While there are no shortage of storylines between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, EDGE Dee Ford has the most recent connection and links.
The San Francisco 49ers will look to win their sixth Super Bowl title on Feb. 2 when they face off against the AFC champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, for Super Bowl LIV at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
There are plenty of storylines and connections between these two longstanding franchises. Hall of Famer Joe Montana suited up for both teams, of course, as did former Niners and Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith.
Another player who has split his NFL career between both squads is EDGE Dee Ford.
Ford, who enjoyed a career-year with Kansas City in 2018, found himself on the unfortunate end of an offsides call in the 2019 AFC Championship Game between the Chiefs and New England Patriots.
That call ultimately led to the Pats pulling off an overtime win en route to their appearance and victory in Super Bowl LIII.
Last offseason, the Chiefs completely revamped their defense, parting ways with linebacker Justin Houston, safety Eric Berry and even Ford himself, trading the team’s 2014 first-round NFL Draft pick to the 49ers for a second-round pick in 2020.
Ford didn’t have a prolific year in San Francisco, largely hindered by injuries. But he did make a substantial impact, combining with a Niners defensive line already stacked with first-round draftees. In total, the 49ers managed 48 sacks on the year.
That was tied for fifth in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings. Ford had 6.5 of those 48 sacks in 11 games.
With the Niners pulling off their dominant 37-20 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game, Ford and Co. now look to take their No. 1-ranked pass defense to the Super Bowl, hoping to contain Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his dynamic offensive attack.
Ford recently gave his take on the matchup:
"“Definitely there is a lot of love in that building,” Ford told reporters when asked about a reunion against the Chiefs. “I have a lot of love for the guys in that building. They gave me my opportunity, of course. I am here with a new team. It is going to be a great opportunity and it is going to be like playing my brothers back in training camp days. It is going to be fun.”"
Ford and his fellow 49ers defenders will look to continue what has been a long streak of Chiefs not winning the Super Bowl. The last win came in January of 1970, when Kansas City defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV by a score of 23-7.
The Chiefs hadn’t been to the Super Bowl since that game, either.
Ford will go through plenty of emotions when facing off against his former teammates. This time, however, he’ll hope to be on the winning and onsides part of the equation.