The Buffalo Bills won’t be playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are playing. On their rosters are several former Bills and that’s just the start of the connections between the two teams.
Here’s a primer of the Bills who could see action in The Big Game.
Kansas City Chiefs
Former Bills Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy was second on the Chiefs in rushing in 2019, but didn’t top 500 yards on the ground. His yards per play was back up, but his overall utilization was down. He has had one offensive snap in the playoffs.
Former Bills first-round pick Sammy Watkins was third on the Chiefs in receptions in 2019, hauling in 52 passes for 673 yards and three scores. He blew up in the AFC Championship Game, going for seven catches, 114 yards, and a long touchdown.
Former Bills second-round pick Reggie Ragland started seven games for Kansas City. The linebacker never played a down for Buffalo after suffering a knee injury in his first offseason and being traded following a regime change before his second. He’s played about 42% of the team’s defensive snaps in the postseason.
There are lots of connections to the Bills on the Chiefs’ coaching staff, with Bills head coach Sean McDermott working with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid when the pair were together in Philadelphia with the Eagles. McDermott is likely rooting for his former mentor. None of the Kansas City coaches have worked in Buffalo, though.
San Francisco 49ers
Wide receiver Jordan Matthews is on the 49ers roster but has no stats for the year after re-signing in December. He’s been inactive in the postseason. Another former Bills receiver, Marquise Goodwin, is on injured reserve.