Carson Wentz’s second act has him back in the Super Bowl as Patrick Mahomes’ backup: ‘It’s been a journey’
Wentz, who was the Eagles’ starting quarterback for five seasons, says his time in Philly "feels like five, six lifetimes ago."
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Carson Wentz was 1,122 miles from the stadium where his NFL career began in 2016 and 1,512 days removed from making his last NFL start in an Eagles uniform.
He posed for pictures alongside Patrick Mahomes and his other Chiefs teammates inside the Kansas City locker room at Arrowhead Stadium just after 9:30 p.m. local time Sunday. This time of year, seven years ago, he was preparing to watch Nick Foles lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots while he was sidelined with a torn ACL in his left knee.
The years between Super Bowl appearances for Wentz have been anything but a clear path. From a sour ending in Philly in 2020 to one-year stints with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 and Washington Commanders in 2022 to briefly backing up Matthew Stafford last season with the Los Angeles Rams, Wentz’s career trajectory looks much different from the expectations set for him in his MVP-caliber 2017 season.
But as he beamed with joy in a cigar-stenched locker room on the verge of a chance at a first-ever three-peat, Wentz had plenty of perspective on what the moment meant for him.
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“It’s been a journey,” Wentz told The Inquirer as music blasted after the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game. “Every day, or every year, has been something different so far, but I’m just along for the ride, and God’s been good, just continuing to open doors. [I’m] still playing the game I love, and it might look different, but [I’m] still having fun.”
Here was Wentz, now the Chiefs backup quarterback, with just two starts over the last two years in inconsequential regular-season finales, basking in the midst of another special run for a Kansas City squad that has become accustomed to this spot.
As players began filing into the locker room after the field celebration, Wentz was one of the last players to join his teammates there, soaking in the moment with his wife, Madison Oberg, and their three daughters. The 32-year-old admitted that his family has “been along for quite the journey last couple years, too,” but added that seeing his wife and girls celebrate the win is “so fun to see them just light up and come to support me, support their team.”
Wentz has backed up two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in consecutive years, sitting behind Stafford last season and Mahomes this year. He says he has relished watching two of the best quarterbacks in the game operate and has picked up things from each “that I can implement [to my own game].”
“Whether it’s just their preparation or play, though they play completely different,” Wentz said, “they’re both just the ultimate competitors. Being able to back them up and learn from them, and just be a part of the culture that they’re instilling in their respective organizations has been fun to be a part of it.”
The feeling is mutual for Mahomes, who took some time postgame to praise Wentz’s work ethic and how early he arrives at the facility.
“Carson is extremely intelligent,” Mahomes said. “You see why he has the talent, you see why he was a starting quarterback in this league, an MVP-level quarterback in this league, and so excited for him. I know he got the Super Bowl when he was in Philly, but to be able to go up against the Eagles again … it’ll be a great moment to be able to go up and do that and try to do whatever we can to find a way to get a win.”
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Wentz and the Chiefs, led by former Eagles coach Andy Reid, will have a rematch with the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. On top of Reid facing his old team in the big game for the second time in three seasons, Wentz will get a chance to face the team that drafted him second overall nine years ago, although he’ll be watching from the sideline again on the big stage.
In evaluating his options this offseason, Wentz knew he wanted to be a part of the “winning culture” Reid has created with the Chiefs, winners of three Super Bowls over the last five years. He signed with the Chiefs on April 1 last year. Out of all the things he has experienced this season, from getting to start in the Chiefs’ Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos to Sunday night’s thrilling win, Wentz says his favorite part of the season is “cherishing those memories [in the locker room], cherishing your time that you have with the guys.”
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“Coach Reid definitely was a big part [of me coming here], just being a part of what he’s been building here, and has built here,” Wentz said. “Just learning from him, and the intricate offense and just the creativity that they’ve been instilling, and just his coaching style and the full-fledged respect that he has from everybody in the building, it’s been really fun, and it’s definitely been special for me this year.”
Wentz says the Feb. 9 matchup between the Eagles and Chiefs is ”just another ballgame,” noting that he has already started against the Eagles, in 2022 as the Commanders’ quarterback. And although the game won’t entail Wentz and Jalen Hurts facing off head-to-head in two weeks, the predecessor vs. the successor, Wentz is preparing in case his number is called at Caesars Superdome for all the marbles.
And as for his time in Philly?
“That feels like five, six lifetimes ago at this point,” Wentz said with a smile, but added, “but I’m grateful for my time there, without a doubt, and it’ll be a fun one in two weeks.”