The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but for three former failed New England Patriots players it definitely is.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Joshua Ucha and Tyquan Thornton all began training camp with the Patriots this summer and are now headed to Super Bowl LIX with the Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s certainly been quite the journey for those three players this season. The Patriots released Smith-Schuster in early August after one season with New England. Thornton met the same fate in mid-November when the Patriots waived the 2022 second-round pick, who wound up signing with the Chiefs practice squad. And New England traded Uche to Kansas City at the end of October in return for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Smith-Schuster easily has made the biggest impact out of those three. Uche was inactive for the AFC Championship Game on Sunday and it’s the sixth time he’s been inactive in the last seven games. Meanwhile, Thornton hasn’t seen any snaps with the Chiefs.
Smith-Schuster caught 18 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns during the regular season with the Chiefs, which isn’t far off from the 29 receptions, 260 yards and one touchdown he compiled in 2023 with the Patriots. But the veteran wideout stepped up in the postseason. He made two crucial catches for 60 yards in the win over the Buffalo Bills to help the Chiefs move on to the Super Bowl.
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It’s kind of unfathomable to believe that Smith-Schuster went from being unable to make a Patriots roster devoid of talent to making plays in the NFL playoffs. He now can have a helping hand in the Chiefs making history as they look to be the first team ever in the league to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
Smith-Schuster, Uche and Thornton aren’t the only former Patriots going back to the Super Bowl with the Chiefs. Starting offensive lineman Joe Thuney will get the chance to add another Super Bowl ring to his collection. The All-Pro guard, who has moved to tackle at times this season out of necessity, already has four Super Bowl wins under his belt, with two of those coming with the Patriots.
Mike Pennel had a cup of coffee in training camp with the Patriots in 2019 before being released prior to the season. He’s now looking for his third Super Bowl title with the Chiefs.
Then there’s Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly. The trip to New Orleans will mark his ninth appearance in the Super Bowl in the last 11 seasons with the Patriots and Chiefs combined. Daley, who was a defensive line coach with the Patriots from 2014-18, is on the hunt for his seventh Super Bowl ring.
