Super Bowl Gamecocks: Rashad Fenton in big game as rookie with KC Chiefs
For the eighth year in a row, South Carolina football will be represented in the Super Bowl.
With the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in the AFC championship game, former Gamecock and rookie Rashad Fenton will play in the biggest football game of the year on Feb. 2.
Fenton, a defensive back, was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Chiefs and has played in 13 games this season for Kansas City, recording 18 total tackles, forcing a fumble, defending four passes and intercepting one. On Sunday, he had three tackles, two solo, while starting in the secondary, helping to shut down Titans QB Ryan Tannehill, who became one of the league’s best quarterbacks over the last half of the season.
Fenton isn’t the only person with South Carolina roots headed to the Super Bowl with the Chiefs’ win — Clemson alums Sammy Watkins (wide receiver), Dorian O’Daniel (linebacker) and Brashaud Breeland (defensive back) are all his teammates, as well as former South Carolina State linebacker Alex Brown. Former Gamecock defensive back Chris Lammons is also on KC’s practice squad. On the sideline, USC great Rod Wilson serves as Kansas City’s assistant special teams coach.
Later Sunday, Fenton was joined by another rookie South Carolina player in the Super Bowl as receiver Deebo Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers won the NFC title on Sunday night.
Former Gamecocks in recent Super Bowls
2020 — Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers) and Rashad Fenton (Kansas City Chiefs)
2019 — Stephon Gilmore (New England Patriots)
2018 — Alshon Jeffery (Philadelphia Eagles) and Stephon Gilmore (Patriots)
2017 — Patrick DiMarco (Atlanta Falcons)
2016 — Darian Stewart (Denver Broncos)
2015 — Lemuel Jeanpierre (Seattle Seahawks)
2014 — Lemuel Jeanpierre (Seattle Seahawks) and Sidney Rice (Seahawks – injured reserve)
2013 — Emanuel Cook (Baltimore Ravens) and Chris Culliver (San Francisco 49ers)
2010 — Jamar Nesbit (New Orleans Saints)
This story was originally published January 19, 2020 at 6:11 PM.
