Super Bowl LIX: Former Penn State QB Matt McGloin recalls time with Eagles, Chiefs

Matt McGloin isn’t sure if he’s a good-luck charm or not. But ever since he briefly spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, both teams have enjoyed a string of success.

That includes reaching Super Bowl LIX on Sunday in New Orleans.

“I missed out on two pretty good runs here,” McGloin said. “They haven’t stopped losing since.”

After four seasons with the Oakland Raiders (2013-16), the former West Scranton High School and Penn State University standout quarterback signed as a free agent with the Eagles in April 2017. Doug Pederson was the head coach, Frank Reich the offensive coordinator and John DeFilippo the quarterbacks coach. Some offensive players included fellow quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, linemen Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson and tight end Zach Ertz.

McGloin was there throughout OTAs, minicamp, training camp and the preseason. He was released on the final roster cutdown day.

“That was a really good team to be a part of,” McGloin said. “It hurt because I knew how special that team was and sure enough they go on to win the Super Bowl.”

Indeed, the Eagles went 13-3 in the regular season, won the NFC championship and defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

Next year it got worse. McGloin signed as a free agent with the Chiefs in March 2018. Again, he spent all the OTAs, minicamp, training camp, preseason with the team, which included head coach Andy Reid, tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and quarterbacks Chad Henne and Patrick Mahomes, who was in his second season but first as starting quarterback.

This time, McGloin made the 53-man roster. Then …

“It’s Monday, first game of the year is Sunday,” McGloin said. “I’m getting ready for the first meeting and I get a text message to bring my iPad, go upstairs and see player personnel.

“The inner workings and business of it is pretty brutal.”

Kansas City wound up reaching the AFC championship game that season and losing to the Patriots in overtime. In the six years since, however, the Chiefs have reached four Super Bowls, won three and seek another Sunday.

Although he did not stick with either team, McGloin enjoyed his time with both organizations.

“I was lucky to be around a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players,” McGloin said. “I learned a lot about the game from being around the best every day.”

During his time with the Chiefs, McGloin could tell that Mahomes was going to be a special player. Some of the things he did and throws that he made were just different.

“At that point it was, what is he capable of doing with the talent and ability that he has?,” McGloin said.

“I spent every day working with the guy and one of the things I don’t think is talked about enough is how smart an individual he actually is. To see how he understood the game and processed the information was real impressive. Obviously, what makes guys super special is to take the athletic ability they have and tie it together with the mental aspect of the game.”

Tasked with trying to stop Mahomes on Sunday is the Eagles defense, led by defensive coordinator and Dunmore native Vic Fangio.

McGloin expects Fangio to give Mahomes different looks, make him change protections, disguise things and give him something to think about every play.

“Vic is one of the greatest defensive minds, year in and year out in the National Football League,” McGloin said.

“This is a special area for football at the collegiate and professional level. There’s been so many great players and great coaches to come out of this area. To have a guy represent NEPA be in the Super Bowl, it shows how deep the roots really are here.”

As for Sunday’s game, McGloin thinks if it’s close, it’s hard to pick against the Chiefs winning a third straight Super Bowl and making history.

“Philly is really going to have to control the ball and rely heavily on Saquon (Barkley),” McGloin said. “But if it’s close in the end and Kansas City has it within one score, I don’t see how they lose. I’ve never seen a team go on a run — I don’t think anybody has — the way they have in one-score games.”