IOWA, USA — Thrilling AFC and NFC Championship Games have brought us to Super Bowl LVI: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. on NBC).
Let's take a closer look at the former Hawkeyes, Cyclones and even a now-famous Iowa native vying for football's ultimate prize.
***NOTE: All stats below are for the 2021 regular season only
Sunday, Jan. 30
- AFC Championship Game: Cincinnati Bengals 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (OT)
- NFL Championship Game: Los Angeles Rams 20, San Francisco 49ers 17
Cincinnati Bengals (AFC champion)
Let's start with Joe Burrow — yes, Joe Burrow.
The Heisman Trophy winner, National Champion at LSU and No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft started his life in Ames.
His father, Jim, was a football coach at both Ames High School and Iowa State University.
“He doesn’t remember anything about Ames; only what we’ve told him,” Jim told The Des Moines Register. “He went to Ames High School games when he was just a few days old when I was coaching. But ultimately, what he knows is what he’s been told. He was pretty young back then.”
2021 stats: 16 games started, 4,611 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, 2 passing touchdowns
Riley Reiff, OL, Iowa (injured reserve)
2021 marked Reiff's first with the Bengals after time with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
He was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Dec. 16, 2021 with an ankle injury.
2021 stats: 12 games started
Mike Daniels, DT, Iowa (practice squad)
2021 stats: 2 games played, 1 game started, 4 tackles
Los Angeles Rams (NFC champion)
Akers signed with the Rams as a free agent in May 2021 alongside former Hawkeye AJ (Alaric) Jackson.
2021 stats: 2 games played
Gervase was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
2021 stats: 2 games played, 2 total tackles
2021 stats: 4 games played
Kansas City Chiefs (AFC runner-up)
Blythe was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2016 before signing with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.
He signed with Kansas City in 2021.
2021 stats: 4 games played
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Hitchens in the 2014 NFL Draft, but since joining the Chiefs in 2018 he has gone to four straight conference championship games.
He was part of the Super Bowl LIV-winning team during the 2019-20 season.
2021 stats: 15 games started, 76 total tackles, 2 passes defensed, 1 interception
All four of Niemann's years in the NFL have been with the Chiefs after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
2021 stats: 5 games started, 51 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed
San Francisco 49ers (NFC runner-up)
The guru of "Tight End University," Kittle was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2019 and Second-Team All-Pro in 2018 by the Associated Press.
He was a fifth-round draft selection by San Francisco in 2017.
2021 stats: 14 games started, 71 receptions, 910 yards, 6 touchdowns
