Texas Tech University Athletics
Photo by: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Waddle Returns to Super Bowl For Third-Straight Year
January 20, 2019 | Football
Texas Tech will be represented in the Super Bowl for the 10-consecutive season on Feb. 3
LUBBOCK, Texas – For the third-consecutive year, LaAdrian Waddle will play in the Super Bowl after his New England Patriots went on the road to edge the Kansas City Chiefs, 37-31, in overtime Sunday evening at a chilly Arrowhead Stadium.
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The Patriots scored on the opening possession of overtime, capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive on a 2-yard Rex Burkhead touchdown run that included Waddle as an extra blocking tight end. New England was a perfect 3-for-3 on third-down conversions on that drive en route to earning its third-straight trip to the Super Bowl and its fifth appearance in the last eight years.
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Waddle will be looking for his second Super Bowl ring when the Patriots meet the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 2 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Waddle, who was part of New England's win at Super Bowl LI, is now tied with former Patriots wideouts Danny Amendola and Wes Welker for the most Super Bowl appearances all-time among Red Raiders.
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This will be the 10th-consecutive year a Red Raider has played in the Super Bowl, the longest streak in school history. Waddle is one of 26 Red Raiders who have played in the biggest game in football, a history that dates back to Super Bowl I when Ring of Honor members E.J. Holub (Chiefs) and Donny Anderson (Packers) were part of the inaugural championship game.
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Mahomes helped give the Chiefs a 28-24 lead with 2:03 remaining in regulation as he found Sammy Watkins on a wheel route for a 38-yard gain, setting up a Damien Williams touchdown from two yards out. The touchdown was one of four lead changes in a dramatic fourth quarter.
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The Patriots needed only 1:24 to regain the lead on a 4-yard touchdown, giving Mahomes only 39 seconds to attempt to send the game into overtime. Mahomes completed his first two passes on the ensuing drive, moving the Chiefs to the New England 21-yard line for a Harrison Butker game-tying 39-yard field goal.
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Despite falling just shy of the Super Bowl, Mahomes had a season to remember as he became one of only three quarterbacks all-time to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns during the regular season. Dating back to his tenure at Tech, he is the only quarterback in history to post 5,000 passing yards at both the collegiate and NFL levels.
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In addition to Mahomes, former Red Raider linebacker and Lubbock native Mike Smith was a member of the Chiefs' coaching staff as he completed his third year with the organization and first overseeing Kansas City's outside linebackers.
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The Patriots scored on the opening possession of overtime, capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive on a 2-yard Rex Burkhead touchdown run that included Waddle as an extra blocking tight end. New England was a perfect 3-for-3 on third-down conversions on that drive en route to earning its third-straight trip to the Super Bowl and its fifth appearance in the last eight years.
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Waddle will be looking for his second Super Bowl ring when the Patriots meet the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 2 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Waddle, who was part of New England's win at Super Bowl LI, is now tied with former Patriots wideouts Danny Amendola and Wes Welker for the most Super Bowl appearances all-time among Red Raiders.
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This will be the 10th-consecutive year a Red Raider has played in the Super Bowl, the longest streak in school history. Waddle is one of 26 Red Raiders who have played in the biggest game in football, a history that dates back to Super Bowl I when Ring of Honor members E.J. Holub (Chiefs) and Donny Anderson (Packers) were part of the inaugural championship game.
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The victory for Waddle ended the storybook debut season of a fellow Red Raider in Patrick Mahomes II. The first-year Kansas City starting quarterback finished 16-of-31 for 295 yards and three touchdowns, all of which came in the second half as the Chiefs rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit.Congratulations to @LaAdrianWaddle on reaching the @SuperBowl for the third time in his career!
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) January 21, 2019
??#WreckEm | #SBLIII?? pic.twitter.com/dknvsqhvYz
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Mahomes helped give the Chiefs a 28-24 lead with 2:03 remaining in regulation as he found Sammy Watkins on a wheel route for a 38-yard gain, setting up a Damien Williams touchdown from two yards out. The touchdown was one of four lead changes in a dramatic fourth quarter.
Â
The Patriots needed only 1:24 to regain the lead on a 4-yard touchdown, giving Mahomes only 39 seconds to attempt to send the game into overtime. Mahomes completed his first two passes on the ensuing drive, moving the Chiefs to the New England 21-yard line for a Harrison Butker game-tying 39-yard field goal.
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Despite falling just shy of the Super Bowl, Mahomes had a season to remember as he became one of only three quarterbacks all-time to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns during the regular season. Dating back to his tenure at Tech, he is the only quarterback in history to post 5,000 passing yards at both the collegiate and NFL levels.
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In addition to Mahomes, former Red Raider linebacker and Lubbock native Mike Smith was a member of the Chiefs' coaching staff as he completed his third year with the organization and first overseeing Kansas City's outside linebackers.
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1??0?? STRAIGHT.
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) January 21, 2019
??#WreckEm?? pic.twitter.com/04YYEWxr67
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