Super Bowl: Plenty of former Giants and Jets will be represented

The Jets traded up from sixth to third in the 2018 NFL Draft to get the quarterback they thought would lead them to a Super Bowl.

And Sam Darnold has made the Super Bowl, but as a San Francisco 49er. He is Brock Purdy’s backup and will be in uniform for Super Bowl LVIII when San Francisco faces Kansas City on Sunday.

Darnold was part of a draft class that featured Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson also being chosen in the first round. Darnold is the first one to reach a Super Bowl.

He played in 38 games with the Jets, leading them to a 13-25 record. They traded him to Carolina in 2021 for three draft picks after deciding they would take Zach Wilson with the No. 2 pick. The Jets now will try to trade Wilson this offseason.

Here are some of the other players and coaches with ties to the Jets or Giants who play or coach for the two Super Bowl teams:

PLAYERS

Kadarius Toney, WR, Kansas City

The Giants drafted the extremely talented but mercurial receiver in the first round in 2021 and traded him to Kansas City the next year. He had 41 receptions for 420 yards and zero touchdowns as a Giant.

Toney helped Kansas City win the Super Bowl last year, catching a TD pass and returning a punt 65 yards to set up another score.

He missed the last six games of the 2023 season with hip/ankle injuries. Toney accused KC of lying about his injuries in an expletive-laden rant on Instagram. Hard to see him playing in this Super Bowl.

Richie James, WR/KR, Kansas City

James spent 2022 with the Giants and tied for the team lead in catches (57) and receiving touchdowns (four). He also was second in receiving yards (569). James signed with Kansas City in the offseason and was on injured reserve the first half of the year. He’s KC’s main kick/punt returner.

Mecole Hardman, WR/KR, Kansas City

The Jets signed the speedy receiver/returner to a one-year deal last offseason, but Hardman was beaten out by undrafted rookie free agent Xavier Gipson. Hardman caught one pass for 6 yards and was traded to Kansas City in October. Hardman had 14 catches for 118 yards in six games for KC but  has only two grabs for 5 yards this postseason.

La’Mical Perine, RB, Kansas City

Perine, a fourth-round pick of the Jets in 2020, rushed for 263 yards in 14 games in two seasons with them. Since then, he's been on the practice squad with Miami, Philadelphia and Kansas City. Perine played three games this season, totaling 110 yards on 25 touches. He could be inactive with Jerick McKinnon returning from injury.

Jon Feliciano, OL, San Francisco

Feliciano started 15 regular-season games and both playoff contests at center for the Giants in 2022. He’s started nine games for the 49ers, including their two playoff games, at right guard.

Logan Ryan, S, 49ers

A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, Ryan started 31 games at safety for the Giants in 2020 and 2021 and had one interception and 17 passes defensed. He finished second on the team with 117 tackles in 2021. Ryan has appeared in five games this season.

COACHES

Steve Spagnuolo, Kansas City

Spagnuolo, Kansas City’s defensive coordinator since 2019, was with the Giants for five years in two coaching stints. He was the defensive coordinator from 2007-08 and designed the game plan to shut down Tom Brady and the high-scoring, undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Spagnuolo returned to the Giants in 2015 as defensive coordinator. He ended 2017 as the interim head coach, going 1-3 after replacing Ben McAdoo.

Anthony Lynn, 49ers

The 49ers' assistant head coach/running backs coach held the same title with the Jets in 2013-14. Lynn was with the Jets beginning in 2009 when Rex Ryan hired him to be his running backs coach. The former Chargers head coach entered the NFL as a player with the Giants in 1992. He was signed as an undrafted free agent but never played for them. Lynn won two Super Bowls (XXXII and XXXIII) as a member of the Broncos.

Dave Merritt, Kansas City

Merritt, in his fifth season as Kansas City’s defensive backs coach, was a member of the Giants’ coaching staff from 2004-17. He was their defensive assistant before becoming the secondary/safeties coach in 2006. Merritt was part of two Giants Super Bowl teams. His NFL coaching career began with the Jets in 2001 and he was their defensive assistant/linebackers coach for three seasons under Herman Edwards.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.