On Monday night, players and coaches from the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers descended upon Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to field questions from the media about themselves as well as their respective mindsets heading into Super Bowl 58.
Sunday’s action features a rematch between the two teams, as the Chiefs and 49ers previously faced off in Feb. 2020 for Super Bowl 54. The Chiefs emerged victorious, earning their second championship in franchise history.
Now, Kansas City is looking to win back-to-back Lombardi Trophies, while San Francisco is searching for its sixth Super Bowl victory. Although Sunday will be a rematch, the rosters of each team look vastly different compared to their 2020 counterparts.
There are still some familiar faces such as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, George Kittle, Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel, among several others, though.
Here’s a recap of what you may have missed Monday night.
An unexpected quarterback matchup
One of the players who didn’t appear in the previous Super Bowl between the two teams was 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who has never started against Patrick Mahomes in his two-year career. His only experience against Kansas City is his 10 snaps as a backup in 2022 during the Chiefs’ 44-23 win over San Francisco.
However, Purdy has gained enough big-game experience in five postseason starts that Sunday’s bright lights shouldn’t faze him. He took time Monday to answer serious questions about his outlook heading into the biggest game of his life as well as playful inquiries regarding his impression of well-known cartoon characters.
NFL @NFL
“Life isn’t about you. [It’s about] being a part of something bigger than yourself.”@BrockPurdy13 puts playing in the Super Bowl into perspective.
📺: #SBOpeningNight on NFLN & CBSSN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LIsXmoDAHk
NFL @NFL
Brock Purdy’s Spongebob impression 😂
📺: #SBOpeningNight on NFLN & CBSSN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/6BjUd3dGj0
49ers on NBCS @NBCS49ers
Brock’s fiancée Jenna has had to do most of their wedding planning over the season 😂 pic.twitter.com/K5fITvfIV0
49ers on NBCS @NBCS49ers
Purdy doesn’t hold any grudges against the QBs drafted before him 🤝
pic.twitter.com/JWo3vVKrbH
Speaking of experience in high-pressure situations, Mahomes will be making his fourth career Super Bowl appearance. The two-time MVP is searching for a third championship after the Chiefs emerged from the AFC as the No. 3 seed.
Mahomes discussed his legacy and his progress toward surpassing Tom Brady’s seven Super Bowl wins.
“I’m not even close to halfway, so I haven’t put a lot of thought into it,” Mahomes said, per ESPN’s Adam Teicher. “Your goal is to be the best player that you can be and I know I’m blessed to be around a lot of great players. So right now it’s do whatever I can to beat a great 49ers team and try to get that third ring.”
“Then if you ask me that question in 15 years, I’ll see if I can get close to seven, but seven seems like a long ways away still,” he added.
B/R Gridiron @brgridiron
Mahomes got asked if he can end his career with 7 💍😅
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/9XlNFcWpj5
49ers on NBCS @NBCS49ers
“He’s always been a winner.”
Mahomes on what stands out about Purdy 🤝 pic.twitter.com/pLVDf63RFZ
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Mahomes speaking facts or nah? 😅 pic.twitter.com/cEniheln3U
📽️ Red Tribe Cinema @ClayWendler
Patrick Mahomes plays GM with Jeremiah Fennell (guess who took @cheetah) pic.twitter.com/bRzjcRd0Lq
Scott Hanson @ScottHanson
When Mahomes wants a selfie you take a selfie… #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/e0iW7Ua31J
NFL @NFL
“Would you rather win a Super Bowl or have six pack abs?”@PatrickMahomes is a good sport 😂
📺: #SBOpeningNight on NFLN & CBSSN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/xYLbrgZ9MQ
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift
One of the major storylines for the Chiefs throughout their 2023 season has been Kelce’s high-profile relationship with musician Taylor Swift. With Swift taking home Album of the Year at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, the All-Pro tight end fielded several questions about his girlfriend.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Kelce has his eyes on No. 3 🏆 pic.twitter.com/eRKTLXZsNK
The Sporting News @sportingnews
Travis Kelce says he has listened to some of Taylor Swift’s new upcoming album The Tortured Poets Department 👀
“It is unbelievable.” pic.twitter.com/dHzigvEyn7
📽️ Red Tribe Cinema @ClayWendler
TRAVIS KELCE WANTS YOUR BOOS pic.twitter.com/LdBPKKmuiS
USA TODAY Sports @usatodaysports
What Travis Kelce has learned from Taylor Swift. #Superbowl #SuperBowlLVIII #SBOpeningNight #sportspulse pic.twitter.com/OhBQYQQDrN
NFL on CBS 🏈 @NFLonCBS
“It’s been fun to gather the Swifties into Chiefs Kingdom”
– Travis Kelce pic.twitter.com/FvOP8HSDK6
49ers on NBCS @NBCS49ers
“If last year was the Kelce Bowl, this one’s the TEU Bowl”
Travis Kelce is excited to play against his “brother” George Kittle 🤝 pic.twitter.com/cepgxvIbgc
NFL on CBS 🏈 @NFLonCBS
Travis Kelce is in his “Super Bowl Era” 😅 pic.twitter.com/bsBfQWRm3x
Kadarius Toney speaks out
The Chiefs wide receiver struggled with drops throughout the regular season, recording just 27 receptions for 169 yards in 13 games. Toney was inactive for all three of Kansas City’s playoff games due to a hip issue as well as personal reasons, although he accused the Chiefs of lying in an Instagram Live video about his injuries in order to avoid playing him (via Ethan Sears of the New York Post).
“I’m not hurt,” he said at the time. “None of that s–t.”
Toney took time to seemingly clear up his comments on Monday and make some bold claims about his status as a wide receiver compared to the rest of the NFL.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Toney says he’s a No. 1 WR in the NFL 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/mxDrXSgFZl
PJ Green @PJGreenTV
#Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney said his IG live was chopped up to make it look like he was bashing the Chiefs when he said that he was bashing Giants fans.
“I never attacked the Chiefs.” pic.twitter.com/9ouKRHRGCT
NFL on CBS 🏈 @NFLonCBS
Kadarius Toney on if he’s A No. 1 WR in the league:
“If I get the ball, yeah.” pic.twitter.com/k9gTDAvhMO
Although there weren’t any grand surprises Monday night, players from both teams were able to showcase their personalities and have some fun with the media ahead of Sunday’s game.
Super Bowl 58 kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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