Despite diminished role with Chiefs, this Super Bowl is special for LeSean McCoy
No one would say Chiefs running back LeSean McCoy’s career statistics are lacking, but there is one number that sticks out to McCoy: Zero.
As in, the number of Super Bowl games he has won.
That’s why McCoy was thrilled to be wearing that Super Bowl LIV patch on his uniform this week.
“I had good numbers and I’ve done well, but the big stuff like a Super Bowl championship, there are some great great players that have played this game, (and) in all sports, that haven’t won a championship,” McCoy said this week during the Chiefs’ media availability at the JW Marriott Turnberry. “When I look back on my career I’ve got some good stuff to be proud about, but I think one of the big things I’ll be really, really proud about is having a Super Bowl championship, to put that on my legacy.”
McCoy’s resume is already impressive:
- 11,071 rushing yards, 22nd-most in NFL history
- 73 rushing touchdowns, 28th-most in NFL
- Six 1,000-yard rushing seasons
- An NFL best 1,607 rushing yards in 2013, which is an Eagles record
In August, McCoy thought he’d be trying to get his first career playoff win with the Bills, but Buffalo cut him shortly before the start of the season. A day after his release, McCoy signed with the Chiefs and was reunited with Andy Reid, his first coach with the Eagles.
McCoy’s playing time diminished late in the season and he’s been on the field for just one play in the postseason. Sickness is partly to blame as the flu kept him out of the AFC Championship Game.
Despite seeing Damien Williams get the lion’s share of the work of late, McCoy has no complaints. He’s still preparing for each game, while trying to mentor younger teammates in the classroom and on the practice field.
“I’ve never had anything like this, so to say I want the ball 25 times ... I’m just blessed to even be here, to have the opportunity to play in this game,” McCoy said. “Nothing’s guaranteed. I look at the Kobe Bryant incident. That stuff hurts. As ballplayers, we look at life by how many touchdowns did I get or what happens in sports.
“But life is so much bigger than that and we get wrapped up in that. That’s something I have to put in perspective. This is a moment, a memory I’ll have the rest of my life.”
Even something like having hundreds of journalists talk with McCoy and his teammates in Super Bowl news conferences is something he has enjoyed.
“I’ve never been in this type of thing,” McCoy said. “Usually I come to the Super Bowl to do events, get paid appearances, stuff like that. But actually be involved with the media ... and actually practicing. You’re the only two teams practicing, small things like that. Preparing for a game, potentially being a world champ.”
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 10:13 AM.
