This week’s review takes an in-depth look at local connections to Super Bowl LIV. A game featuring regional connections to the winning Kansas City Chiefs.

Overall, several players for both the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers have some local ties. Mostly through spending their college days at relatively close schools. Defined for the purpose of this article as schools in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The most prominent connection overall being Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. He spent his college days at the University of Cincinnati.

His older brother Jason is also a UC alumnus. Jason currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles; contributing to their Super Bowl LII championship. Now younger brother Travis is a Super Bowl champion; even scoring a touchdown in Sunday’s game. Another Chiefs tight end with local college connections is Deon Yelder. The Louisville, Kentucky native played college football for Western Kentucky University.

The next connection shifts us from one Bowling Green to another. From Bowling Green, Kentucky where WKU is to Bowling Green, Ohio. Through Chiefs guard and Bowling Green State University alumnus Ryan Hunter. Other Chiefs regional connections include linebacker Darron Lee. He and 49ers rookie defensive end Nick Bosa played for Ohio State Football.

The closest Cincinnati connection beyond Travis Kelce was Garrett Celek. A tight end for the San Francisco 49ers currently on injured reserve. Celek played High School Football for LaSalle High School in Cheviot, Ohio. He spent his college football career with Michigan State University. Playing for former Cincinnati Football head coach Mark Dantonio. Garrett’s brother Brent was part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LII winning team. Brent also played for Cincinnati Football from 2007-2011.

Several 49ers played for Indiana’s three most prominent FBS programs. San Francisco has two Notre Dame Football alums on their main roster. Offensive Tackle Mike McGlinchey and defensive tackle Sheldon Day. Two 49ers running backs also have connections to universities in Indiana. Purdue Football alum Raheem Mostert and Indiana Football alum Tevin Coleman. Mostert led the 49ers rushing-wise on Sunday night. With 58 yards in 12 attempts and a touchdown.

There were even a few Cincinnati Bengals connections to this Super Bowl. With 49ers defensive end Anthony Zettel being a current player connection. He was released after four games with the Bengals last December. The most notable coaching connection to Sunday’s game was Eric Bienemy. The Chiefs offensive coordinator was a former Bengals player.

Chiefs running backs coach Deland McCullough also had a brief Bengals career. According to a WKRC article, he spent 1996 on IR with the Bengals. McCullough also played in college for Miami (Ohio) Football. 49ers assistant Shea Thompson also has a Bengals connection. Thompson was on the Bengals staff from 2016-18 as a strength and conditioning coach.

The Super Bowl aside, this was quite a jam-packed week in Cincinnati sports news. With Xavier and Cincinnati Basketball beating AP Top 25 teams on Saturday. Xavier beat Seton Hall Basketball and Cincinnati beating Houston Basketball. Plus, The Cincinnati Reds signed outfielder Nick Castellanos last Monday. While slugger Eugenio Suarez is recuperating from surgery. All of those events could easily dominate this Weekly Review. Had it not been for the cultural and sporting behemoth that is the Super Bowl.