MOLINE, Ill. — The match-up for Super Bowl LVIII is set with the reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs taking on the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, which the Chiefs won 31-20.
There are multiple players and staff with connections to Illinois or Iowa competing in the big game, with one born and raised in the Quad Cities region.
Here's the full list of Super Bowl LVIII participants with ties to Illinois, Iowa and the Quad Cities region.
Ryan Reynolds, Chiefs Head Strength Coach
Ryan Reynolds is the Chiefs' head strength and conditioning coach and director of sports science, and he grew up just 45 minutes away from the Quad Cities metro region in Fulton, Illinois.
After graduating from Fulton High School in 1999, Reynolds pursued an exercise science degree from the University of Iowa, where he graduated in 2005.
The Fulton native is in his eighth season with the Chiefs and has helped prepare the team for seven straight AFC West crowns, five consecutive AFC Championship Games and three Super Bowls. Reynolds currently has two Super Bowl rings and looks to gain a third.
George Kittle, 49ers TE
One of the NFL's premiere tight ends, 49ers TE George Kittle played college football at the University of Iowa before being drafted in the 5th round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Kittle's father was a lineman for the Hawkeyes from 1977-79 and 1981 and was co-captain of Iowa's 1982 Rose Bowl team.
An avid professional wrestling fan, Kittle knows all about Seth Rollins' Black and Brave Wrestling Academy in Davenport. According to an interview with Wrestle Zone, Kittle has traveled to the Davenport wrestling school on multiple occasions to train with Rollins.
When asked about his Mt. Rushmore of professional wrestling, Kittle didn't hesitate to say, "my favorite I think I'd go...Seth Rollins." Yes, Kittle's favorite professional wrestler is Davenport native Seth Rollins.
The WWE superstar, whose real name is Colby Lopez, is a co-owner of 392 Caffe and the wrestling academy, two neighboring buildings located on the corner of 3rd and Scott Streets in downtown Davenport.
Now a five-time pro bowler and four-time all-pro selection, Kittle returns to the Super Bowl for the second time in his career.
Jack Cochrane, Chiefs LB
Chiefs LB Jack Cochrane is from Mount Vernon, Iowa, just over an hour's drive away from the Quad Cities metro region. Cochrane, along with former Iowa Hawkeye and Super Bowl LV Champion Tristan Wirfs, led the Mount Vernon Mustangs to back-to-back Iowa high school semifinal appearances in 2015 and 2016. En route to those semifinal appearances, the Mustangs defeated Quad Cities area teams such as Camanche, Northeast, Mediapolis and West Liberty.
Before signing with the Chiefs in 2022, Cochrane played his college ball at the University of South Dakota. Cochrane already has one Super Bowl ring as a member of last year's Chiefs Super Bowl LVII squad. He logged 28 tackles during the 2023 regular season.
Brendan Daly, Chiefs LB Coach
Chief's Linebackers Coach Brendan Daly was born in Chicago and played high school football at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield. Daly played college football at Drake University in Des Moines and stayed afterward to coach tight ends for one season in 1998. Daly also coached tight ends at Illinois State in 2004.
At Sacred Heart-Griffin, Daly played for Ken Leonard, who led the school to six state championships. Leonard's first championship came in 2005 when the Cyclones defeated the Rock Island Alleman Pioneers 28-21 in the Class 5A state championship.
Brock Purdy, 49ers QB
Before he became a finalist for the 2023 NFL Most Valuable Player Award, Brock Purdy played collegiately for the Iowa State Cyclones. After four seasons at Iowa State, Purdy was selected with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Entering the 2022 season as the 49ers third-string quarterback, Purdy has since solidified himself as one of the NFL's best signal-callers. With a victory, Purdy could cement himself as one of the best NFL players to ever come from Iowa State.
Nick Allegretti, Chiefs G
Originally from Frankfort, Illinois, Chiefs Guard Nick Allegretti played high school football for Lincoln-Way East High School and spent five seasons at the University of Illinois before being drafted in the 7th round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Allegretti will compete for his third Super Bowl ring, having been a member of the Chiefs' Super Bowl LV and LVIII championship teams.
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