Feb 8, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) during a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII at Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Christian McCaffrey’s mom claims 49ers’ hotel fire alarm was ‘inside job’

Christian McCaffrey’s mother claimed to have “a little insider info” when she said an errant fire alarm at the San Francisco 49ers’ team hotel in Las Vegas was pulled as part of an “inside job.”

Lisa McCaffrey said she was 100 percent sure of the accusation as she spoke with co-host Ashley Adamson during a taping of their podcast, “Your Mom,” at radio row before the 49ers face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

The team confirmed there was a surprise fire alarm at about 6 a.m. on Thursday morning. Nobody was forced to evacuate the building, according to the hotel, because there was no emergency.

“So their hotel’s (on) big-time lockdown so I don’t think it was like a fan infiltrating,” Lisa McCaffrey said. “I bet it was maybe like an employee from Kansas City.”

She and Adamson went on to joke that they could figure out the culprit if they could interrogate a list of hotel employees about their allegiances.

False fire alarms going off at team hotels as an act of potential gamesmanship is nothing new. A New England Patriots fan was even arrested in January 2017 for pulling a fire alarm in the middle of the night at the hotel where the rival Pittsburgh Steelers were staying before the AFC Championship Game.

But the Niners are taking the alarm as an affront. Lisa’s son, who was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year later Thursday, also pointed a finger at the Chiefs.

“I think there’s no way it’s random,” Christian McCaffrey said. “It’s part of it. It’s just more wood thrown on the fire.”

“I’m sure somebody did it,” Nick Bosa said. “It kind of reminded me of Philly when they had this construction going on outside. It was early in the morning and they were like demolishing a bridge right outside of our hotel. We haven’t had the best luck. But no excuses.”

–Field Level Media

49ers linebackers Fred Warner (54) and Dre Greenlaw (57) are vital to San Francisco's success. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Niners LBs covet spotlight roles in Super Bowl LVIII

LAKE LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw can finish each other’s sentences because of the amount of time they’ve spent together. On Sunday, the 49ers’ linebacker tandem is considered crucial to helping San Francisco finish its mission in Super Bowl LVIII.

Warner, the second-highest paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL behind Roquan Smith of the Ravens, knows his role against the Kansas City Chiefs is hyper-critical. He’s the primary defender tasked with covering Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Warner was named first-team All Pro in 2023, collecting 132 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a career-high four interceptions.

“You have to know where he’s at on every single play,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “I think the best part about Fred is that he has the physical ability. He can do everything. He’s tall. He’s fast. He can blitz. He can do whatever you want him to do. But you can tell how much he studies the film, and how he’s able to adjust his coverage based (on) what team he plays. I think you have to know where he’s at on every single play. If you don’t, he will make a play happen that will be negative for us but positive for them. And so, someone you definitely have to account for.”

NFL Next Gen Stats underscores the importance of the key matchup Sunday: Kelce led all NFL tight ends during the regular season with 393 receiving yards, when a linebacker was assigned in coverage. Warner gave up a 61.9 passer rating as the nearest defender in coverage, lowest among NFL linebackers. He also intercepted Mahomes in the Super Bowl LIV matchup with Kelce catching six passes for 43 yards and one touchdown.

Warner was a third-round pick in 2018. Greenlaw was a rookie in 2019, entering the league as a fifth-round pick.

Warner said the past two seasons Greenlaw has “made the leap” and playing at a Pro Bowl level. He is often identified by his physical nature which even Warner said “toes the line” on aggression.

Greenlaw credits his bond with Warner for his rise and their collective commitment in the offseason. He said he’s working harder and appreciating every moment with more focus now that he understands how difficult it is to get back to the Super Bowl.

“Training together in the offseason, it kind of starts there. We made a commitment to stay (in Santa Clara at the team facility) in the offseason, eat together,” Greenlaw said. “It’s a natural connection on the field, understanding what he’s thinking and then knowing what the offense is trying to do. You spend all this time together just to get that one win.”

Warner and Greenlaw grasp that the same applies to Kelce and Mahomes, who’ve been together since 2017.

“When you got great chemistry with somebody, you know where they’re at all the time,” Greenlaw said of the Chiefs’ duo.

Warner said the narrative feels obvious, perhaps even overstated, but he’s not putting too much thought into any “undercard” conversation in the NFL’s main event.

“I feel like that’s going to be the narrative throughout this week, going into the Super Bowl: ‘How are the linebackers going to stop Kelce and Mahomes?’” said Warner. “At the end of the day, the way I look at it, it’s going to take everybody. They are really good. I give them my respect. I’ve seen it on tape. I’ve seen it for a long time now from them doing it, and I’ve seen it in person in the biggest game.”

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that all of the team’s injured players were able to participate in practice in a limited capacity: tight end George Kittle, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, cornerback Ambry Thomas and linebacker Oren Burks.

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Feb 8, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid during a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII at Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl win no retirement bridge for Chiefs’ Andy Reid

LAKE LAS VEGAS, Nevada — At his final media obligation until Super Bowl LVIII postgame, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid repeated consistent denials he’s on the verge of retirement, win or lose to the San Francisco 49ers.

“Yeah, I haven’t gone there,” Reid, 65, said Thursday morning at the team hotel. “I don’t think about that. I’m tied up in the game and trying to take care of that. I’m sure somewhere, I’ll know when that time is. It’s not today and it won’t be Sunday.”

If Reid does ride off into the sunset with a third Super Bowl win during the upcoming offseason, Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt and quarterback Patrick Mahomes would both be caught off-guard.

“I’m highly doubtful (Reid would retire),” Mahomes said. “It’d be very surprising to me.”

Hunt said the team has “no sense he is ready to hang it up,” when discussing Reid’s future.

Mahomes, 28, believes having a team in its prime and perennially among contenders for the league’s most coveted trophies will be enough to keep Reid and others in the picture for longer than some expect. Mahomes said earlier this week he could definitely envision playing into “(Tom) Brady range” or around 15 more seasons that puts him into his 40s.

The draw for Mahomes is what he described again Thursday as a brotherhood and like-mindedness among leaders that includes Reid.

“(Travis Kelce) wants to take every single rep at practice. He wants to be out there for every single play. When you see that mindset, this is a Hall of Fame tight end and he wants to be the guy working the hardest, it raises everybody’s standard,” Mahomes said.

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

February 6, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA;  Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is displayed on Super Bowl LVIII signage on The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs, QB Patrick Mahomes willing villains if it’s price of winning

LAKE LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Chiefs head coach Andy Reid leads his team back to the practice field on Wednesday for the first of three consecutive on-field workouts before Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.

“We try to have fun within the intensity of the game within the week,” Reid said Wednesday morning at Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort prior to practice. “There is time to focus in and there is time to mess around. We don’t have to keep it uptight when they’re coming into practice.”

Players were off Tuesday but are scheduled through Saturday’s final walkthrough to return to their typical game-week routine. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes reminded teammates of the importance of physical and mental rest before taking “the business trip” seriously when they clock back in Wednesday.

Reid said players were informed of the temptations in the near vicinity, even though the Chiefs and 49ers are at neighboring resorts 35 minutes from The Strip. An NFL security representative was on the scene to speak to players about rules and regulations with regard to gambling and other “distractions” in Las Vegas.

“It’s a normal week now,” Mahomes said on Wednesday. “We’re going to get back to practice and do what we do for a normal gameday.”

The Chiefs won’t be distracted on Sunday. After wrapping up video review of the challenger, Reid said he’s confident this version of the 49ers is superior to the San Francisco team that lost to Kansas City in Super Bowl LIV. To Reid, it boils down to star power with two MVP finalists Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.

Reid and the Chiefs have 14 playoff wins since 2018 and are appearing in the Super Bowl for a fourth time in six seasons. But it’s Kansas City’s first without franchise matriarch Norma Hunt, a point Reid and others have made this week.

“She leaves a great legacy behind. I think this is the first one she hasn’t been here for,” Reid said. “That speaks for itself, but her heart was the biggest thing. A great person.”

Because of their track record in games like this one, Mahomes and the Chiefs are being cast as villains in some circles, much in the same way the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees and New England Patriots were often rooted against.

Still a fan favorite, Mahomes said he doesn’t enjoy or embrace being the bad guy.

“I just like winning,” he said. “If you win a lot and it causes you to be the villain, I’m OK with that. At the end of the day, I’m going to enjoy playing the game and try to win as much as possible.”

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) after a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs preparing for Super Bowl LVIII to feel like road game

LAS VEGAS — If Opening Night at Super Bowl LVIII was any indication, the red-clad Chiefs are walking into a road-game environment at Allegiant Stadium Sunday afternoon.

“I love the boos more than I love the cheers,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said of the partisan San Francisco crowd on Monday night. “Keep ’em coming, Niners’ gang. Keep ’em coming.”

Virtual home-field advantage in the Super Bowl might beat the literal road game feel of the one Super Bowl Patrick Mahomes has lost. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers were on their home field in Tampa in Super Bowl LV.

The Chiefs are 3-0 in these playoffs with one home game, winning at Buffalo and Baltimore after a wild-card win over the Dolphins.

“We’re not overly concerned about who’s going to be in the stadium,” Chiefs center Creed Humphrey said. “We’re there to play the game. At the end of the day, it’s going to be 11 on 11. We’ve kind of gone on the road, playing in away stadiums the last two games, it’s one of those things we’re if we’re in a hostile environment, we’re ready to roll.”

Kelce said “ain’t no jitters. I’m fired up,” when asked if the raucous 49ers’ fanbase will impact the Chiefs on Sunday.

SOMETHING NEW
The Chiefs have only two remaining defensive starters from their Super Bowl LIV triumph over the San Francisco 49ers. And the 49ers’ roster is flooded with change, including Brock Purdy at quarterback and Christian McCaffrey at running back, two players among the five NFL MVP finalists in 2023.

“More weapons,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said of the biggest difference in this iteration of the 49ers. “Christian McCaffrey. You’ve got Deebo (Samuel) playing at a high level. You’ve got one of the best tight ends in the league (George Kittle). Brock Purdy. They’re a completely different team now.”

But Jones said the Chiefs are better on defense for the same reasons.

“Grittier, we’re younger, we’re faster,” Jones said.

BIGGEST LOSSES OF MY LIFE
Kelce said nobody puts higher expectations on the Chiefs than the team’s leaders. Kansas City’s record-setting tight end.

“That expectation has become a demand at this point. The years we haven’t won it since we won our first one, they’ve felt like the biggest losses of my life,” Kelce said. “Having that mentality, year in, year out, putting the expectations on yourself.”

Kelce has 23 receptions for 262 yards and three touchdowns in the 2023 postseason. He said he went out to his way to make sure teammates understood where he was investing his time and attention since his courtship of a certain famous female singer became a banner storyline around the Chiefs.

“I’ve juggled the perception of my focus. Being aware of that, I never wanted to make the people on this team, the people in this Kansas City Chiefs’ building feel like I wasn’t focused on the task at hand. That’s winning football games,” Kelce said. “Being able to juggle that, making sure everybody realizes my focus is in the right area, especially when I’m in the building, I think that’s been the biggest point.”

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Jan 28, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan looks on before the NFC Championship football game against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

49ers’ Kyle Shanahan anxious to shed pain of Super Bowls past

LAS VEGAS — Kyle Shanahan followed in the footsteps of his famous father, Mike Shanahan, to the coaching ranks, but this profession and the pain that comes with it wasn’t always the plan.

“I was in his ear all the time, asking questions. I always loved football, just a fan of the game,” Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday, a day off from the practice field ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.

By middle school, Kyle Shanahan had already been to three Super Bowls — all losses — before finally experiencing the jubilation of a Lombardi Trophy celebration when Mike Shanahan and the Denver Broncos had their breakthrough with back-to-back title in 1997-98.

“Back then, I didn’t think it was possible for the AFC to win a Super Bowl,” he said.

Kyle Shanahan was a senior in high school and still had visions of playing in part because of after-school route-running sessions with Broncos wide receivers Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey, father of 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.

“Looking back now, thinking I was going to be a player, that was crazy,” Kyle Shanahan said of dropping a childhood dream to be an NFL wide receiver.

Kyle Shanahan said he mimicked everything Smith and Ed McCaffrey did, down to their cleats and shoulder pads. But it was a few years later he realized coaching would be the best — and perhaps easier — path.

“I remember telling (his dad) in eighth grade I wanted to play in the NFL,” Kyle Shanahan said. “He told me to make a plan and stick to it. It’s a little bit easier than playing. I think it just naturally happened.

“He never really was training me to be a coach. Just a dad. He’s the same way you’d want him to be — direct. Maybe you didn’t like what he had to say, but he was telling the truth.”

The 49ers are in the Super Bowl for what is Kyle Shanahan’s third time as a coach. He was on the losing end of Super Bowl LI with the Falcons as offensive coordinator, when Atlanta infamously blew a 28-3 lead to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. A day later, Shanahan was shaking hands in San Francisco as head coach of the 49ers.

Following the 2019 season, the 49ers blew a second-half lead and lost the Super Bowl to the Chiefs, and Shanahan started to relate more closely to his father’s pain of losing the big one.

“I’ve broken my arm, collarbone, a lot of injuries that are painful. Those are right there,” he said. “Anyone who loses a Super Bowl knows. Seeing my dad after he was a (losing) coordinator and how hard it was on him in Denver. Anytime you get that close, it hurts.

“All football games are hard to lose, you put so much into it. You are trying to get to this last week. And we did get to the last week, this is going to be our last Wednesday, our last practice Friday, our last game on Sunday.”

Shanahan’s players in San Francisco will attest to the piles of preparation that go into any game, let alone the biggest game of their lives coming up this Sunday.

“This man, his meetings sometimes you kick up your feet because you know you’re about to be there an hour,” safety Tashaun Gipson said Tuesday. “Coach Kyle is so detailed. He’s going to go over every single aspect of it. I tell people this all the time: I don’t think he even thinks about anything else. All football. That’s the kind of coach you want to play for. We’ve got to get one for Kyle.”

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs off the field after throwing an interception for a touchdown during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wants to play 15 more seasons

LAS VEGAS — Inspired by the equation of longevity plus success Tom Brady used to play quarterback into his mid-40s, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes plans on going deep.

Deep into his 40s, that is.

Mahomes wouldn’t single out a target retirement age because he wants to “play as long as they’ll let me play,” and thinks another 15 years is truly possible.

“Brady did it, some other guys have done it, I’m going to try to do it as well,” Mahomes said. “I don’t want to play until I’m hurting the team. If I’m still having success and still loving it, that’s the biggest thing.”

Mahomes starts his fourth Super Bowl at age 28 on Sunday when Kansas City meets the San Francisco 49ers in a runback of the Lombardi fight between the same teams after the 2019 season.

That puts him at a pace all his own, and a full two years ahead of Brady’s track. Brady started his fourth Super Bowl at age 30, winning a total of seven with 10 appearances.

The Chiefs are underdogs to the 49ers this time, and Mahomes said he will count rings one at a time so as to avoid getting ahead of himself or becoming complacent with constant championship-level performances.

“I mean, I’m not even close to halfway (to seven Super Bowl rings),” Mahomes said. “I haven’t put a lot of thought into it. Your goal is to be the best player you can be. I know I’m blessed to be around a lot of great players around me. Right now, it’s doing whatever I can to beat a great 49ers team and try to get that third ring. And then, you ask me that question in like 15 years, I’ll see if I can get close to seven. Seven seems like a long way away still.”

Brady was remarkably healthy in his 23 NFL seasons before retiring for good in February 2023. He took a mulligan on his first retirement a year after a Super Bowl win with the Buccaneers over Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Brady remains the standard at quarterback by every statistical measure. He holds NFL records for wins by a quarterback (251), Super Bowl wins, passing yards (89,214) and passing touchdowns (649) during his career with the New England Patriots (2000-19) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020-22).

With seven seasons in the books, Mahomes has 33,226 passing yards (including 4,802 postseason) and 258 TD passes (39 in the playoffs).

Mahomes is 2-1 in three Super Bowl appearances.

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Feb 6, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII at Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs get physical, narrow focus to Super Bowl LVIII

LAS VEGAS – Popping shoulder pads and clanging helmets are typical sounds of training camp on-field collisions, not exactly Super Bowl week practice customs.

But that was the practice field orchestra the Kansas City Chiefs played in an energetic opening session outdoors in drizzle at the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice facility on Monday.

“You’ve still got to practice,” Reid said Tuesday morning at the Westin Lake Las Vegas, clearly angling to funnel his team’s focus away from the many distractions that come with this week and city.

“Take care of your diet. Rest. You try to keep the focus on the game with all the different things they are obligated to do this week.”

It was the first padded practice the Chiefs held in weeks. Reid wanted to stress urgency and discipline to set the tone for the week.

“These last few teams standing here, we’re honored to be one of them,” Reid said. “We will need to put our best foot forward.”

Guard Joe Thuney (pectoral) plans to push to play after missing the AFC Championship Game. Reid said the decision boils down to whether Thuney has the physical strength to do his job, but rated the chances of Thuney and running back Jerick McKinnon playing this week a “longshot.”

It wasn’t all football talk Tuesday.

Reid was asked by a German journalist if he had thoughts on “Republican conspiracy theories” that Taylor Swift was partially responsible for the NFL aiding the Chiefs to get back to the Super Bowl in a twisted plot to re-elect President Joe Biden.

“That’s out of my league,” Reid said with a laugh. “Kind of like me speaking German. Listen, she’s been great to have around. And we had a great visit with President Biden (last year). That’s about as far as I can go with that.”

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) celebrates as cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) recovers a fumble against Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) and wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) for a turnover during the second half in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed expected to join team in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is expected to join teammates Tuesday after missing Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night media responsibilities for what head coach Andy Reid labeled “personal reasons.”

Teammate Trent McDuffie smiled and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo added unofficial confirmation that Sneed would be back with the team when asked about his status Monday night.

In photos posted on Instagram by Bella Wu, Sneed’s girlfriend, the couple appeared to be at a Kansas City hospital for the delivery of Sneed’s second child. Sneed is the father of a 6-year-old son from a previous relationship.

Reid said during the playoffs, pointing particularly to Sneed’s shutdown showing against Dolphins All-Pro Tyreek Hill, that there wasn’t an NFL cornerback playing at his level in 2023.

“You saw, one catch (Hill) had,” Reid said. “You don’t see Tyreek get knocked down very often, but Sneed did that. I have a hard time believing there’s another corner as good as him in this league.”

Sneed, 27, is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March and is considered a strong candidate for the franchise tag.

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Feb 5, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) during Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Kelce rejects retirement talk, focuses on third ring

LAS VEGAS — Travis Kelce doesn’t appear to be slowing down at age 34, and the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end has no plans to quit playing the game anytime soon.

With Kelce’s brother, 36-year-old center Jason Kelce, pondering retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles, the rumor mill has swirled around Travis’ future, too.

Travis Kelce made it clear during Monday’s Super Bowl Opening Night that Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers will not be his final game.

“I love coming into the building and playing this game more than anybody and I know I’m going to miss it when it’s over with,” Travis Kelce said. “I can’t put a timestamp on it, but I know I’m going to enjoy every single bit of this one.”

Besides, Kelce has a lot of accomplishments to add to his impressive postseason legacy.

He became the all-time leader in playoff receptions during the Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game victory over the Baltimore Ravens last month. His 11 catches raised his output to 156, five more than San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice amassed.

Kelce ranks second in postseason receiving yardage (1,810) and touchdown catches (19). Rice is the leader in both those categories with 2,245 and 22, respectively.

“When the lights are brighter, he plays better,” Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of Kelce. “There’s comfort in just having another leader out there who shows the guys that’s how to get it done.”

Kelce, a nine-time Pro Bowl pick, is viewed as one of the NFL’s all-time great tight ends. He is on a list that includes names from different eras such as John Mackey, Kellen Winslow, Shannon Sharpe, Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Rob Gronkowski.

However, he is more obsessed about winning a third Super Bowl ring. Kelce won one against the 49ers to conclude the 2019 season and another last year against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Yet he says the one he didn’t win still hurts.

“I’ve been on a mission ever since I won my first Super Bowl,” Kelce said. “We made it back to the Super Bowl (to end the 2020 season) and we lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s motivated me to get back to this point right here.

“You’ll hear me say this a lot — I want this one more than I’ve ever wanted a Super Bowl before in my life. And it’s because of the type of team we have. But also because of that tier of team because the teams that have done it (three times) have gone down in history as some of the greats.”

Kelce caught touchdown passes in the Super Bowl wins over the Chiefs and Eagles. He had 10 catches for 133 yards in the loss to the Buccaneers.

San Francisco is expected to have Fred Warner, considered one of the elite coverage linebackers in the game, defend Kelce the bulk of the time. Warner intercepted a Mahomes pass in Super Bowl LIV.

Of course, Kelce was bombarded with questions Monday night about his romance with singer Taylor Swift.

Swift has concerts scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday in Tokyo so she won’t be part of Super Bowl week hype. She is expected to return from Japan in time to attend the Sunday night game.

Kelce maintained that the relationship with Swift doesn’t prompt increased expectations.

“You can’t put any more pressure on me than I put on myself, I can promise you that,” Kelce said. “The heart of a competitor.

“She’s definitely brought a lot of new faces to the game and it’s been fun to experience that.”

–Field Level Media