3 NFL players, 1 coach, and a fanbase who deserve to celebrate a Super Bowl win this season
As we enter the NFL Divisional Playoff round and there are just eight teams remaining in the hunt for the championship, here is a look at five figures around the league who deserve to win their first Super Bowl title.
Here they are, presented in alphabetical order:
Bills Mafia
This wonderfully wild bunch were on my list last year frankly, they will remain on it until the Bills’ win a Super Bowl. There are plenty of terrific of deserving fan bases. But the Buffalo Bills’ fan base is one of a kind. The tailgate party-table bashing. The shirtless game watching. The incredible charitable spirit. This is a special fan base that richly deserves to experience a Super Bowl parade in downtown Buffalo. Seriously, just imagine that party.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
Fangio is a classic example of being labeled ‘a great coordinator, not a great head coach.’ You know what? That’s OK. Try having a Super Bowl-caliber offense with a top-level defensive coordinator running the show and that’s exactly what Fangio is and he’s another reason why the Philadelphia Eagles are one of the favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February. In fact, Fangio may be one of the great defensive coordinators of all-time. That’s how he became the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019-21. Sitting in the big chair didn’t quite work out for Fangio, but he is back in his comfort zone, running the Eagles’ defense. Fangio had had success as the defensive coordinator in Carolina, Indianapolis, Houston, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami during an NFL coaching career that began in 1986. Fangio, 66, was close to winning a Super Bowl as Jim Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator in 2013. Now, Fangio, who was named the Associated Press’ NFL assistant coach of the year in 2018 while running the Bears’ defense, has another chance to win his first Super Bowl ring that he so deserves.
Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff
The entire city of Detroit deserves its first Super Bowl victory and Goff is perfect representative of it. Detroit loves its quarterback and he has responded with gritty, selfless, and timely play that has the Lions a real favorite to win it all. We all know Goff’s backstory. He lost a Super Bowl with the Rams only to be discarded in a big trade for Matthew Stafford, who responded by bringing a Super Bowl home for the Rams in his first season with the team. It would have been understandable if Goff, who began his Detroit career 0-8, crumbled under the pressure. But he has persevered and a major reason why the Lions are now an elite team. This is a guy who deserves a ring to match Stafford.
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry
Yes, Lamar Jackson is unreal and he is having another special season, but the Ravens are different this season because of the addition of Henry. He is an x-factor for this offense and he makes Jackson even more dangerous. Henry and the Ravens were a perfect fit in free agency. Often, aging running backs go to a new team and fade into the background. But Henry is his typical menacing runaway freight train self this season as he rumbled for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns. The likely future Pro Football Hall of Famer deserves a chance to finally win big after spending first eight NFL seasons in Tennessee.
Kansas City Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins
There’s not many folks roaming the halls of the the Kansas City Chiefs’ facility without rings on their fingers as they gear up to try to become the first franchise ever to win three Super Bowls in a row. Hopkins, however, is looking for his first in his 12-season NFL career. That was the whole idea when the Chiefs traded for the wide receiver from Tennessee in October. The Chiefs’ offense, battered by injuries and youth at the position, acquired Hopkins for the playoff push and Hopkins was thrilled at the opportunity. He has been a solid contributor for the Chiefs and expect him to get plenty of chances in the postseason as he tries to join the Super Bowl party in Kansas City.
