Several local connections earn Super Bowl rings for work on, off field

When Mecole Hardman crossed the goal line in overtime of the Kansas City Chiefs' 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, it cemented the Chiefs' status as the NFL's newest dynasty.

Only 11 players have been around for all three of Kansas City's Super Bowl wins over the past five seasons. Stars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones have been involved since the beginning of the run, of course, but so has former Middle Tennessee State linebacker Darius Harris.

"It's unbelievable; it's just amazing to be back here for my fourth time," Harris told Tennessee Titans reporter Jim Wyatt prior to the game. 

This time, the former undrafted free agent wasn't the only former Blue Raider to earn a ring. Harris was joined by fellow MTSU alumni Izaiah Gathings, an undrafted rookie tight end who signed with KC in December, and Richie James, a return specialist and former seventh round pick of the 49ers, now a member of the Chiefs. 

Unfortunately for the 49ers' Charvarius Ward, another former Blue Raider who was on the Chiefs' 2019 Super Bowl-winning squad, he could not add a second ring to his collection. Jauan Jennings, a Blackman High alum and former UT standout, had a banner day for the 49ers, passing for one touchdown and catching another in the loss.

Former Tennessee Vols lineman Trey Smith, however, did earn a second Super Bowl ring. The offensive lineman has been a fixture in the Kansas City starting lineup since being drafted in 2021. 

The Super Bowl winners' local connections weren't just on the field. Longtime Nashville Kats head coach and current Brentwood resident Pat Sperduto has been the Chiefs' director of college scouting since 2009. 

Sperduto, who was also a scout for the Titans from 2002-04, started out as the defensive coordinator for the Kats in 1997, added assistant head coach duties in 1998, and took over as head coach from 1999-2001 and again from 2005-07.

"Coach [former MTSU head coach Rick] Stockstill did a great job with those guys, allowing them to learn how to be pros," Sperduto said of the Chiefs' trio of MTSU alums. "They came in here with the same attitude and worked really hard to be part of what we're doing." 

San Francisco also employed a local connection in the front office. Christ Presbyterian Academy alum Jacob Webster, son of former Titans GM Ruston Webster, is a defensive quality control coach for the 49ers.