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It’s been 50 years since the Kansas City Chiefs were in the Super Bowl. In several ways, they helped usher in the Super Bowl era. They lost to the Packers in Super Bowl I and defeated the Vikings in Super Bowl II just before the NFL and AFL completed their merger. Their opponents, the 49ers, dominated the ’80s and returned to the title game for the seventh time since 1981. They turned around a 4-12 season in a hurry.
Both squads boasted young, dynamic playmakers. Heading into the Super Bowl, their quarterbacks were a combined 45-12 as starters. Both featured Pro Bowl tight ends. Both had exciting rookie receivers. Both used no-name running backs who emerged as significant contributors. The 49ers (the NFC No. 1 seed) and the Chiefs (the AFC No. 2 seed) just may be the NFL’s next elite teams. As this season ends and a new one on the horizon, here are five key players to collect from each team.