KC Chiefs players with added motivation in Super Bowl LV

The 2020 Kansas City Chiefs have successfully made it to the Boss Stage of their “Run It Back” tour. Much has made about this team and the great level of continuity that they have established in their run at a second consecutive Super Bowl. It starts at the top: the Chiefs retained every coach from last season. Then you look at the roster, where 20 of 22 starters from last year’s Super Bowl were brought back for a chance at a repeat. The 2020 Kansas City Chiefs have seized that opportunity, running it back to the grandest stage in professional sports.

But outside of the many notable returning stars such as Patrick Mahomes, Tyrann Mathieu, Tyreek Hill, Chris Jones, Travis Kelce, and Frank Clark, there are several veteran Chiefs who have some additional motivation on Sunday. Some were on the team in some capacity in 2019, but did not contribute to the win over the 49ers. Others were on other rosters last season and made their way here. Let’s recognize the veteran players who are either chasing their first Super Bowl win this Sunday or taking the stage for the first time in a starter’s role.

Alex Okafor

Defensive end Alex Okafor will take the field in his first career Super Bowl on Sunday. The 6’4″ 260-lb. Okafor’s first season in Kansas City came to a grinding halt in December 2019 when he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury, and watched Super Bowl LIV from the sidelines. Entering Super Bowl LV, Okafor is 100% healthy.

The Chiefs’ defensive line wrecked the Bills in the AFC Championship Game, and the former Saint played a big part in the carnage. Okafor, Jones and Clark were junkyard dogs against Josh Allen and the Bills, and there’s every reason to think the unit will bring that same energy toward the Buccaneers. After narrowly missing out on Super Bowl LIII with the Saints (who lost a highly controversial playoff game to the Rams two years ago) and then again missing Super Bowl LIV last year, Okafor is hungry to cap off a championship season.