For the first time since 2009, two former BYU stars will play each other in the Super Bowl

SALT LAKE CITY — Both wear red now, but they are rooted in Cougar blue.

And in two weeks, a pair of former BYU defenders — San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner and Kansas City safety Daniel Sorensen — will play each other for an NFL title.

When the Chiefs and 49ers meet in Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, it will be the first time in 11 seasons two former Cougars play each other in the title game.

On Feb. 1, 2009, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII. Former BYU defensive end Brett Keisel had five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery for the Steelers, while teammate Chris Hoke also played on the defensive line. On the losing side, former Cougar safety Aaron Francisco had a tackle and a pass deflection for the Cardinals.

There were former BYU players on both sides in Super Bowl XLV in 2011, but Green Bay linebacker Brady Poppinga went on injured reserve partway through the regular season, missing his chance to play in the game, while Keisel and Hoke played again for Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. Poppinga got the ring, though, as the Packers beat the Steelers 31-25.

Super Bowl LIV in two weeks will also give former BYU lineman and grad assistant Andy Reid his second chance at a title. The 21-year NFL head coach took Philadelphia to Super Bowl XXXIX, where the Eagles 24-21 lost to New England back in 2005.

The Super Bowl LIV matchup was determined Sunday with the Chiefs beating the Tennessee Titans 35-24 in the AFC championship, followed by the 49ers rolling past the Green Bay Packers 37-20 in the NFC championship later in the day.

Sorensen and Warner headline six Utah ties on this year’s NFL rosters. Warner is joined in San Francisco by former Utes punter Mitch Wishnowsky. In Kansas City, two rookies — Utah and Brighton High offensive tackle Jackson Barton and Utah State running back Darwin Thompson — join Sorensen in being Super Bowl bound, while former Layton High wide receiver Marcus Kemp is on injured reserve for the Chiefs.

Sorensen had the best day Sunday among locals, finishing with eight tackles — six solo and a tackle for loss — in Kansas City’s win. He made an open-field tackle on third down on the Titans’ Ryan Tannehill, dropping the quarterback four yards short of a first down in the third quarter. At the time, Kansas City led by four, 21-17, and on the ensuing possession following a Titans punt, the Chiefs drove for a touchdown and their first double-digit lead.

In the fourth, Sorensen undercut a screen to make a six-yard tackle for loss on Tennessee running Derrick Henry deep in Tennessee territory on first down. On the next play, Sorensen nearly had an interception, though his pass deflection led to an incomplete pass.

Warner, meanwhile, had six tackles — including two solo stops — for the 49ers. He also had a pass deflection on a deep pass in the third quarter with the Packers trying to rally.

Thompson had one carry for seven yards for the Chiefs on a touchdown drive in the second half, while Barton was inactive for the game. In San Francisco, Wishnowsky had two punts for a 38.5-yard average and dropped one inside the 20.

The Super Bowl dream came to an end for a trio of locals Sunday, though. Former Utah State linebacker Kyler Fackrell had a third-down sack for the Packers in the first quarter — his second sack of the year — which forced a 49ers field goal; he finished with two tackles. Teammate and former BYU running back Jamaal Williams had three carries for six yards and two receptions for one yard. Former Southern Utah cornerback LeShaun Sims had two special-teams tackles for Tennessee. 

Utah ties in Super Bowl LIV

Kansas City Chiefs

• Andy Reid, head coach, BYU: The former Cougar lineman and grad assistant is making his second Super Bowl appearance as a head coach in his 21 seasons as an NFL head coach. He won a Super Bowl ring as an assistant coach with Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI.
• Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: Sorensen is making his first Super Bowl appearance in his fifth straight postseason run with the Chiefs. The one-time undrafted free agent started at free safety Sunday and had eight tackles, including six solo stops and a tackle for loss, to go with a pass deflection. 
• Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State: The rookie was a sixth-round draft pick by Kansas City last spring. He had one carry for seven yards in the Chiefs’ win Sunday, his first carry of the postseason. 
• Jackson Barton, OT, Utah and Brighton High: Barton, also a rookie, joined Kansas City’s active roster in November, signed off the Indianapolis practice squad. The team’s backup right tackle has been inactive every week with the Chiefs.
• Marcus Kemp, WR, Layton High: Kemp spent the 2020 season on injured reserve with a torn ACL and MCL suffered in mid-August. He’s in his third NFL season, all with Kansas City.

San Francisco 49ers

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: The second-year linebacker has started every game this season, serving in a key leadership role for the 49ers defense. He started at Mike linebacker in the NFC championship and finished with six tackles and a pass deflection.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Wishnowsky is also a rookie, after being drafted by San Francisco in the fourth round last spring. He punted twice Sunday for a 38.5-yard average and pinned one inside the 20.