One way or another, there will be at least one Utah tie celebrating when the Lombardi Trophy is awarded a little more than two weeks from now at Super Bowl LIX.

From players to coaches, there are 13 Utah ties whose teams will be competing for a spot in the Super Bowl this weekend.

That player group includes former Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner, whose celebrated NFL career has taken him to the Washington Commanders this season.

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There are also two former Utes — tight end Dalton Kincaid and safety Cole Bishop — who have carved out roles with the Buffalo Bills. So, too, has former Weber State cornerback Taron Johnson.

Any one of these players could be involved in the key play that makes or breaks a win when the Commanders play the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship game and the Bills take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title matchup on Sunday.

Make no mistake, though, there’s one name that trumps them all — Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Will Reid, the former BYU player and graduate assistant, make history by leading his Chiefs to three straight Super Bowl titles?

It would be the first time it’s happened in NFL history.

First things first, though: Kansas City must advance to Super Bowl LIX, and the Bills — along with the aforementioned Kincaid, Bishop and Johnson — still stand in their way.

The Chiefs, for the sixth time in the past seven years, will host the AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium.

“Here we sit with a championship game, I mean we’re humble to be in that position,” Reid told reporters last Saturday following Kansas City’s divisional-round win over the Houston Texans. “We’re fortunate, we appreciate that we’re right here at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.”

Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop (24) tackles Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews during a divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. | Adrian Kraus

AFC championship: There’s a bit of a BYU-Utah rivalry going

The Chiefs are making AFC championship game appearances seemingly as often as one can find a good BBQ joint in Kansas City.

This will be Kansas City’s seventh-straight appearance in the AFC championship game under Reid. The Chiefs and Bills met in the AFC title game four years ago, with Kansas City winning 38-24.

The Bills did hand Kansas City its first loss this season, back in Week 11.

On Sunday in the AFC championship game (4:30 p.m. MST, CBS), the rookie Bishop could end up playing a significant role.

While he started four games during the regular season, the former star Utah defender didn’t play any defensive snaps in Buffalo’s wild-card win over the Denver Broncos.

Last week in the divisional round, though, he ended up replacing veteran Taylor Rapp, who left with a hip injury during the first half of the Bills’ win over the Baltimore Ravens. Bishop ended up playing 39 defensive snaps and had three tackles.

Rapp is currently day-to-day with his injury, and if he misses Sunday, Bishop will likely be called upon to fill Rapp’s spot in the starting lineup.

“Very fortunate. As soon as I knew I was coming to Buffalo, I was super excited,” Bishop told Batavia Daily News’ Alex Brasky, after the Bills secured their spot in the AFC title game. As for the focus on facing the Chiefs, “Just recover and then get back to our process. It’s different now in the playoffs, but we always say, just stick to your process.”

Johnson, who’s carved out a role as the Bills’ nickel cornerback, has dealt with his own injuries during the playoffs, and last week he was in and out of the game at times with a shoulder injury. He still managed to play 36 snaps and record three tackles.

Come Sunday, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Johnson suiting up in the Bills secondary.

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. | Adrian Kraus

As for Kincaid, the former Utah tight end has enjoyed a solid second season in Buffalo.

He had 44 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, and so far in the postseason, Kincaid has five catches for 58 yards.

He’s one of Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen’s favorite targets, and Kincaid could end up impacting the AFC title game.

On the Chiefs side, former BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia isn’t expected to play much of a role in the AFC championship. He started a couple games early in the season as a rookie, but has been largely a reserve lineman since.

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who’s been with Reid in Kansas City since 2016, explained that the team understands the historical significance if Kansas City can win a third-straight Super Bowl title. Before that happens, though, there’s an AFC championship to win.

“Now we’re even hungrier to even get there now because what’s at stake. You know what I mean?” Jones told reporters last Saturday. “(The) three-peat, getting there, playing in front of our fans again so it’s different but the journey is still the same. We still want to bring that Lamar Hunt trophy back home.”

Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) celebrates after recovering a fumble during wild card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Jan 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. | Peter Joneleit

NFC championship: Can a former Aggie make his return to the Super Bowl?

There are fewer Utah ties who could make a significant impact in the NFC championship game (1 p.m. MST, Fox), though Wagner is a name familiar not only in Utah circles but around the league.

The 13-year veteran is an All-Pro who’s been one of the best middle linebackers in the game since entering the league back in 2012.

Unlike the rest of the players with Utah ties who are still alive in the playoffs, Wagner already has the experience of winning a Super Bowl ring.

He earned one during his second NFL season, winning the Super Bowl with the Seahawks during the 2013 season. Seattle returned to the Super Bowl the next year but lost to New England.

Wagner, who’s been on three different teams the past three seasons, is in his first year with the Commanders. As usual, he’s been a workhorse, finishing the regular season with 132 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

During Washington’s upset wild-card win over Tampa Bay, Wagner recovered a fourth-quarter fumble that led to a touchdown and helped flip momentum in a 23-20 Commanders win.

For a Commanders team led by first-year quarterback Jayden Daniels, Wagner’s presence on defense brings a wealth of experience during the postseason.

Wagner has embraced his new team, including the rookie Daniels, while helping Washington win in the playoffs for the first time in 19 years.

“They make it really fun to come into work,” Wagner told the New York Post, of the Commanders’ organization. “I think that’s what has allowed us to connect so quickly and kind of had the success we had because we generally enjoy being around each other, and I always feel like that’s a sign of a good team.”

This is a 2024 photo of Brian Johnson of the Washington Commanders NFL football team. This image reflects the Washington Commanders active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 when this image was taken. | AP Photo

Another first-year Utah tie in Washington is former Utes quarterback Brian Johnson, the team’s assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator.

Johnson was an Eagles assistant coach for three years and was Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator last season before being let go.

Now, he’ll get the chance to return to the Super Bowl by facing his former organization.

On the Philadelphia side, there is only one Utah tie, former Utah and Timpview High star Britain Covey.

Don’t expect him to make an impact Sunday, though — Covey currently is on injured reserve for the second time this season with a neck injury and has been replaced at punt returner by Cooper DeJean.

Even if Covey comes off IR, which he is eligible to do beginning this week, it would be a surprise to see him make an impact.

It’s too bad — when the Eagles made the Super Bowl two years ago, he ended up with a 27-yard return in the game.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey (18) in action during game against the Atlanta Falcons, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Falcons won 22-21. | Chris Szagola

Utah ties who are one step away from the Super Bowl

NFC championship: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. MST, Fox

Utah ties on Eagles roster

  • Former Utah and Timpview High wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey missed much of his third NFL season while on injured reserve. He’s on his second stint on IR right now, though he could return at some point.
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Utah ties on Commanders roster

  • Former BYU cornerback Michael Davis is in his first season in Washington. He’s been inactive thus far in the postseason.
  • Former Utah State middle linebacker Bobby Wagner is playing in his 19th postseason game on Sunday, and has a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Seattle Seahawks.
  • Commanders assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator Brian Johnson, a former Utah quarterback, is in his first season in Washington, after several years on the Eagles’ staff.

AFC championship: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. MST, CBS

Utah ties on Chiefs roster

  • Former BYU and Orem High offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia is a rookie with the Chiefs. He’s primarily in a reserve role after a couple early season starts.
  • Former East High defensive tackle Siaki Ika joined the Chiefs’ practice squad in December.
  • Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who won his 300th game as an NFL head coach last week, is a former BYU player and grad assistant.
  • Chiefs assistant running backs coach Porter Ellett, a BYU graduate, is in his eighth season with the Chiefs and second in his current role.
  • Chiefs assistant strength and conditioning coach Spencer Reid, a former BYU assistant and Utah grad, is in his second season with Kansas City.
  • Chiefs defensive quality control coach Alex Whittingham, a former Utah linebacker and the son of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, is in his seventh season as a Chiefs assistant and sixth in his current role.

Utah ties on Bills roster

  • Former Utah safety Cole Bishop was a second-round draft pick by Buffalo this season and had played primarily as a reserve this season, though he’s started four games.
  • Former Weber State cornerback Taron Johnson is in his seventh season with the Bills and has become one of the faces of the Buffalo secondary.
  • Former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid is in his second season with Buffalo and will be playing in his fifth playoff game Sunday.
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