ARKANSAS, USA — While the Kansas City Chiefs are used to getting to the Super Bowl at this point— making it there four of the last five years— they'll have to be ready for the challenge.
However, the San Francisco 49ers haven't been in this spot since 2020 when they lost to... the Kansas City Chiefs. And with them getting another shot at the defending champs, they're out for revenge.
A couple of Hogs are set to take the field, both for the 49ers.
Brandon Allen is the third string quarterback behind Brock Purdy. Allen was the Razorbacks' starting quarterback from 2013 to 2015. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and since has played for the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals before landing in San Francisco.
As a senior at Arkansas, he threw for over 3,400 yards and 38 touchdowns.
The other Razorback on the 49ers, also from Fayetteville, is nicknamed Big Play Dre: linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Greenlaw—like Allen— played for Fayetteville High School, and was on the team that won the 7A 2011 state championship. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft after a 49ers trade.
During the 2022 season, Greenlaw finished with a career-high 127 tackles, six pass deflections, and an interception.
In the divisional round against the Green Bay Packers, Greenlaw made the game-winning interception to get his team the NFC Championship game against the Detroit Lions.
George Odum, the 49ers safety, had a standout career as a linebacker and safety for the University of Central Arkansas and signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. He was named to the 2020 and 2022 All-Pro Team.
In March 2022, Odum signed a three-year contract with San Franciso.
And finally, the only Arkansas native on the Kansas City Chiefs is rookie defensive end BJ Thompson, who was born in England, Arkansas, but spent his college football career in Texas at Baylor and Stephen F. Austin. Thompson was drafted by the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft.
This Super Bowl is destined to be one for the ages and the ticket prices for the game show just that. If you want to get into the Super Bowl, it's going to cost you at least $9,815 a ticket including taxes and fees, according to TickPick.
And despite the fact the 49ers are 3-1 against the Chiefs when it comes to Arkansans on the roster, according to Yahoo! Sports, the Natural State is rooting for Kansas City to take it all for the second year in a row.