LAS VEGAS — The Super Bowl is about to kick-off and a former Central Georgia standout will be on the sidelines for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Former Mary Persons defensive end Malik Herring will appear in his second straight Super Bowl as the Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers after winning a ring last in the Chiefs 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Herring starred at Georgia from 2017 until he made the jump to the NFL in 2021 when he signed with the Chiefs after going undrafted following a torn ACL injury in practice leading up to the Senior Bowl.
Herring isn’t the only player with Georgia ties in the game. Seven other former Georgia high school football players on rosters for the game.
This list includes former Georgia Tech kicker Harrison Butker, former Georgia players defensive end Robert Beal (49ers IR), wide receiver Mecole Hardman (Chiefs), tight end Charlie Woerner (49ers), wide receiver Chris Conley (49ers), former Oklahoma offensive lineman Wanya Morris(Chiefs) and former Washington State corner Jaylen Watson (Chiefs).
For Hardman and Butker, this will be their fourth Super Bowl for the Chiefs. They are 2-1 so far and are looking to go back-to-back.
The last team to win back-to-back Super Bowls was the New England Patriots in Super Bowls 38 and 39.
The Chiefs failed in their previous attempt to win back-to-back titles after beating the 49ers in 2020 before losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.
This year's game has added hype surrounding it as global icon and pop superstar Taylor Swift is expected to be in attendance as her boyfriend Travis Kelce looks to take home another title. The singer won her 14th Grammy this past Sunday including her record 4th album of the year award.
The game will air on CBS at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 11th from Las Vegas, Nevada.