While the Super Bowl is the biggest game of the year in the United States, it doesn’t garner all that much attention in George Karlaftis’ native Greece.
However, the Kansas City rookie defensive end is hoping to change that soon as the Chiefs will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at 5:30 p.m. Sunday in Glendale, Ariz. The game will air at about 1:30 in the morning in Greece, and Karlaftis said while his friends and family are going to watch, he’s hoping to inspire many more to chase their dreams like he did.
“There’s been a couple articles out, and my family over there is super, super proud,” Karlaftis said Tuesday. “I hope I’m inspiring the kids back home to follow their dreams — not specifically to follow in my footsteps with football — just in anything.”
Karlaftis was born in Athens and grew up playing water polo. When he was 13, the family moved to Indiana and Karlaftis later became a standout defensive end at Purdue, prompting the Chiefs to select him with the 30th pick in the NFL Draft.
Karlaftis immediately impressed coaches and teammates with his relentless motor at practice and he has started every game this season. Karlaftis had just half a sack through the first 10 games of the season, but he has finished strong, recording 6.5 sacks in his last nine games, including the playoffs.
Karlaftis said while veterans Chris Jones and Frank Clark have helped him tremendously this season, so has Carlos Dunlap, a 13-year veteran who will play in his first Super Bowl on Sunday.
“Him and I are kind of in the same boat for the Super Bowl,” Karlaftis said. “It’s his first go-round just like it is for mine. And he’s helped me a lot as a professional, as a player, as an individual. He’s been great for me — almost like a mentor. He’s been awesome. There’s a lot of conversations we’ve had, and he’s always been available to me, and I just love that guy.
“I think we have a similar playing style to some regard. Obviously, he’s built 6-8 with a 7-foot wingspan but he’s helped me out a lot. I take elements from his game and Frank’s game and try to turn that into my own and turn that into the player that I want to be.”
Ironically, Kansas City’s season started at Arizona in Week 1, and now Karlaftis and the Chiefs return just one win away from a Super Bowl ring.
“It seems like forever ago, but at the same time it seems like yesterday,” Karlaftis said. “This past year has been crazy, and it’s a blessing to just be in this position with an opportunity to become a Super Bowl champion.”
