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A 12 months in the past, tight finish Kendall Blanton began for the Rams of their 23-20 Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium.

Now Blanton is a apply squad participant for the Chiefs.

“Everyone should get a chance to experience the Super Bowl,” Blanton mentioned. “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 landing cross in an NFC divisional-round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, began the Super Bowl instead of injured Travis Higbee, enjoying 30 snaps on offense earlier than he suffered a shoulder damage.

But final summer season, the Rams launched him earlier than the top of coaching camp. He frolicked with the Washington Commanders and Chiefs earlier than the Rams re-signed him in late September.

Blanton performed in 4 video games and caught two passes however the Rams launched him once more in late November, and he signed with the Chiefs.

Blanton, a Kansas City native and the son of former Chiefs linebacker Jerry Blanton, mentioned he watched final 12 months’s Super Bowl for the primary time final week.

“I got hurt in the game and I just didn’t want to see it,” he mentioned. “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 mentioned his confidence has not wavered.

“I know I’m good enough to play on any team in this league,” he mentioned, including that he has realized a lot from working with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight finish Travis Kelce.

“It’s a great opportunity to grow as a player,” he mentioned.

Kelce mentioned the Chiefs have realized from Blanton.

“We were talking to Kendall about his experience in the Super Bowl — and everybody’s word is valuable,” Kelce mentioned. “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.”