There's still one more game to go before the 2023 NFL season wraps up: Super Bowl LVIII. Two historic franchises are set to go head to head for the Lombardi Trophy. What better way to prepare for the 58th Super Bowl than by digesting 58 important things to know for the big game? We've got you covered with all the best facts and figures:
1. Super Bowl LVIII will feature the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers.
2. This is the second time the Chiefs and 49ers have matched up in a Super Bowl, previously meeting in Super Bowl LIV at the end of the 2019 season. Kansas City won that game, 31-20.
3. This is the Chiefs' fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons. They are just the third team in NFL history to enjoy such a stretch, after the 2014-18 New England Patriots and 1990-93 Buffalo Bills.
4. The Chiefs also won last year's big game, Super Bowl LVII, against the Philadelphia Eagles. That means they're looking to become the first back-to-back champions since the 2003-04 Patriots.
5. Kansas City's other two Super Bowls this half-decade include the 2019 victory over the 49ers and a 2020 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the next season, when Tom Brady secured his record seventh Super Bowl title.
6. This is the 49ers' second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons, and their third in the past 12. Prior to their loss to the Chiefs in 2019's big game, San Francisco lost to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII at the end of the 2012 season.
7. The 49ers own the all-time advantage in Super Bowl victories, with five wins compared to K.C.'s three. All five of San Francisco's Lombardi Trophies came between 1981-94, while the Chiefs first won Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings after the 1969 season.
8. The Chiefs are coming off their sixth straight AFC Championship Game appearance, trailing only the Patriots dynasty for the most consecutive conference title-game bids (eight).
9. The 49ers are coming off their third straight NFC Championship Game appearance, and their fourth in five seasons.
10. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be the first player at his position to ever start four different Super Bowls before the age of 30. He won his first title at age 24 in 2019 and is now seeking a third ring at age 28.
11. Mahomes is on an unprecedented pace as the face of the Chiefs' aspiring dynasty, already seeking his third Super Bowl MVP after previously winning in 2019 and 2022. He also owns two NFL MVP awards after just six full seasons as a starter.
12. Often held to a standard of his own, not unlike Tom Brady during his legendary 23-year career, Mahomes has more combined playoff wins (14) in a six-year span than any other QB.
13. Mahomes matched a career high in turnovers (17) during an uncharacteristically uneven 2023 regular season, during which the Chiefs finished with their worst record (11-6) of his time as a starter. But he's since gone 3-0 with zero turnovers in the playoffs.
14. The Chiefs QB is often perceived as playing an entirely different sport than his peers, wowing with not only gaudy numbers but acrobatic arm angles and clutch scrambles. Whereas Brady once dominated the big-game landscape with mechanical vision and pocket presence, Mahomes thrives with his innate ability to make off-script plays look routine, especially in the biggest moments.
15. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is just the fourth head coach in NFL history to make at least five Super Bowl appearances. Prior to his title bids in K.C., Reid led the Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX in 2004, when Brady's Patriots prevailed.
16. Since becoming the Chiefs coach in 2013, Reid has led K.C. to double-digit wins in 10 of his 11 seasons, plus eight straight AFC West titles. Combined with his 14 years as Eagles coach (1999-2012), he's logged 258 career wins (fourth most in NFL history) and 25 career playoff wins (second most behind only longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick).
17. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is seeking his first Super Bowl title after previously appearing in two -- first as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator in 2016, and again as San Francisco's head coach in 2019.
18. Both of Shanahan's previous Super Bowl appearances included his team surrendering multiple-score leads. Atlanta infamously lost a 28-3 lead to Brady and the Patriots in 2016, marking the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. Shanahan's 49ers then lost a 20-10 lead to Mahomes and the Chiefs, who scored 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points to win in 2019.
19. Shanahan, like Reid, has long been lauded for designing one of the NFL's most reliable offenses. In his last five years, the 49ers have finished with a top-five scoring offense three times, and a top-10 yardage output four times.
20. If the 49ers were to beat the Chiefs, they would tie the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl titles (six).
21. San Francisco will be the first team to have five different Super Bowl-starting QBs, with current signal-caller Brock Purdy following Jimmy Garoppolo (2019), Colin Kaepernick (2012), Steve Young (1994) and Joe Montana (1981, 1984, 1988-89).
22. Purdy will be the third-youngest QB to start a Super Bowl in NFL history. He turned 24 on Dec. 27.
23. Purdy was the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, coined "Mr. Irrelevant" for his overlooked arrival after a college career at Iowa State. He only became the 49ers' QB after injuries to Garoppolo and former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance.
24. Despite his late draft status, Purdy instantly thrived in San Francisco, helping lead the 49ers to the 2022 NFC title game, then producing an MVP-caliber season in his first full year as a starter in 2023. The 49ers have gone 21-4 with him under center, including playoffs, while he has thrown 44 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions.
25. Purdy (6-feet-1, 220) and Mahomes (6-2, 225) have relatively similar builds, and like the latter, Purdy has proven adept at extending plays with movement in and outside the pocket, exceeding expectations as a young starter.
26. The 49ers QB benefits from a star supporting cast that includes All-Pros and/or Pro Bowlers at almost every key position group, including running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, tight end George Kittle and offensive tackle Trent Williams.
27. Purdy also has similarities to Rams legend Kurt Warner, who entered the NFL as an afterthought out of Northern Iowa, improbably led the NFL in key passing marks during his first year as a full-time starter, produced his first comeback victories in the playoffs and went on to lead a heralded offense -- "The Greatest Show on Turf" -- to the Super Bowl.
28. Purdy was statistically the most efficient QB in the NFL this year, pacing all starters in yards per attempt (9.6) while finishing top-five in yards (4,280), TDs (31) and passer rating (113.0).
29. McCaffrey, who joined the 49ers during the 2022 season via trade with the Panthers, has been an MVP candidate himself, leading the NFL with 2,023 total yards (1,459 rushing; 564 receiving) and 21 touchdowns. He has been just as imposing in the playoffs, with 188 rushing yards and four scores in San Francisco's two wins.
1. Super Bowl LVIII will feature the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers.
2. This is the second time the Chiefs and 49ers have matched up in a Super Bowl, previously meeting in Super Bowl LIV at the end of the 2019 season. Kansas City won that game, 31-20.
3. This is the Chiefs' fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons. They are just the third team in NFL history to enjoy such a stretch, after the 2014-18 New England Patriots and 1990-93 Buffalo Bills.
4. The Chiefs also won last year's big game, Super Bowl LVII, against the Philadelphia Eagles. That means they're looking to become the first back-to-back champions since the 2003-04 Patriots.
5. Kansas City's other two Super Bowls this half-decade include the 2019 victory over the 49ers and a 2020 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the next season, when Tom Brady secured his record seventh Super Bowl title.
6. This is the 49ers' second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons, and their third in the past 12. Prior to their loss to the Chiefs in 2019's big game, San Francisco lost to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII at the end of the 2012 season.
7. The 49ers own the all-time advantage in Super Bowl victories, with five wins compared to K.C.'s three. All five of San Francisco's Lombardi Trophies came between 1981-94, while the Chiefs first won Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings after the 1969 season.
8. The Chiefs are coming off their sixth straight AFC Championship Game appearance, trailing only the Patriots dynasty for the most consecutive conference title-game bids (eight).
9. The 49ers are coming off their third straight NFC Championship Game appearance, and their fourth in five seasons.
10. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be the first player at his position to ever start four different Super Bowls before the age of 30. He won his first title at age 24 in 2019 and is now seeking a third ring at age 28.
11. Mahomes is on an unprecedented pace as the face of the Chiefs' aspiring dynasty, already seeking his third Super Bowl MVP after previously winning in 2019 and 2022. He also owns two NFL MVP awards after just six full seasons as a starter.
12. Often held to a standard of his own, not unlike Tom Brady during his legendary 23-year career, Mahomes has more combined playoff wins (14) in a six-year span than any other QB.
13. Mahomes matched a career high in turnovers (17) during an uncharacteristically uneven 2023 regular season, during which the Chiefs finished with their worst record (11-6) of his time as a starter. But he's since gone 3-0 with zero turnovers in the playoffs.
14. The Chiefs QB is often perceived as playing an entirely different sport than his peers, wowing with not only gaudy numbers but acrobatic arm angles and clutch scrambles. Whereas Brady once dominated the big-game landscape with mechanical vision and pocket presence, Mahomes thrives with his innate ability to make off-script plays look routine, especially in the biggest moments.
15. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is just the fourth head coach in NFL history to make at least five Super Bowl appearances. Prior to his title bids in K.C., Reid led the Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX in 2004, when Brady's Patriots prevailed.
16. Since becoming the Chiefs coach in 2013, Reid has led K.C. to double-digit wins in 10 of his 11 seasons, plus eight straight AFC West titles. Combined with his 14 years as Eagles coach (1999-2012), he's logged 258 career wins (fourth most in NFL history) and 25 career playoff wins (second most behind only longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick).
17. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is seeking his first Super Bowl title after previously appearing in two -- first as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator in 2016, and again as San Francisco's head coach in 2019.
18. Both of Shanahan's previous Super Bowl appearances included his team surrendering multiple-score leads. Atlanta infamously lost a 28-3 lead to Brady and the Patriots in 2016, marking the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. Shanahan's 49ers then lost a 20-10 lead to Mahomes and the Chiefs, who scored 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points to win in 2019.
19. Shanahan, like Reid, has long been lauded for designing one of the NFL's most reliable offenses. In his last five years, the 49ers have finished with a top-five scoring offense three times, and a top-10 yardage output four times.
20. If the 49ers were to beat the Chiefs, they would tie the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl titles (six).
21. San Francisco will be the first team to have five different Super Bowl-starting QBs, with current signal-caller Brock Purdy following Jimmy Garoppolo (2019), Colin Kaepernick (2012), Steve Young (1994) and Joe Montana (1981, 1984, 1988-89).
22. Purdy will be the third-youngest QB to start a Super Bowl in NFL history. He turned 24 on Dec. 27.
23. Purdy was the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, coined "Mr. Irrelevant" for his overlooked arrival after a college career at Iowa State. He only became the 49ers' QB after injuries to Garoppolo and former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance.
24. Despite his late draft status, Purdy instantly thrived in San Francisco, helping lead the 49ers to the 2022 NFC title game, then producing an MVP-caliber season in his first full year as a starter in 2023. The 49ers have gone 21-4 with him under center, including playoffs, while he has thrown 44 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions.
25. Purdy (6-feet-1, 220) and Mahomes (6-2, 225) have relatively similar builds, and like the latter, Purdy has proven adept at extending plays with movement in and outside the pocket, exceeding expectations as a young starter.
26. The 49ers QB benefits from a star supporting cast that includes All-Pros and/or Pro Bowlers at almost every key position group, including running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, tight end George Kittle and offensive tackle Trent Williams.
27. Purdy also has similarities to Rams legend Kurt Warner, who entered the NFL as an afterthought out of Northern Iowa, improbably led the NFL in key passing marks during his first year as a full-time starter, produced his first comeback victories in the playoffs and went on to lead a heralded offense -- "The Greatest Show on Turf" -- to the Super Bowl.
28. Purdy was statistically the most efficient QB in the NFL this year, pacing all starters in yards per attempt (9.6) while finishing top-five in yards (4,280), TDs (31) and passer rating (113.0).
29. McCaffrey, who joined the 49ers during the 2022 season via trade with the Panthers, has been an MVP candidate himself, leading the NFL with 2,023 total yards (1,459 rushing; 564 receiving) and 21 touchdowns. He has been just as imposing in the playoffs, with 188 rushing yards and four scores in San Francisco's two wins.
