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Super Bowl LVIII is officially in the books. The overtime finish between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers will go down as one of the most memorable endings to a game in Super Bowl history. There were some major winners in the aftermath of this result. At the same time, there were some big losers, too. Let’s break it all down.
Winner: Andy Reid
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There was a time when Andy Reid was considered a bit of an overrated coach. During his time in Philadelphia, people wondered whether he’d get over the hump and eventually win a Super Bowl.
Well, those days are long gone. He’s now been the head coach for three Super Bowl-winning squads. Reid joins Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs as the coaches who’ve secured three Super Bowl rings. The future Hall of Fame coach has solidified himself as one of the best coaches in this era — as well as all time. At 65 years of age, there’s still plenty of time left in his coaching career (if he wants to continue). Currently No. 4 in total wins for an NFL coach, he’s within striking distance of Bill Belichick if he sticks around a few more years.
Loser: Kyle Shanahan
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Kyle Shanahan might be the biggest loser of them all when it comes to this game. It’s the third time in which he’s squandered double-digit leads in the Super Bowl. It’s happened twice as the head coach of the 49ers (versus the Chiefs). It also occurred when he was the offensive coordinator in Atlanta when the Falcons blew a gargantuan lead against New England. The playcalling in this came was inconsistent, and until Shanahan can get over the hump, he’s going to have the stink of a choker attached to his name.
Winner: Patrick Mahomes
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Mahomes is that dude. There’s no questioning the fact he’s already a top-five quarterback of all time. You can already make the argument in all actuality he’s surpassed Joe Montana based on being a far more gifted quarterback physically. Now 3-1 in Super Bowls at the age of 28, there’s truly no telling how many more he can win throughout his career. The Chiefs had a weakened offensive line, a poor group of receivers, and multiple injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Yet, Mahomes willed the team to another Super Bowl. Imagine how lethal he’ll be with a retooled team.
Loser: Tom Brady
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Tom Brady doesn’t need to be looking over his shoulder just yet. He’s still the GOAT, and will be for the foreseeable future. However, it is something to monitor moving forward. Mahomes isn’t even 30, and he’s made four Super Bowl appearances over the last five years. We don’t expect Mahomes to slow down anytime soon. As long as he’s healthy, the Chiefs will be a threat to win the Super Bowl every single year.
Winner: Swifties Across The World
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There must be some satisfaction for those who love Taylor Swift. Since her foray into the NFL by way of dating Travis Kelce, there is a subset of fans who can’t stand her simply for existing. There’s really no rhyme or reason for the hate. As she’s gotten more and more visible on NFL broadcasts, the polarizing nature surrounding her persona has continued to grow. Well, with the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl, Swifties everywhere are doing cartwheels.
Loser: The Anti-Swift Crowd
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On the other side of the proverbial coin, those who dislike Swift are probably not too happy the day after the game.
Boo-hoo.
Get over it. There’s no conspiracy theory emanating from the NFL where the league pushed for the Chiefs to win solely due to Swift’s appearance. Remember, Kansas City was quite good before Swift started dating Kelce.
Winner: Early 2000s Music
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Although some were not too happy with the halftime performance, those of a certain age surely loved the step back in time to witness a who’s who of musical talent. From Usher and Alicia Keys to Lil Jon, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, and will.i.am., the set was nostalgic and high-energy. H.E.R. also added a nice touch as a more recent performer (who absolutely crushed it with a gnarly guitar solo).
Loser: San Francisco Special Teams
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Jake Moody actually performed much better than people were expecting. He kicked the crap out of the ball on three separate occasions. It was the rest of the group that let the 49ers down. Moody had an extra point attempt blocked. On a punt return attempt, a booming kick by Kansas City punter Tommy Townsend hit the foot of a San Francisco player attempting to block for returner Ray-Ray McCloud. Instead of just jumping on top of the ball, McCloud tried to pick it up and run. However, the Chiefs recovered — setting up a Mahomes TD pass. These two flubs were massive momentum plays against San Francisco.
Winner: The NFL
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The NFL won’t come out and say this, but having Kansas City win the game was a plus for the league. The game’s biggest star was showcased on the world’s grandest stage. Oh yeah — and arguably the most recognizable pop star on the planet was constantly shown throughout the game’s broadcast. With the integration of Swift into the sport, coupled with Mahomes and his greatness, this overtime game was a perfect outcome for the NFL.
Loser: San Francisco 49ers Franchise
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Sadly for fans of this franchise, we’re verging into Buffalo Bills territory. There’s great disappointment in the fact that none of these teams in recent memory were able to win a Super Bowl. Objectively speaking, this year’s group was the most talented team top-to-bottom in the NFL. Now with yet another loss, the team goes into the offseason with some cap space issues. Chase Young will likely leave in free agency. Trent Williams is edging towards the end of his career. Arik Armstead and Deebo Samuel are aging. Dre Greenlaw seemingly tore his Achilles and could be out all of next season. Without a doubt, there are plenty of questions moving forward for San Francisco.
