Patrick Mahomes’ youth takes center stage at Super Bowl

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Youth shall inherit the NFL.

By leading a fourth-quarter comeback to carry the Chiefs to a 31-20 victory over the 49ers Sunday night in Super Bowl 2020, Patrick Mahomes, 24, becomes the second-youngest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl. Ben Roethlisberger was 23 when he won his first Super Bowl for the Steelers.

Mahomes joins Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith as the only players to ever win a Super Bowl and NFL MVP award before turning 25. Mahomes was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2018. Mahomes, at 24 years and 138 days old, is the youngest quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP.

Mahomes’ 11 touchdown passes in the postseason without an interception to start a career were the most by a quarterback in the Super Bowl era. The streak ended when he threw a third-quarter interception.

The Chiefs are the first team to ever trail by 10 or more points in three postseason games and win the Super Bowl. They went on to win all three games by more than 10 points.

49ers tight end George Kittle was stunned by the loss.

“Yeah, that’s exactly how it feels, disbelief,’’ he said.

By halftime, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo already attempted more passes (11) than he did in the entire NFC Championship game, when he threw only eight passes in beating the Packers. … 49ers rookie Deebo Samuel’s 32-yard run on the opening 49ers series was the longest in Super Bowl history by a wide receiver. Early in the third quarter, Samuel gained 14 yards on an end-around to give him 53 rushing yards. That broke the Super Bowl record for most yards by a wide receiver. Percy Harvin had 45 yards for the Seahawks in 2014.

Garoppolo became only the second 49ers quarterback to ever throw an interception in a Super Bowl, joining Colin Kaepernick. Hall of Famers Joe Montana (four) and Steve Young (one) combined to play in five Super Bowls and never threw an interception. Garoppolo on his last attempt, a desperation heave with the game already decided, turned into his second interception. Garoppolo in the second half was just 11 of 20 for 120 yards.

The 49ers ran the ball well (22-141) but not enough, as they possessed the ball on offense for only 26:47. … 49ers left tackle Joe Staley was forced out of the game in the third quarter with a hand injury and was replaced by rookie Justin Skule. Staley was able to return in the fourth quarter.

Niners coach Kyle Shanahan won a replay challenge with 6:57 contesting a 16-yard catch by Tyreek Hill. It was a huge reversal, as replay showed the ball hit the grass before Hill secured it.

Former Jet Mike Pennel made a key play in the first half for the Chiefs. The defensive tackle hit Garoppolo, forcing Garoppolo to rush his throw and it was intercepted by Bashaud Breeland early in the second quarter. The Chiefs scored a field goal after the pick. Pennel was the only former Jet to play in the game. He played for the Jets in 2017-18. Former Jets first-round pick Darron Lee was inactive, as was cornerback Morris Claiborne, who spent two years with the Jets. 49ers running back Raheem Mostert spent six days on the Jets practice squad in 2016, but was never on the active roster.

Creative Andy Reid used an old-fashioned single-wing formation to help set up the game’s first touchdown. On fourth-and-1 from the Niners 5-yard line, RB Damien Williams took a direct snap to gain four yards and the Chiefs scored two plays later.