Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) waves as Kendall Blanton (80) watches. Blanton also was a member of last season’s Rams Super Bowl team.
(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
A year ago, tight end Kendall Blanton started for the Rams in their 23-20 Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium.
Now Blanton is a practice squad player for the Chiefs.
“Everyone should get a chance to experience the Super Bowl,” Blanton said. “The fact that I get to do it twice, back to back, is awesome.
“I’m blessed. I thank God for it, but it’s different.”
Blanton, who caught a touchdown pass in an NFC divisional-round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, started the Super Bowl in place of injured Travis Higbee, playing 30 snaps on offense before he suffered a shoulder injury.
But last summer, the Rams released him before the end of training camp. He spent time with the Washington Commanders and Chiefs before the Rams re-signed him in late September.
Blanton played in four games and caught two passes but the Rams released him again in late November, and he signed with the Chiefs.
Blanton, a Kansas City native and the son of former Chiefs linebacker Jerry Blanton, said he watched last year’s Super Bowl for the first time last week.
“I got hurt in the game and I just didn’t want to see it,” he said. “I went back and watched it — and I played pretty well. … It’s crazy how one year ago I was starting in it and now I’m still here but in a completely different role.
“That’s just how life goes. I’m not bitter about it. I just know this is part of my journey. For whatever reason, it is. I’m going to take it and I’m probably going to be back on this stage one day in a whole ‘nother situation, a whole different role.
“That’s just my mentality.”
Blanton said his confidence has not wavered.
“I know I’m good enough to play on any team in this league,” he said, adding that he has learned much from working with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.
“It’s a great opportunity to grow as a player,” he said.
Kelce said the Chiefs have learned from Blanton.
“We were talking to Kendall about his experience in the Super Bowl — and everybody’s word is valuable,” Kelce said. “Especially when you get here, you try to gather as much information as you possibly can.
“And Kendall has won one, being a starting guy. And it’s so cool to just have him in the building, him being a Kansas City guy, being his home, we’re going to try and get him another one this week.”
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