Super Bowl Positional Preview: Special Teams

Devin Hester’s kickoff return touchdown in Super Bowl 41. Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning field goal in Super Bowl 36. Harrison Butker’s go-ahead field goal in Super Bowl 57.

What do these three plays have in common? They all are moments in the Super Bowl that highlight the need for good special teams.

This Super Bowl will be no different. In this article, I’ll preview the kickers, the punters, and everything on special teams that will make a difference in this year’s big game.

The punt returners

The Eagles’ top punt returner this season is defensive back Cooper DeJean, as he has stepped up in place of an injured Britain Covey.

While playing at Iowa last season, he infamously called for a fair catch, leading to his would-be second punt return of the season being called back.

The Chiefs’ top punt returner this season has been Nikko Remigio, with 11 punts returned for 104 yards.

While playing for Fresno State in 2022, he had two punt return touchdowns, with his longest being an 87-yard run against UConn.

The kick returners

The Eagles’ kick returners are Isaiah Rodgers and Kenneth Gainwell. Gainwell is questionable, however, with a concussion and knee injury according to ESPN.

If Gainwell is not ready to go, rookie running back Will Shipley could be Philadelphia’s second option.

Shipley fielded 34 kick returns in his college career and six this season for a total average of 26.9 yards per return.

Rodgers has returned one kickoff for a touchdown in his career, with it being a 101-yard run in 2020 against the Browns.

The Chiefs’ kick returners are Nikko Remigio and Samaje Perine, both of whom have found most of their production outside of their offensive roles this season.

Remigio returned 44 kickoffs in college and 11 this season for a total average of 24.1 yards per return.

His last kickoff return touchdown was a 99-yard run for California against Sacramento State in 2021.

Perine will likely play a smaller role of the two, as he has averaged 32.6 yards per return on five kickoffs this season.

The punters

The Eagles’ punter this season is Braden Mann, who is playing in his fifth career season and his second season with the Eagles.

In his career, 95 of his punts have been inside the 20, and less than half of his 304 career punts have been returned by the other team.

Matt Araiza has been an outstanding punter for the Chiefs this season, with over 40 percent of his punts landing inside the 20.

For San Diego State in 2021, he averaged 51.2 yards per punt, his longest being 86 yards against San Jose State.

The main event: The kickers

Eagles kicker Jake Elliott has had his fair share of game-winners in his career, but he has been less accurate as of recently.

His 77.8 field goal percentage in the regular season marks a career low, and he has missed three extra points so far in the postseason.

Elliott has been 1-for-8 so far in the regular season and postseason combined when it comes to field goals that are 50 yards or farther.

Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has been perfect in the postseason so far, connecting on four field goals with his longest being a 36-yarder.

His longest field goal in his career in the postseason was a 57-yarder in Super Bowl 58, the longest in Super Bowl history.

Butker is most known for his go-ahead 27-yard field goal in Super Bowl 57 in the final minute to give the Chiefs the victory.

Bryan Portney is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.