Super Bowl LIX position breakdown: Linebackers and defensive backs

The spotlight for Super Bowl LIX shines bright on the star-studded offenses of both teams. But perhaps flying under the radar in this Super Bowl LVII rematch is the defensive side of the ball.

Both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs boasted top 10 defenses in the regular season, with Philly atop the rankings and KC slotted at ninth.

Philadelphia’s defense has gone through ups and downs since the team last faced Kansas City in the Super Bowl, but its resurgence can be attributed to DC Vic Fangio’s first year with the team and GM Howie Roseman’s offseason transactions.

Philadelphia Eagles LBs

The linebacker position is one that Philly had been struggling with for many years. But through the draft and free agency, this season possibly marked the beginning of a new era of backers for the Eagles.

Philadelphia signed former Saints LB Zack Baun to a one-year deal at the start of free agency last season. Initially, Baun was thought to be mainly a depth piece but he has far exceeded those expectations.

In his first year with the Eagles, Baun was selected to the Pro Bowl and made NFL First-Team All-Pro. Additionally, he is one of five players to be listed as a finalist for AP Defensive Player of the Year.

Starting alongside Baun, Nakobe Dean also had a breakout year in 2024. It took the former third-round pick from 2022 a couple of years to come into his own before having a career year.

Dean had been playing at a high level this season, posting a career-high in tackles. Unfortunately, though, the Eagles will be without him for the Super Bowl as he suffered a torn patellar tendon against Green Bay that sidelined him for the rest of the playoffs.

Luckily for Philadelphia, his backup, Oren Burks, has embraced the next-man-up mentality. Burks has filled in for Dean and ended up forcing a fumble in the playoff games against the Packers and Commanders.

Burks is no stranger to stepping up to the plate in big moments, as he is set to start in the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. He filled in for Dre Greenlaw of the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

Kansas City Chiefs LBs

The Chiefs linebackers may not get the respect that they deserve. This unit has been an underrated part of the team’s success for a year now, and it all starts with their Mike linebacker.

Two years ago when the Eagles and Chiefs faced off in the Super Bowl for the first time, LB Nick Bolton took a Jalen Hurts fumble to the endzone, giving the Chiefs some life just as it looked like Philly could’ve run away with the game.

This score tied the game in the second quarter and ultimately helped the Chiefs secure another Super Bowl win, the first of their back-to-back championships.

Defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, considers Bolton to be “the Patrick Mahomes” of the defense. He has that kind of impact on the game.

Alongside Bolton are LBs Drue Tranquill and Leo Chenal, two more unsung heroes of the Chiefs defensive core.

Tranquill was an instrumental part of the Chiefs top-10 ranked defense this season, starting 16 games and recording 94 tackles.

Fellow LB Leo Chenal was a key part of the Chiefs Super Bowl win over the 49ers last season, forcing a Christian McCaffrey fumble and blocking a Jake Moody kick on the world’s biggest stage.

Kansas City’s linebacker group is a fast and athletic three-headed monster that makes its impact felt in the biggest moments time and time again.

Philadelphia Eagles DBs

GM Howie Roseman almost completely revamped the Eagles' secondary during the offseason. This may be one of the biggest reasons for the Birds’ top-ranked defense.

First Roseman brought back safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. CJGJ was a part of the 2022 team that reached the Super Bowl and then signed with the Detroit Lions that off-season.

Bringing back the veteran safety provided the Eagles' defense with the much-needed spark that it was missing in the 2023 season without him.

Howie continued his offseason overhaul by selecting two cornerbacks with the team’s first two picks in the NFL Draft. Philly took Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean in the second round.

Both Mitchell and DeJean have become starters in the secondary, with Quinyon outside and DeJean in the slot. It may seem risky at first to have two rookies start at corner, but both players have made a big impact this season.

Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are both in the running for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. They are one of two teams to have two separate players in the running for the award this year (LA Rams).

With its defensive overhaul, Philly only returns two starters in the secondary from the Super Bowl roster two years ago: Darius Slay and Reed Blankenship.

Darius Slay will look to live up to his “Big Play Slay” nickname in the Super Bowl. The veteran CB nabbed his first career playoff interception against Green Bay in the Wild Card round.

Reed Blankenship has been a staple of the Eagles' defense posting fourth interceptions, which is tied for 10th in the NFL this season.

Kansas City Chiefs DBs

Early in the offseason, the Chiefs traded longtime starting CB L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans.

Many thought this would cause the Chiefs defense to take a step back in 2024. However, the rebuild in their secondary that had been taking shape for a couple of years paid off in a big way.

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Chiefs used five of their ten draft picks on defensive backs. They selected Trent McDuffie, Bryan Cook, Jaylen Watson, Josh Williams and Nazeeh Johnson, all of whom are either starters or contributors on the current defense.

Specifically, McDuffie, Cook and Watson were home-run picks. CB Trent McDuffie earned himself first-team All-Pro in 2023 and second-team All-Pro in 2024.

CB Jaylen Watson wasn’t an immediate starter like McDuffie but has played himself into the starting role across from him this season, helping lead KC to a top-10 defense.

Safety Bryan Cook earned himself the starting safety job, playing a career-high 90% of defensive snaps for the Chiefs this season.

Across from Cook is safety Justin Reid, who has been nothing short of a playmaker for Kansas City since he signed with them in 2022.

Reid is often used as a pass rusher from his safety spot in Spagnuolo’s scheme and has been an integral part of the Chiefs’ last two Super Bowl wins.

Conclusion

They say defense wins championships, and time and time again this has proven to be true. So which defense will come out on top this time?

Will the Eagles defense be able to stop Patrick Mahomes in their quest for Super Bowl revenge or will the Chiefs defense get the better of the Eagles' superstar-ridden offense in hopes of a three-peat?

Darian Capobianco is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email dpc5734@psu.edu.