It’s going to be a good night for one of two former star players of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Former Alabama player Isaiah Buggs is a defensive lineman for the Chiefs. Kansas City scooped Buggs up after he struggled to find a home with the Steelers, and he’s now heading to the Super Bowl. On the 49er’s side, former Alabama standout Cameron Latu is a tight end for San Francisco. If he gets a Super Bowl ring, it will be from the sidelines. Latu injured his knee and missed the whole season during his recovery. He was selected, by the 49ers, in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
A handful of other late draft picks and players who weren't drafted at all have made contributions to the 49ers and Chiefs. All of them are reminders that you can build a memorable NFL career no matter how long it takes someone to choose you. Kansas City's Nick Allegretti and Isiah Pacheco were taken in the seventh round. San Francisco's Jake Brendel and Tashaun Gipson went undrafted. “I had no idea where I was going. If you had told me I went undrafted, I would be like, 'Makes sense, sure. I got it,'" said Kansas City guard Nick Allegretti, who was taken in the seventh round in 2019. "We didn't win a whole lot of games when I was in college, but I had confidence in myself."
Brock Purdy's journey from Mr. Irrelevant to Super Bowl starting quarterback is one of the main subplots of this year's game, but a handful of other late draft picks — and players who weren't drafted at all — have made contributions to the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. All of them are reminders that you can build a memorable NFL career no matter how long it takes someone to choose you.
Allegretti was drafted with the 216th pick overall. The Illinois product is now in his fifth season with the Chiefs, having already won two Super Bowls. He's played an important role this postseason, replacing injured All-Pro Joe Thuney for the AFC championship game.
Kansas City took running back Isiah Pacheco in 2022 with the 251st pick — 11 spots ahead of where the 49ers picked Purdy. Over two seasons, Pacheco has rushed for 1,765 yards and 12 touchdowns.
There's a school of thought that once you reach the latest stages of the draft, it's better not to be picked. Then you're a free agent and can shop around for the best situation.
But joining Kansas City and playing alongside Patrick Mahomes has worked out nicely for Pacheco.
"Being a seventh-round draft pick shaped me as a player knowing I was wanted," he said. "It didn't matter where you came from, just having an opportunity and making the best out of it."
Even for an undrafted player, there's always hope. Kurt Warner, for example, was the MVP of Super Bowl 34.
Jake Brendel came into the league undrafted out of UCLA. Now in his eighth NFL season, he's San Francisco's starting center.
"My first goal when I was a kid was just to get to college, and once I got to college, I was like, 'I'm pretty good at this. I could probably make it in the NFL,'" Brendel said. "Once I got in the NFL, it was, 'Let's get a multiyear deal.' That happened last year, and I was like, 'Let's rearrange my goals a little bit and see if we can get a Super Bowl.'"
San Francisco safety Tashaun Gipson has waited even longer. After 174 starts — regular season and playoffs — with five teams over 12 seasons, he's finally in a Super Bowl. Being undrafted has stuck with him.
"I think it meant the world. Honestly, I wouldn't trade my path to the National Football League. I think it made me who I am today. It made me have a chip on my shoulder," he said. "I don't think I ever got relaxed one moment, and it just kept me grounded as crazy as that may sound. I think that's probably paid the biggest dividends to be the man I am right now."
Gipson is a big reason the 49ers are in the Super Bowl. He forced a fumble in the NFC championship game that was crucial to San Francisco's comeback against Detroit.
But in truth, he's been good enough to reach a stage like this for a while. He just needed the right team.
That's true for a lot of players, particularly those who are undrafted or taken late. It's all about finding a good situation.
"I knew all I wanted was an opportunity, an opportunity to get somewhere," Allegretti said. "The fact I got an opportunity in Kansas City's been incredible — the organization, coach (Andy) Reid, (offensive line) coach (Andy) Heck. Awesome men to play for."
