Arizona Cardinals fans probably don’t need more reasons to root for the Kansas City Chiefs over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, but there is one big reason why they should.
There are five former Arizona Cardinals players who play for the Chiefs.
The 49ers have exactly zero player ties to the Cardinals, which is actually rare. As we have found out during the season and the playoffs, almost every team has at least one player who spent time at some point with the Cardinals.
But they have none. Who are the five former Cardinals with the Chiefs?
Tyrann Mathieu
Cardinals fans will remember Mathieu, as he was one of the more popular players when he was with the team. He was drafted by Arizona in the third round in 2013. He played five seasons and had two major knee injuries. He also was given a huge contract extension. But after 2017, he was asked to take a paycut and he was not willing. He was cut for salary cap purposes and played one season with the Houston Texans before signing a multi-year deal with the Chiefs.
Anthony Sherman
Sherman was drafted by the Cardinals in 2011. He was traded to the Chiefs in 2013 after Bruce Arians was hired. He doesn’t use fullbacks.
Sherman has played in every game since then for the Chiefs. He was a Pro Bowler in 2018.
Terrell Suggs
Suggs played 13 games this season with the Cardinals after signing as a free agent. However, after his production dropped and his playing time was also going to decrease, he was released and signed with the Chiefs. He gets a chance at another championship. It would be fitting for him to get another one with a win over the 49ers.
Xavier Williams
Williams was an undrafted rookie who made the Cardinals’ roster in 2015 and played three seasons. He then signed with the Chiefs and has been with them for two years. He only played in five games this season because of injuries.
Alex Okafor
Okafor was drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round in 2013 and played four seasons in Arizona. He played two more for the New Orleans Saints and signed with the Chiefs in 2019. He played in 10 games and had five sacks and then landed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral. He is still on injured reserve.
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