Locals in the Super Bowl: Britain Covey is a Super Bowl champion

AROUND THE SHIELD — Kansas City's three-peat bid was blocked by a bunch of beef on the Philadelphia defensive line (the Philadelphia Turnpike?).

Either way, Eagles fans were singing "Fly, Eagles, Fly" from the Big Easy to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge after Sunday's 44-20 win over Kansas City in the Super Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, as the franchise captured its first Super Bowl title since 2018.

Back in Utah, that means one thing: Britain Covey is a Super Bowl champion.

Covey will be awarded his first Super Bowl ring after the Eagles' dominant win, even though the former three-time All-Pac-12 receiver and punt returner at Utah never played a snap in the game.

The NFL's leader in punt return yardage a year ago, Covey was ruled out with a neck injury Saturday, making him ineligible to return from injured reserve despite being a full practice participant Friday before the Super Bowl.

The 27-year-old return specialist has been on injured reserve since Dec. 28, though he could've been eligible to return as recently as two weeks ago. He made five appearances in the regular season, registering 34 yards on seven receptions.

After he was officially ruled out, Covey took to Instagram to express his feelings late Friday night.

"Less than 48 hours until the Super Bowl," he wrote. "Being unable to suit up in the biggest game of my life due to a nagging injury is a really difficult thing to accept. But I absolutely love this team and I'm grateful to be a part of it. We have great leaders. Great coaches. The receiving (corps) feels like family to me. Many of my teammates have proven a lot of people wrong in their careers and I am proud of them. I look up to a lot of these guys and it's perhaps the closest knit of any team I've been a part of.

"Now let's go do this! #FlyEaglesFly"

Covey, who prepped at Timpview High before his standout career on the Hill, played in the Super Bowl two years ago, when the Eagles lost to the Chiefs 38-35. The 5-foot-8 speedster returned two punts in that game, including a 27-yarder that set up a field goal in the second quarter for Philadelphia.

Former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant Andy Reid's bid for a historic three-peat with the same franchise was upended. But the 66-year-old coach led his team into a playoff game for the 45th time in his career, breaking the record of former New England coach Bill Belichick (44).

Belichick owns the NFL career record for playoff wins with 31, three more than Reid.

But the story of the game was the Eagles' defense, which limited Kansas City to 19 total yards in the first half and put Patrick Mahomes in a career-high 34-point deficit in the second half.

Mahomes finished with 257 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Xavier Worthy, but also had two interceptions — including a 34-yard pick six to Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean.

Philadelphia 40, Kansas City 22

Eagles (18-3)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Did not play Sunday (neck)

Chiefs (17-3)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Reserve tackle was active, but did not play
• Apu Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Did not play (practice squad)
• The Chiefs' coaching staff also includes a bevy of Utah products:
• Andy Reid: Former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant with 301 career wins
• Porter Ellett: BYU and Wayne High alum in his eighth season on staff and second as assistant running backs coach
• Spencer Reid: Former BYU assistant and Utah grad in his second season as an assistant strength and conditioning coach
• Alex Whittingham: Former Utah linebacker in his sixth season as a defensive quality control coach and seventh overall with the Chiefs

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