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‘Belongs at the Rugby World Cup’: 49ers star shines in Super Bowl with goosey

San Francisco 49ers' running back #23 Christian McCaffrey reacts after scoring a touchdown during Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 11, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers fell painfully short of victory in Super Bowl LVIII after Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led a memorable charge to glory in overtime.

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But before all the confetti and jubilation of the Chiefs’ second consecutive Super Bowl crown, which included images of pop star Taylor Swift celebrating on the broadcast, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey risked stealing the show.

McCaffrey, who was crowned the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year earlier this week, stunned fans at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium with one of rugby’s most iconic attacking weapons.

With the match locked at 19-all in overtime, and with the 49ers parked just inside their own half on a 2nd & 6 play, McCaffrey made a telling burst on the back of a perfectly executed goose step.

The goose step, which is more affectionally known in rugby circles as a ‘goosey,’ aims to throw a defender off as the attacker momentarily changes the speed at which they are running.

It was made popular by Australian rugby legend David Campese.

McCaffrey, 27, was knocked out of bounds about 25 yards away from the endzone. It didn’t end in a score but that hasn’t stopped rugby fans from praising the American for the iconic manoeuvre.

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On the back of McCaffrey’s heroics, the 49ers – let my second-year quarterback Brock Purdy – managed to take the lead with a field goal.

But the Kansas City Chiefs still had a chance to win it all. Then-two-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes could win another ring with a touchdown.

Mahomes overcame immense pressure to keep the game alive with a conversion on a 4th & 1 during their opening set of downs, and the momentum that generated carried the Chiefs down the field.

About three broadcast shots of Taylor Swift later, Mahomes made history with only a couple of seconds left on the clock by inspiring the Chiefs’ fourth Super Bowl win in franchise history.

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Mahomes threw a touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr. The Chiefs are Super Bowl 58 champions after beating the 49ers 25-22 in overtime.

“Just the adversity we dealt with this year… I’ve just got to give God the glory, man,” Mahomes told NFL on Fox. “He challenged us to make us better.

“I’m proud of my guys, man, this is awesome. This is legendary.”

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Comments

1 Comment
B
Bob Marler 316 days ago

I’m struggling to understand the relevance of these NFL articles on Rugbypass.

There’s nothing uniquely rugby about the goose step. Any more than running fast in a straight line is unique to athletics. Sometimes people do things with their legs to evade another player in a variety of sports.

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Comments on RugbyPass

S
SK 42 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

34 Go to comments
T
Tk 58 minutes ago
Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

A new axis at 10, 12 & 13 is needed. And to start blooding young players who may be good enough to win us a world cup rather than stick with known players who won't.

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N
NB 58 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

I can see England beating France at Twickers...

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N
NB 59 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

HC to you too Mitch and thanks for all your involvements. Yes, though they always tended to be way ahead in terms of content!

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N
NB 1 hour ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Too true Tom.

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N
NB 1 hour ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

yep ideal👍

34 Go to comments
M
Mitch 2 hours ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Merry Christmas, Nick. Thanks for all your articles.


For all the doom and gloom around super rugby, its stats are very similar to the Gallagher Premiership with the exception of ball in play time.

34 Go to comments
M
Mitch 4 hours ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

The Boks will remain formidable while Rassie is running the show. Can't see England beating the French anytime soon. New Zealand will be OK as long as they don't get complacent about rugby League's efforts to make serious inroads in New Zealand.

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J
JW 5 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Love the simplicity and romance with that thought, you're right. I always hated training at night, in the rain, to be fair though, but that could just be me 🤷‍♂️

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J
JW 5 hours ago
Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

Was goign well GP until you included the 'Worlds Best 10' this year at the end there LOL

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J
JW 5 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

It wasn't the player doing it, I was specifically refering to the "whims of the HFC and selection team" model of selection policies All Blacks teams have. It's a model that believes say sharing a 9 jersery evenly three ways, with three distinctly different players is going to be less beneficial than chosing to play a fast and wide game with Aaron for instance.


And I'm totally down wiht that thinking in a lot of ways (though I'd like more sophistication as suggested), you don't want to offer each of those three players the same contract and have all three leavue, when you can decide to share that value over just two players and get them both, but that idea wasn't really about spending.

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J
JW 5 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Lol wasn't that my point? That you were speculating? (idk not rereading ofc)

147 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Why would he be thought of as a failure? Frizell might not play well on return, or if Savea was the only one not playing well on return then Sititi can start at 8.

147 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Beauden and Sam wanted to be part of the last 4 weeks of this years Super did they not? That could be 'restricted eligibilit'y?

147 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

147 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Remember, your not given the jersey and it's yours. You are continusously earning the jersey each week, so that's one way.

147 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

That goes for Europe as well. If it's to work they need a comphrensive method of evalutating players, which is kind of a reason why it's not going to happen I'd assume (high cost envestment).

147 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

By bringing him into camps, playing for the XVs etc, or depending on what the previous discussion was in this thread, a players form could possible by both monitored and kept to the required high standards, but continuing to include them in ABs sides (ie the idea players come back underpar might be related to them being completely excluded from the AB evnironment while away).


This is all preuly argument based, first I don't think they need Mo'unga back so it's not like I'm going to campaign or argue for it, but second I think he did finally establish himself as the worlds best 10 last year.

147 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

No BB didn't. I can't remember what Dmac's sitch was (to have included him), but Beauden was the first to leave and be signed abroad as a sabbatical. If Beauden had of been treated like just anybody else he would not have played against England. Not until he has shown form in the NPC.

147 Go to comments
J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Teams already are fabricated, just because they've been around longer than all the randoms working for them, doesn't mean it's not a fabricated team.


That said, I don't think it will get as bad as you suggest. I say bad because I look at the sort of dominance of the NRL and even in other sports like football with the Premier League as being detrimental to the sport and fans entertainment. Once you look under the rock theres not a whole lot wrong with say NFLs approach, it is merely different.


But I still don't think it will happen, or atleast if this new league does kick off, won't be succesful, much like how the IPL hasn't been (it has very little value outside India I'd think).

147 Go to comments
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