Super Bowl weekend is upon us. Another year has gone by and the Green Bay Packers will not be playing in the game, a game they last played in 2010. If you are looking for ties to the Green Bay Packers organization, there are several of them between the Chiefs and 49ers
I will start with a player, Mike Pennel. He is a defensive tackle with the Chiefs, who has been in the league for 6 seasons. He was drafted by Ted Thompson and the Packers in 2014. He spent 3 seasons in Green Bay, where is had 27 tackles and 1 sack. Pennel is now a rotational player on Kansas City’s defensive line. This is his first season with Kansas City, he has 13 tackles and 1 sack.
Another connection to Green Bay is one that everyone is aware of, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. He started his NFL coaching career off by joining Mike Holmgren’s staff in 1992. Ironically, it is the same year that Pro Football Hall of Famer, Brett Favre became a member of the Packers.
Reid spent 7 seasons with the Packers where he served as an assistant coach, an assistant offensive line and tight ends coach, and quarterbacks coach. In January of 1999 he left Green Bay to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Also on the Chiefs is cornerback Bashaud Breeland. He played the 2018 season in Green Bay, where he had two interceptions and four pass breakups in seven games.
The Chiefs also feature several front office guys who spent time in Green Bay. Tim Terry, the Chiefs Director of Pro Personnel, who was a pro personnel assistant in Green Bay from 2004 – 2007, and Director of Pro Personnel from 2008 – 2016. There is Chiefs scout, Jason Lamb, who was a player personnel intern in 2003. Kansas City strength and conditioning coordinator Barry Rubin spent time in Green Bay as strength and conditioning assistant and coordinator from 1995 – 2005.
On the San Francisco side of things, there are numerous connections to the Packers from Matt Lafleur’s brother to the coaches connections to their coaches. But, let’s focus on the people who were actually part of the Packers organization.
That player is Kofi Amichia. The offensive linemen was a sixth round draft pick by Green Bay in 2016. He never played in a game for Green Bay and was released in 2018. He is currently on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.
Coach Lafleur will probably cheering on his brother and the 49ers coaching staff who he coached with. The Chiefs have more connections to the Packers organization. If you are looking for those connects to the green and gold to cheer for while watching the big game, there you have it. Sit back and enjoy the final football game until next fall. After this game, the Packers brass will begin their journey to bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown.
Go Pack Go!!
Anthony Haag is a writer for PackersTalk.com. He has been a Packers fan since the day he was born and truly bleeds green and gold. He makes annual visits to Lambeau Field and has attended his fair share of games. You can follow Anthony on Twitter at @anthony_haag
