TAMPA BAY - Virginia Beach native Derrick Nnadi doesn't just want to win Super Bowls... he wants to become a legend.
"I just wanna be that type of guy in the discussion, like who's one of those great players from my are," Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Nnadi said. "A lot of times you say [Allen Iverson], a lot of times you say Michael Vick, a lot of other players. I kinda want to be in that category. I just want to give people in that whole area in Virginia someone to look up to, someone to motivate them, someone to say if he can do it, why not me."
During Nnadi's Super Bowl week interview, he shared his goal of becoming an inspiration both on and off the field.
He's already accomplished a lot over the course of his first three NFL seasons. In 2019, he won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs. Off the field, he's continuously given back to both the Hampton Roads and Kansas City communities. After last year's Super Bowl, he announced that he'd pay the adoption fees of 108 dogs at the KC Pet Project.
"I've always been a dog person," Nnadi said. "Having a dog, a pet, it just gives you someone to bond with. For me, you have someone at home that's really happy to see you as soon as you walk through the door. For me as soon as I park the car I can hear them barking excited to see me. You just have that partner in crime that's gonna be there for you in good times and bad."
Nnadi plans on giving back to the community after this year's Super Bowl as well, but on Thursday he announced that he'll keep those plans a secret until after the game.
"With that it's more of a surprise," Nnadi said. "I don't want to put all the details out. When the situation happens it'll be put out."
While Nnadi plans on surprising people, there will be no surprises for him come Super Bowl Sunday. A matchup with quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looms, and Nnadi is well aware of the tall task that lies ahead.
"With Tom Brady, you know he's studying every single thing, especially with our last game. He's trying to key in to pretty much anything he can get an advantage of. It's gonna be difficult to fool the G.O.A.T., it's Tom Brady," Nnadi said. "Just stay on our Ps and Qs, stop the run, let the pass rushers rush the passer and we should be fine."
Sunday's Super Bowl between the Chiefs and Buccaneers gets underway at 6:30 p.m., airing LIVE on News 3. Prior to the game, News 3 is airing Wink's Super Special at 7:30 p.m., Saturday night. The show will include local content related to the Super Bowl that you won't find anywhere else.
