Super Bowl 2023: Kadarius Toney stars as three Florida Gators win rings with Kansas City Chiefs

By OnlyGators.com Staff
February 12, 2023
Super Bowl 2023: Kadarius Toney stars as three Florida Gators win rings with Kansas City Chiefs
Football

Image Credit: Kansas City Chiefs

Capping another tremendous season for Florida Gators in the NFL, three former players won championship rings Sunday night as the Kansas City Chiefs completed a come-from-behind 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. While quarterback Patrick Mahomes emerged as the Super Bowl MVP following a stellar performance for Kansas City, it was a former Florida player who starred in the fourth quarter.

Gators wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who was traded from the New York Giants to the Chiefs during the season, was stellar in crunch time. Toney caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to put Kansas City ahead early in the fourth quarter and followed with a Super Bowl-record long 65-yard punt return that soon pushed his team ahead eight points later in the period.

The Chiefs scored a touchdown three plays after Toney’s return, and while the Eagles tied the game by finding the end zone and adding a 2-point conversion on their next possession, Kansas City capped the contest with a 27-yard field goal in the waining seconds.

Alongside Toney in the Super Bowl were former Gators defensive end Carlos Dunlap and punter Tommy Townsend. Dunlap had two QB hits in the game, while Townsend only punted twice for 98 yards but also served as holder on the game-winning kick.

This marked the 12th time in 14 seasons that a Florida player won a Super Bowl ring. It was also 21st consecutive year in which at least one player was rostered on a team in the big game. Overall, UF has now won 39 total rings won by 32 players across 25 Super Bowls.

On the other side, former Florida safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson fell short of a ring with Philadelphia. Gardner-Johnson picked up four tackles (two solo) in the contest, including one of the hardest hits of the Super Bowl.

Other related Gators tangentally involved in the Super Bowl included Chiefs practice squad running back La’Michal Perine, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and Philly practice squad WR Tyrie Cleveland and offensive lineman Fred Johnson. Former Florida quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson also served in the same role for Philadelphia.

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