Michael, Stapleton provide local ties to Super Bowl

STAFF REPORT

BSN

LOUISA — Eastern Kentucky will be well represented at Super Bowl LVII (57) this Sunday.

Louisa native Jason Michael is an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles (14-3-0), which are set to meet the Kansas City Chiefs (14-3-0) in the NFL title game.

Country music superstar Chris Stapleton, a former Johnson County resident, will perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl game.

Michael, a Lawrence County High School graduate, is in the 20th season of his coaching career and his second season as the Philadelphia Eagles’ tight ends coach.

In his first year with the Eagles, Michael facilitated a breakout campaign by Dallas Goedert, who totaled the fifth-most receiving yards (career-high 830) among NFL tight ends. Goedert also led all tight ends in receiving first down percentage (75.0 pct.) and ranked second in yards per reception (career-high 14.8). In addition, Michael developed Jack Stoll, who was the only undrafted rookie to make Philadelphia’s roster out of training camp and was instrumental in Tyree Jackson’s transition from quarterback to tight end.

Michael’s coaching career includes previous stints with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Oakland Raiders as well as the NCAA’s University of Tennessee.

Stapleton is a Johnson Central High School graduate. An eight-time Grammy, 15-time Country Music Association and 10-time Academy of Country Music award winner, Stapleton is one of the nation’s top musicians. He has received nine ASCAP country awards, including the Vanguard Award. In 2019, Stapleton was recognized by the Academy of Country Music as the inaugural ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Decade. His album, “Traveller,” was Billboard’s Top Country Album of the Decade.

Super Bowl LVII will air Sunday on FOX. Kickoff at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. is set for 6:30 p.m.