Super Bowl LIV will pit the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs against the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, February 2, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The NFL's premier event will feature a number of Northwestern connections on both sidelines:
- Former Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka is the Kansas City QB coach mentoring reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. Prior to joining the Chiefs, Kafka was an offensive graduate assistant on Pat Fitzgerald's staff for the 2016 season during which Austin Carr was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year and the 'Cats won the Pinstripe Bowl. At the helm of the NU offense as an undergraduate, he set single-game records in both passing yards (532 vs. Auburn, Outback Bowl, 2010) and rushing yards by a quarterback (217 vs. Minnesota, 2008). Additionally, his 3,725 yards of total offense as a senior in 2009 still stands as the No. 2 season in program history.
- Justin Chabot, who won two Big Ten titles as a Wildcats offensive lineman and teammate of Pat Fitzgerald, is in his 16th year with the 49ers and his seventh as the team's national scout. Prior to joining the 49ers, he spent five years as Northwestern's director of football operations.
- David Girardi was a defensive graduate assistant for the 'Cats from 2014-17, and is now the offensive quality control coach for the Chiefs.
- Ryan Kessenich is an area scout for the 49ers and spent the 2018 season as a consultant for the Wildcats after a long tenure with the Bears.
- Northwestern alum Ben Peterson is in his first season with the 49ers as head of player health & performance, overseeing athletic training, functional performance, nutrition and strength & conditioning.
- According to the Office of Alumni Relations & Development, Navy Lt. Taylor Burgart Jr. '12 will be part of the Naval fly-over before the game.