Kadarius Toney shines as four Gators win Super Bowl LVII
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The Kansas City Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in four years Sunday with a come-from-behind 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, sparked by some fourth-quarter heroics from Kadarius Toney.
The former Gators receiver caught a 5-yard touchdown to put the Chiefs up with 28-27 with 12:04 remaining. Toney, aka the “Human Joystick”, then broke free for a Super Bowl-record long 65-yard punt return to set up another score.
He wins his first ring along with Florida players Carlos Dunlap and Tommy Townsend, who was the holder for the game-winning field goal. Former UF running back La’Mical Perine is also a member of the Chiefs practice squad.
Toney, a first-round draft pick by the New York Giants in 2021, was traded to Kansas City on Oct. 27 for third- and sixth-round draft picks. After Sunday’s Super Bowl win, JuJu Smith-Schuster praised Toney and the Chiefs organization for getting him from the Giants.
“I don’t know what the Giants were doing with KT, but bro, he’s a dog! [Brett] Veich and Andy Reid they know how to pick and choose who to go get and fit for this puzzle of this team,” Smith-Schuster said.
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Veich also signed Dunlap as a free agent to a one-year deal worth up to $8 million. At 33, Dunlap recorded his 100th career sack this season and finished with his highest number of tackles (41) and pass deflections (8) since 2019 in Cincinnati.
The Gators have had a player in each Super Bowl since 2003, the third longest active streak in the nation. Overall, Florida has been a part of 25 Super Bowl-winning teams (40 total rings won by 33 players). At least one UF player has won a ring in 10 of the last 12 seasons.
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Gators Twitter updates
- Kadarius Toney reacts the Super Bowl victory on social media:
- Carlos Dunlap and Tommy Townsend, Super Bowl LVII champs: