Gators in the NFL: Super Bowl LVII Preview
Saturday, February 11, 2023 | Football
for the 21st year in a row, Florida will have at least one former gator in the Super Bowl – the third longest active streak in the nation.
Only Oklahoma matches Florida's seven players in the big game.
Plus, for the 21st year in a row, Florida will have at least one former gator in the Super Bowl – the third longest active streak in the nation.
For Kansas City, Gators Tommy Townsend, Kadarius Toney, Carlos Dunlap and Lamical Perine are set to square off against the Eagles and Gators C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Fred Johnson and Tyrie Cleveland.
Kansas City Chiefs
The only Gator in Kansas City not making his Super Bowl debut arrives in Arizona as a team captain and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Chiefs' punter Tommy Townsend is in his second Super Bowl and has been the best player at his position all season long.
On Sunday, he'll get a chance to show the world how important punters can be.
And be wary of the fake, Philadelphia, because Townsend has wheels and an arm:
Tommy Townsend threw a STRIKE on this fake punt pass. #ChiefsKingdom
— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2021
📺: #KCvsLV on NBC
📱: https://t.co/FF7Rvmy1OI pic.twitter.com/dJt0Bi5PYK
Townsend and teammate Kadarius Toney aren't shy of making big plays in big games. On a national stage as Gators, Townsend and Toney made back-to-back plays to get Florida in the end zone. Might we see that combo take off in the Super Bowl?
Remember when Tommy Townsend and Kadarius Toney made back-to-back huge plays to put the #Gators in the endzone against Miami in 2019?
— Will Levenson (@BigWillLevenson) February 8, 2023
Can the 🐊 duo do it again for #ChiefsKingdom on the biggest state in sports at the #SuperBowl ??@tommy_townsend @0fficialC2N pic.twitter.com/XinS0JXvif
Either way, expect to see plenty of jukes from the Human Joystick, Toney, who's excelled with the Chiefs since arriving in Kansas City in week nine.
In the month of January alone, Toney totaled 174 yards from scrimmage. He did this despite playing just one drive against Cincinnati in the AFC championship game before suffering an ankle injury.
But with Toney looking good in practice, all signs point to him making his Super Bowl debut Sunday – when he and Patrick Mahomes will get a chance to show off their chemistry.
#chiefs WR Kadarius Toney is dealing with an ankle injury. Today is their toughest practice of the week. He's moving well. Which is a good sign, because Toney and Mahomes have a real connection. My report on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/AFbajBNPhQ
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) February 9, 2023
On the defensive side for KC, Carlos Dunlap is making his long-awaited Super Bowl debut in the 13th year of his illustrious NFL career.
Dunlap hit a milestone 100 sacks earlier this season and now looks to finish off the unforgettable year with a ring.
Entering this season Dunlap had three big goals: hit 100 sacks, win a playoff game and bring home the Lombardi Trophy.
Two down, one to go.
Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles star safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson – quickly becoming one of the league's best young defensive backs – has only lost one game all season.
Gardner-Johnson missed six games due to injury during the regular season. Philly went 4-2 in those six games. In the 13 games Gardner-Johnson played in, the Eagles went 12-1, and he nabbed an interception in his one loss. In all 13 games, he made his presence felt, flying around the field like an actual eagle.
The hard-hitting safety is also ball-hawk. His six interceptions this season are tied for league lead.
Gardner-Johnson made play after play in the Orange and Blue.
.@CGJXXIII with the PICK SIX! pic.twitter.com/4wpeoUq1EG
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 29, 2018
Now, he'll look to make more on sports' biggest stage.
Catch all the Gators in Super Bowl LVII Sunday at 6:30 p.m. live from Glendale, Arizona, on FOX.
