Chiefs use old-school trick play to break through in Super Bowl 54

Tom Gatto

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Chiefs use old-school trick play to break through in Super Bowl 54 image

Super Bowl 54 had a "Philly Special" moment early in the first half — a fourth-down trick play in the red zone with a big twist — er, turn.

The Chiefs faced fourth-and-1 from the 49ers' 5-yard line in the first quarter when coach Andy Reid called a play that was one part Notre Dame box, one part Temptations performance.

Patrick Mahomes and his three backfield mates spun into a single wing formation, with running back Damien Williams getting the direct snap behind an unbalanced line. Mahomes added to the trickeration by faking a pitch to the deep back.

Williams' run to the San Francisco 1 set up Mahomes' touchdown run on a quarterback option two plays later for the Chiefs' first points (and lead) of the game.

MORE: Was Damien Williams out of bounds on go-ahead TD?

Kansas City used plays that were more conventional to rally for a 31-20 victory and the franchise's first Super Bowl victory in 50 years. 

SUPER BOWL VIDEO: 49ers-Chiefs highlights

Seems Reid had the play stored in the memory bank and was ready to bring it out for a special occasion, per NFL Network's Bucky Brooks:

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy told reporters just how far back the play goes. He actually gave credit to Notre Dame rival Michigan, which used the play to rout another Fighting Irish rival, USC, in a Rose Bowl more than seven decades ago.

Bieniemy was off slightly on the year: It was the 1948 Rose Bowl, which the Wolverines won 49-0.

The run will rank among the top gadget plays in Super Bowl history, right there with the reverse-and-pass play the Eagles pulled off against the Patriots in Super Bowl 52, with Trey Burton to Nick Foles. Leave it to a creative former Eagles coach to add to the list.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.