The Cities That Raised Super Bowl Players
The journey to Super Bowl LVIII started in some unexpected places for these football stars.
This year’s epic Super Bowl showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers has us thinking about what it takes to become a player of this caliber. Not only is it the dedication, countless hours of practice and support of friends and family, but something else…
These players are all hometown heroes. Today, we’re celebrating the great cities they hail from — cities that no doubt will cheer louder than anyone on Sunday.
In This Article
Kansas City Chiefs
Tyler, TX
Patrick Mahomes, quarterback
Why We Love Tyler: Less than 100 miles east of Dallas, Tyler is America’s Rose Capital, one of the best places to live in Texas and the birthplace of some amazing breweries, public art and this Texas town is known for its long history of producing football greats, including Patrick Mahomes.
Cleveland Heights, OH
Travis Kelce, tight end
Why We Love Cleveland Heights / Cleveland: The Kelce brothers grew up in Cleveland Heights, OH, a streetcar suburb of Cleveland. There are countless reasons why people are making the move to Cleveland, including the area’s affordability, growing talent sector and creative community. The city is also known for its serious commitment to sports and is home to three professional teams.
St. Petersburg, FL
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, wide receiver
Why We Love St. Petersburg: Known for its more than 300 days of sunshine each year, waterfront parks and abundance of arts, St. Petersburg is the quintessential Florida city. Grab a seat at The Dog Bar to cheer on Marquez Valdes-Scantling with your furry friend, or visit the popular Fairgrounds at St. Pete. However, people spend their time here, so it’s easy to see why St. Pete is one of the best places to live in Florida.
Virginia Beach, VA
Derrick Nnadi, defensive tackle
Why We Love Virginia Beach: Nestled at the meeting point of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach has it all — beaches to beat the crowds, delicious food that is locally sourced and, if you’re expecting, it’s the perfect place to have a babymoon. Plus, the city is one of the Best Places to Live in America!
Frisco, TX
Nick Bolton, linebacker
Why We Love Frisco: Located in the heart of the Lonestar State, Frisco is one of the best places to live in Texas, and it’s easy to see why. This Dallas suburb is exceptionally affordable and has been cited as a recession-proof city. But it isn’t all work and no play in Frisco. The city is known for its vibrant arts scene, stunning green spaces and plenty of sports teams to cheer for.
Miami, FL
Deon Bush, safety
Why We Love Miami: While the Miami Dolphins may not be appearing in this year’s Super Bowl showdown, the city is well-represented by Deon Bush. Miami is known for many things, including its easy access to wildlife, hidden beaches, fashion-forward aesthetic and gourmet food offerings.
Baton Rouge, LA
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, running back
Why We Love Baton Rouge: One of the best tailgating cities and home to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, it’s easy to understand that a deep love of football runs in Baton Rouge’s blood. There are countless reasons to move to Baton Rouge. Still, the city’s mix of historical appreciation, modern-day amenities, and robust economy make it the perfect place to settle down. Just visiting for the weekend? We’ve got you covered.
Atlanta, GA
Jerrick McKinnon, running back
Why We Love Atlanta: Whether you’re looking for a fun-filled weekend or one of the best places to live, Atlanta is the place to be. The city is known as a southern epicenter and is a great place to live for remote workers and foodies alike.
San Francisco 49ers
Fayetteville, AR
Brandon Allen, quarterback
Why We Love Fayetteville: This charming city in northwest Arkansas is home to the University of Arkansas and more than 86,000 residents. Residents can take advantage of 37 city parks, 84 miles of trails and tons of other places to experience the great outdoors. Fayetteville is a great spot to raise a family, live a more sustainable life or take in the arts. Plus, the region will even pay you to move there!
Castle Rock, CO
Christian McCaffrey, running back
Why We Love Castle Rock: Christian McCaffrey’s hometown of Castle Rock, CO, is not only one of the best places to live in Colorado, but it is also one of the best places to live in the U.S.There are countless reasons for why you should move to Castle Rock, and the city is an excellent place for young professionals, growing families and veterans. The food scene here is unparalleled, and residents have access to high-quality health care in this Colorado city.
Queen Creek, AZ
Brock Purdy, quarterback
Why We Love Queen Creek / Chandler: Located just 16 miles outside of downtown Chandler is Brock Purdy’s hometown of Queen Creek, AZ. Chandler is one of the best places to live in the country, and with an average of 299 sunny days per year, the region is ripe for opportunities to get out and about.
Tampa, FL
Ray-Ray McCloud, wide receiver
Why We Love Tampa: Tampa was once an underdog, but now the city is riding high. The city is one of the best places to live in America, largely thanks to the relatively low cost of living and welcoming community. The stunning views from the Riverwalk don’t hurt either!
Gallatin, TN
Jordan Mason, running back
Why We Love Gallatin: Jordan Mason, Gallatin’s golden boy, will make an appearance with the 49ers in this year’s Super Bowl, but he got his start in this sweet Southern city. Gallatin offers a blend of historic charm and modern amenities and has plenty of affordable housing options, scenic landscapes and offers close proximity to Nashville — just 30 miles away!
Madison, WI
George Kittle, tight end
Why We Love Madison: Madison is one of the best places to live in the U.S. and is the hometown of tight end George Kittle. There are countless reasons to move to Madison, including the fact that this Wisconsin city is home to one of the most beautiful college campuses in the Midwest and is a welcoming environment for young professionals. And, for Kittle, Madison has an athletic environment from supporting women’s sports, a variety of local teams to cheer for and even an emerging esports sector in the region.
Medina, OH
Kyle Juszczyk, fullback
Why We Love Medina / Akron: Roughly 22 miles outside of Akron is Kyle Juszczyk’s hometown of Medina, OH. Medina offers a welcoming atmosphere (they call it Midwest nice for a reason!), highly-rated schools, affordable housing and a charming historic district.
Kansas City, MO
Ronald Bell, wide receiver
Why We Love Kansas City: Kansas City fanbases run deep, and for Ronald Bell, this year’s match-up against his hometown is a special one. Kansas City provides residents with an affordable cost of living, is one of the best places to live in Missouri and is a great place to plant roots for both millennials and up-and-coming artists.
Why This Year’s Super Bowl is For the Girls…
Taylor Swift and Usher and Kristen Juszczyk, oh my!
During the 2023 regular season, NFL games drew an average of nearly 18 million viewers per game, a 7% increase from last year. Most notably, female viewership for the 12-17 demographic was up 8.1%.
This weekend’s Super Bowl is expected to draw in even more significant numbers thanks to the Taylor Swift effect and Usher’s halftime performance. And, as a cherry on top of the game, 49ers favorite Kristen Juszczyk just signed a deal with the NFL to make more of her incredible designs. Plus, her husband, Kyle, was the ultimate fanboy by hyping up her fashions after she went viral for making jackets for Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes.