Super Bowl rocked by 'awful' moment for San Francisco's Drew Greenlaw

An impressive first half for San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII was overshadowed by a bizarre injury to starting linebacker Drew Greenlaw in his side's heartbreaking 25-22 overtime defeat to Kansas City. The 49ers went down after a Patrick Mahomes-inspired Chiefs clinched a stunning comeback win to secure back-to-back titles.

San Francisco went into the main break with a 10-3 lead after a Jake Moody field goal and a touchdown to running back Christian McCaffrey. However, the mood in the 49ers camp was somewhat soured by a serious looking injury to Greenlaw, who wasn't even involved in the play when he collapsed to the turf. The San Francisco linebacker was hopping in excitement at the side of the field, ready to re-enter the fray with a number of teammates when his left leg appeared to buckle underneath him.

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Greenlaw immediately began clutching at his left leg as some teammates stopped and others stood over him in concern. Officials from the 49ers quickly raced onto the ground to check on the star, who eventually had to be carted off Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The 49ers linebacker was later announced as questionable to return with an Achilles' tendon injury. He also missed the Niners' Week 18 game with Achilles tendinitis and looked devastated when cameras showed him sitting on the sidelines afterwards. Greenlaw is an integral part of the San Francisco defence and the cruel blow left fans saddened for the 26-year-old on social media.

Jake Moody's huge field goal breaks Super Bowl record

The devastating injury blow came after Jake Moody made Super Bowl history with the longest field goal in the history of the iconic spectacle. The San Francisco kicker booted a massive 55-yard field goal to put the 49ers ahead of the Chiefs after a scoreless first quarter at Allegiant Stadium.

Moody's long bomb saw him break the previous record held by Steve Christie by a single yard. The former Buffalo Bills kicker Christie hit a 54-yarder in Super Bowl XXVIII in 1994. Longtime Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has the all-time record after he made a 66-yard field goal in 2021.

Moody, who the 49ers selected in the third round of last year’s NFL Draft out of Michigan, went 21-of-25 in the regular season and missed just one extra point. He went 2-of-3 from 50 or more yards in the regular season, too, and has a career long of 57 yards. He’s now 4-of-6 in the postseason this year, too, after missing a field goal attempt in each of the 49ers’ first two playoff games.

Moody’s field goal didn't last long though, with Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker breaking it in the third quarter after nailing a monster 57-yard yard bomb to cut San Francisco's lead to four points. Earlier, 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky - hoping to become the first Australian to play in and win a Super Bowl - made an impression on Super Bowl LVIII with a massive punt for the 49ers in the opening quarter. Wishnowsky bailed his side out of some early trouble after a first-drive fumble and multiple penalties kept the 49ers' offence on the back foot.

Patrick Mahomes inspires epic Kansas City comeback win

Kansas City grabbed their first lead of the game when quarterback Patrick Mahomes connected with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 16-yard touchdown after a botched punt from the 49ers. Jauan Jennings - who threw the pass for the Chiefs first TD after a trick play, then caught a 10-yard pass from Brock Purdy to put the 49ers back in front.

Moody had his attempt at an extra point blocked and it proved crucial as Butker nailed another field goal to tie the game in the dying seconds and send it into overtime. The 49ers struck first blood when Moody kicked them in front with another field goal in OT.

The Chiefs simply refused to accept defeat and earned themselves crucial field position as the match became the longest in Super Bowl history. With the clock ticking down, Mahomes cemented his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history after finding Mecole Hardman in space to score the match-clinching touchdown and clinch his side's second straight Super Bowl title.

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