The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs got Super Bowl LIV week kicked off in style with Opening Night at Marlins Park in Miami. Not surprisingly, Kobe Bryant was a central figure the entire evening.
Before the festivities began, the NFL honored the late NBA legend, his daughter Gianna and the seven other people who lost their lives in Sunday’s tragic helicopter crash. Afterward, the crowd broke out with a “Kobe!” chant.
Then, it was time for the Chiefs to take the stage.
Once they got to the podium, many Chiefs players, and head coach Andy Reid, chose to use their time to pay homage to Bryant.
After the Chiefs spent their time in the spotlight, the 49ers took center stage.
Not surprisingly, many of their players and coaches honored Bryant, his daughter and the seven others who perished in the helicopter crash Sunday.
Richard Sherman, a close friend of Bryant’s, spent more than a couple of minutes speaking on the topic.
Bryant passing left a massive hole in the sports world. His legacy impacted the lives of so many people on a global scale. He’ll be missed, and it was great to hear the way he impacted the players set to compete in the Super Bowl on Sunday.