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERSONNEL

Shea joined the Eagles as a director of scouting administration/strategic management in 2015 before being hired away by the Chiefs in 2017.

MIKE BRADWAY - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE SCOUTING

Bradway worked in the Eagles’ scouting department for seven years before joining the Chiefs after Philly’s Super Bowl run.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

RAHEEM MOSTERT - RUNNING BACK

The Eagles signed Mostert as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015. He led the team in rushing, receiving, and kick return yards in the preseason before Chip Kelly cut him and put him on the practice squad. The Miami Dolphins signed Mostert off the Eagles’ practice squad and that began a journey around the league:

Mostert has finally found a home in San Francisco. Good for him. His performance against the Green Bay Packers in this year’s NFC Championship Game was historic:

Thanks a lot, Chip!

JORDAN MATTHEWS - WIDE RECEIVER

JMatt signed with the 49ers in the 2019 offseason. Then San Fran released him in final cuts. Then the 49ers brought him back for a few weeks in October. Then the Eagles signed JMatt for a third stint in Philly and had him play 134 snaps in two games before waiving him since he was ineffective. Then the 49ers signed JMatt for a third stint with San Fran and he’s remained on the team since. JMatt has been a healthy scratch for the 49ers.

DEMECO RYANS - INSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH

Mufasa! Ryans played in 55 games (54 starts) for the Eagles from 2012 through 2015.

MILES AUSTIN - OFFENSIVE QUALITY CONTROL COACH

I’m sorry to remind you that Austin played for the Eagles in 2015.

GARRETT CELEK - TIGHT END (INJURED RESERVE)

Travis Kelce isn’t the only Super Bowl tight end with a brother who’s played in Philadelphia. Garrett is the younger brother of former Eagles tight end Brent Celek. Garrett is on IR.

JOEY ALFIERI - LINEBACKER (PRACTICE SQUAD)

The Eagles signed Alfieri as a rookie free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft. The Eagles cut him during training camp to sign Alex Ellis, a former member of the Chiefs.

CROWLEY HANLON - PRO PERSONNEL COORDINATOR

He served as a logistics coordinator for the Eagles in 2015.

MIKE MCGLINCHEY - RIGHT TACKLE

This Philly native attended William Penn Charter and grew up as an Eagles fan.

JULLIAN TAYLOR - DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Another Philly native. Went to Temple.