Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans is set: the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles will face the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of Super Bowl LVII.
The Eagles (14-3) beat the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders in the NFC, while the Chiefs (15-2) took down the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills in the AFC.
While the Packers won’t be in the Super Bowl for the 14th consecutive season, several former players and coaches will be participating for either the Chiefs or the Eagles on Feb. 9.
Here’s a closer look:
Philadelphia Eagles
LB Oren Burks (No. 42) was a third-round pick of the Packers in the 2018 draft. He played in 59 games for the Packers over four seasons, mostly as a backup linebacker and special teamer. The seventh-year veteran started each of the last two games for the Eagles at linebacker following the season-ending injury to Nakobe Dean. He forced fumbles in wins over the Packers and Commanders.
LS Rick Lovato (No. 49) played four games — two regular season games and two playoff games — for the Packers as an injury replacement for Brett Goode during the 2015 season. He was released at final cuts before the 2016 season and eventually made his way to Philadelphia to in December of 2016. He has played in 135 games for the Eagles and is a one-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion.
DBs coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker was a defensive quality control assistant for the Packers from 2019 to 2020, working under Mike Pettine. The 33-year-old was the defensive backs coach with the Broncos between 2021 and 2023 before joining the Eagles in 2024.
Personnel executive Charles Walls worked in the Packers’ personnel department between 2013 and 2019. He is now the vice president of player personnel for the Eagles.
Kansas City Chiefs
DL Mike Pennel (No. 69) was signed as an undrafted free agent by Packers general manager Ted Thompson in 2014. What a find. Pennel has played for six different teams over 11 seasons and now has a chance to be a three-time Super Bowl champion. A run stuffer inside, Pennel started seven games for the Chiefs in 2024.
Coach Andy Reid was an assistant coach for the Packers under Mike Holmgren, serving as the tight ends/assistant offensive line coach for five seasons (1992-96) and quarterbacks coach for two seasons (1997-98) before taking the head coaching job with the Eagles in 1999.
Personnel executive Tim Terry spent 13 seasons in the Packers’ pro personnel department, including a nine-year run as the assistant pro personnel director under Ted Thompson.
Other connections
Packers backup offensive tackle Andre Dillard was a first-round draft pick of the Eagles in the 2019 draft.
Packers linebacker and special teamer Eric Wilson played for the Eagles during the 2021 season.
Packers safety and special teamer Zayne Anderson signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent and played two seasons in Kansas City.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was a scouting assistant for the Chiefs in 1998.
Packers executive Russ Ball worked 10 seasons for the Chiefs (1989-98).
Packers safety Xavier McKinney and Eagles running back Saquon Barkley were teammates with the New York Giants for four seasons. Both departed New York this past offseason and were first-team All-Pros.
Chiefs offensive lineman Mike Caliendo (Brookfield East), Chiefs linebacker Leo Chanel (Grantsburg) and Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (Brown Deer) all went to Wisconsin high schools. Chanel and Baun played at the University of Wisconsin.
Packers kicker Brandon McManus is from Philadelphia, and he played under Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio while Fangio was the head coach of the Broncos.
Chiefs area scout Jason Lamb was an intern with the Packers in 2013, while Chiefs area scout Cassidy Kaminski is from Green Bay.
