The week of Super Bowl LVIII is off and running now that both the Chiefs and the 49ers have arrived in Las Vegas.
Practices — an area of 49ers concern early — begin Tuesday, but the big action Monday night is at Allegiant Stadium, where the teams were swarmed by media for Opening Night.
Here are 10 of the best tidbits from the Chiefs, who spoke from 5-6 p.m.:
Coach Andy Reid on 49ers QB Brock Purdy:
“He was Mr. Irrelevant and he’s done a great job. I remember talking to his coach at Iowa State, and he said (Purdy) changed that program around, and he’s doing the same here (with the 49ers). He’s doing a phenomenal job.”
Patrick Mahomes on his first Super Bowl memory:
“It was probably on Opening Night with all the cameras in your face. It’s surreal to say this is my fourth one and I’m going to enjoy it.”
Mahomes on closing in on Tom Brady in the Greatest of All Time discussion:
“I’m not even close to halfway. I’ve got to do what I can to beat a great 49ers team and get my third (ring). Ask me that question in 15 years. Seven (Super Bowl wins) seems like a long ways away still.”
Mahomes on his interception-free streak over his past two Super Bowl appearances:
“What streak are you talking about? I have no idea. No, you just have to trust your offense, and I’m never going to lose my aggressiveness.” (Mahomes was intercepted twice by the 49ers in the 2019 season’s Super Bowl, and the champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers intercepted him twice in beating the Chiefs the following Super Bowl.)
Mahomes on Purdy:
“I’ve seen Brock play since he was in college and knew how good he was. I watch the Big 12 a lot, so I’ve watched him play a ton. He was a winner and he made plays happen all through his college career. Usually when you can make it happen in college no matter what your surroundings are. To turn around a program like he did in Iowa State, you’re going to make it happen when get your opportunity in the NFL, so I wasn’t very surprised when he had the success he’s had, because he’s a winner and he’s a guy that goes out there and competes.”
Linebacker Nick Bolton on which 49ers player “terrifies” him:
“I wouldn’t say anybody terrifies me. They’re pros and they’re excellent. Kyle Shanahan does a great job with pre-snap motions and makes things look the same. We need to minimize explosive plays.”
Tight end Travis Kelce on these 49ers compared to the Super Bowl LIV team:
“It’s 1,000% a different 49ers team (than 2019). They’re finishing games, and a huge part of this is playing all four quarters.”
Kelce on being booed at Opening Night:
“Y’all are firing me up, making me want to play right now, baby. I love the boos more than I love the cheers. Keep ’em coming, Niners Gang, keep ’em coming.”
Bolton on facing Christian McCaffrey:
“He plays hard, bounces off of contact. He’s not a guy who’ll wow you with his measurables. He keeps his feet moving. His leverage he plays with, and he’s explosive when he touches the ball. He’s a special player. You have to go out there and gang tackle to get him on the ground.”
Backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who played for the 49ers from 2014-16, on the 49ers’ success:
“There’s consistency there, from the top down, with Kyle (Shanahan) and John (Lynch). They’ve done a great job building that roster, getting the system and a process in place. They had a vision in mind when they both got that job. They built it the right way. In my opinion, being around this game a long time, that’s what you have to do. When you have a consistent message top-down like that, you’re able to have some success. They’ve been playing great football the last few years.
“I was there in ‘14, with Coach (Jim) Harbaugh. So I Harbaugh, Jimmy T. (Jim Tomsula, in 2015) and then Chip Kelly (in 2016). There was a lot of turnover. It’s hard to have, really, any success when you’re kind of churning through that process. It’s hard to do in any business, let alone football. They’ve done it the right way. They gave Kyle and John time to get their process in place, get their guys there and teach them how they want things done. They’ve been playing great for years now. It’s a great organization. They’ve had success throughout the history of the NFL. They’re kind of back where they’ve always been.”