Led by Chiefs’ Mahomes, Lone Star State has fair share of connections to Super Bowl LVIII

Even though the Cowboys and Texans bowed out of the NFL playoffs, the Lone Star State will still be represented in Super Bowl LVIII.

There are more than two dozen players, coaches and an owner with Texas connections — some stronger than others — on the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

The two teams will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.This game will be a rematch of Super Bowl LIV where the Chiefs staged a late comeback to beat the 49ers, 31-20.

The Kansas City Chiefs

Clark Hunt, part owner, CEO of the Chiefs: Hunt lives in Dallas and is also chairman of Hunt Sports Group. His father, Lamar Hunt, who died in 2006, was a founding member of the American Football League and founded the Dallas Texans, which later moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs.

Blake Bell, TE: A journeyman throughout his nine-year NFL career, Bell played for the Dallas Cowboys during the 2020 season finishing the year with 11 receptions for 110 yards.

Nick Bolton, LB: Played a major role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII victory, Bolton was born in Frisco and went to Lone Star High School.

Porter Ellett, assistant running backs coach: Received his master’s degree from Baylor University while serving as a graduate assistant. He joined the Chiefs staff in 2017.

Keontay Ingram, RB: The second-year running back was born in Carthage and played at Carthage High School before starting his collegiate journey at Texas. Ingram transferred to USC before selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Patrick Mahomes, QB: The star quarterback is a Texan native born in Tyler and attended Whitehouse High School where he was a star in football and baseball. Following high school, Mahomes starred at QB for Texas Tech before drafted with the 10th selection by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft. Mahomes has won two Super Bowls and twice been voted MVP in the Super Bowl and NFL.

Lucas Niang, OT: Played collegiate football for TCU and earned second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2018. During his time with the Horned Frogs, Niang only gave up two holding penalties, one sack and no false starts. Niang was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Charles Omenihu, DL: Played his high school (Rowlett), college (Texas ) and professional football (Houston) in the Lone Star State after being born in Houston. Omenihu joined the Chiefs prior to the 2023 season.

Deneric Prince, RB: An undrafted free agent from the 2023 draft class, Prince played high school football in Manvel before going to Texas A&M for college. Prince transferred from Texas A&M to Tulsa to finish his collegiate career.

Justin Reid, S: He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft and spent the first four years of his career there before joining Kansas City prior to the 2022 season.

Austin Reiter, OL: Before moving to Bradenton, Florida, Reiter was born in Arlington. Reiter attended the University of Southern Florida before he was picked in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Rashee Rice, WR: Drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Rice was born in Philadelphia before attending Richland High School in North Richland Hills. Rice was a star at SMU and led all Chiefs wide receivers in yards this season.

Dave Toub, assistant head coach and special teams coordinator: A two-time all-WAC selection as an offensive lineman, Toub started his coaching career at his alma mater of University of Texas at El Paso before going on to coach at Missouri, then with the Eagles. He has coached for the Chiefs since 2013.

B.J. Thompson, DL: The rookie defensive lineman played for Baylor (2017-18) and Stephen F. Austin (2019-22) before he was drafted by the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers

Jake Brendel, OL: Attended Plano East High School before playing collegiate football at UCLA. Bendel started his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2016 and joined the 49ers in the 2020 season.

Spencer Burford, OL: Attended Wagner High School in his hometown of San Antonio before playing college football at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Burford was drafted by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Chris Conley, WR: A Turkish native, Conley has played for six teams over his NFL career including the Houston Texans (2021-22).

Danny Gray, WR: Grew up in Dallas and attended Madison High School before going to Blinn Junior College (2018-19) and SMU (2020-21). Gray was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the 49ers.

Randy Gregory, LB: Originally drafted in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by Dallas, Gregory spent the first five years of his career with the Cowboys nothing 16.5 sacks.

Kemon Hall, CB: Played at North Texas to finish his college career before signing with the Los Angeles Charges as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Hall was also signed to the Cowboys practice squad in 2020.

Andrew Hayes-Stoker, assistant defensive backs coach: A native of Arlington, Hayes-Stoker played at TCU from 1999-2002 earning All-American academic honors during his time at Fort Worth.

Johnny Holland, linebackers coach: A native of Belleville, he attended Hempstead High School. Holland became e an All-American at Texas A&M and won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1996.

Tashaun Gipson Sr., CB: Born in Dallas and attended Kimball High School before playing at Wyoming. Gipson went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft before signing with the Browns. He also played for the Texans in 2019.

Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach: Born in Deanville, he was a high school star at Caldwell before playing in college at Texas Tech. Kocurek started his coaching career at Texas Tech.

Klay Kubiak, assistant quarterbacks coach: Houston native and son of former NFL head coach Gary Kubiak. Kubiak’s brother Klint is on the 49ers staff as well and his brother Klein is a scout with the Cowboys.

Klint Kubiak, offensive passing game specialist: Started his coaching career at Texas A&M (2010-12) as an offensive quality control coach and graduate assistant.

Anthony Lynn, assistant head coach and running backs coach: Former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers and also coached the running backs with the Cowboys from 2005-06. He played running back at Celina High School and collegiality at Texas Tech.

Terrance Mitchell, CB: Started his NFL career as a seventh-round pick by the Cowboys in the 2014 NFL draft. Mitchell was waived by the Cowboys and returned for a second stint with the team in 2015 before he was released in June of 2016.

Matt Pryor, OL: Sixth-round selection out of TCU by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2018 NFL Draft. Pryor was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2017.

Kyle Shanahan, head coach: Shanahan was a walk-on at the University of Texas where he had 14 catches for 127 yards in two seasons in Austin. Shanahan began his coaching career at UCLA as a graduate assistant and has been the 49ers head coach since 2017.

Jason Verrett, CB: Starred at cornerback for TCU (2011-13) winning co-defensive player of the year for the Big 12 in 2013. Verrett was the 25th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Charvarius Ward, CB: Got his NFL start as a member of the Cowboys practice squad (2018) after going undrafted In the 2018 NFL Draft.

Trent Williams, OL: Went to Longview High School before becoming an All-American at Oklahoma. The fourth pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Williams has starred for both the Washington Commnaders and the 49ers, making 11 Pro Bowls in his NFL career.

Brayden Willis, TE: A Dallas native who played at Martin High School in Arlington. Willis played college football at Oklahoma before the 49ers drafted him with the No. 247 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Dee Winters, LB: Born in Brenham, Winters played high school football at Burton High School. Winters played for TCU (2019-22) and was a part of the team that fell to Georgia in the National Championship in 2022.