Super Bowl 53: Marcus Peters, Ramik Wilson play for Lombardi Trophy
By Matt Conner
The only former members of the Kansas City Chiefs on either team can both be found on the defense of the Los Angeles Rams as they prepare for Super Bowl 53.
The Kansas City Chiefs were one play away from having their entire roster enjoy the Super Bowl experience in 2018, a bittersweet ending to a magical season that came down to a simple coin toss (or a phantom roughing the passer, or an oddly overturned fumble, or an offsides penalty). Unfortunately, the loss to the New England Patriots sent every bit of personnel—players to staff to coaches—home until their next attempt to climb the hill.
At this point, the only Chiefs related personnel vying for Super Bowl glory and a shot at the Lombardi Trophy can be found on the Los Angeles Rams defense. Cornerback Marcus Peters and linebacker Ramik Wilson are both former members of the Chiefs—in fact, each came into the league with the team—and now they are teammates hoping to topple the biggest dynasty in NFL history.
The fact that Peters is even on another team was a touchy subject for most of the offseason and beyond. When Brett Veach traded away the Chiefs top cornerback to the Rams, it was a confusing move to many given his production on a rookie contract—exactly the sort of asset that never gets traded. The haul in return wasn’t exactly inspiring either for the former first-round pick (2015).
Ever since then, however, Veach has looked smarter and smarter for the trade over time as Peters never looked the part of shutdown corner (or even ballhawk) with the Rams defense, despite their ascent to the Super Bowl. He finished this year with 3 interceptions and 8 passes defended, both career lows in four total seasons.
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As for Wilson, he entered the league as the fourth round pick in the same class as Peters (2015), both picks made by former general manager John Dorsey. Wilson spent three seasons with the Chiefs as a special teams contributor and linebacker who made 17 starts over those three years. This year, he started 4 games and appeared in all 16 for the Rams and finished with 35 tackles (3 for a loss), 2 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble.