The Kansas City Chiefs dug way deep into the history book to come up with the trick play they ran with success in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Down 3-0 late in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, the Chiefs made a bold decision to go for it on 4th-and-1. They broke out a trick play where the four players in the backfield spun around in a synchronized move to throw off the defense. The snap then went straight to Damien Williams rather than Patrick Mahomes, and Williams rushed for a first down and just missed a touchdown. Kansas City later scored to take a 7-3 lead.
The Chiefs even had time to become the Backstreet Boys during that drive.
That's how good they werepic.twitter.com/64OvrXfxAd
— Safest Betting Sites (@SBS_Authority) February 3, 2020
Where did the Chiefs come up with such a play?
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said after the game that they were inspired by Michigan in the Rose Bowl in the 1940s.
Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy on spin move trick play to convert 4th down vs. 49ers pic.twitter.com/wpOxC1DJMV
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) February 3, 2020
Bieniemy thought it was the 1949 Rose Bowl, but it was actually the 1948 Rose Bowl that Michigan won 49-0 over USC. Michigan did not appear to do that exact spin, but they utilized tons of motion, shifting, fakes, and single-wing type of formations.
Pretty cool. Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy said they stole that first TD play from Michigan in an old Rose Bowl vs. USC. I looked, and yep. This is from New Year's Day 1948. Fritz Crisler = visionary pic.twitter.com/bcWp5BEf0h
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) February 3, 2020
The trick plays worked in 1948, and they’re still working in 2020.
