Tailgate crew moves indoors for Super Bowl party
Tailgating is a big part of the home game experience for many Chiefs fans, but when championship day arrives, the focus shifts to planning the perfect Super Bowl party.
The 22+2 tailgate crew brings the party to the parking lot when the Chiefs have games at Arrowhead Stadium. With next Sunday’s Super Bowl being played in New Orleans, the group will take things inside.
Michael Brennan, who hosts the group’s annual Super Bowl party, thought back to his emotions after throwing his first Chiefs championship gathering in 2020.
“Finally winning — joy,” Brennan said. “Everybody being able to share it together.”
Now with the parties becoming regular due to the Chiefs’ success, Brennan is ready to “keep everybody with food and beverages and have a good time.”
The room the group gathers in is painted half red and half gold with Chiefs’ memorabilia scattered around. A special Joe Montana autograph is on the wall as well.
“My wife met him at the Wendy’s drive-up window in Lenexa, Kansas, and she walked right up to him when he was in the drive-thru,” Brennan said. “(It was) right after their first preseason game, I think it was against Buffalo.”
Brennan’s brother-in-law Randy Widener is the creator of the 22+2 group. Along with contributing to the Chiefs’ themed room, he has also made custom shirts for each big game.
“Very first game at Arrowhead that we won a playoff game, we hadn’t won in 25 years, that’s where you get the 22 plus two plus one,” Widener said. “We were 0-4 in the playoffs against the Colts. We won that game, we went to the Super Bowl and we won.”
He notes that every year the shirts have been created, the Chiefs’ have won the Super Bowl. The one year they missed, the Chiefs lost to the Buccaneers.
Widener has a couple of ideas for this year’s shirt.
“It will be something with the Chiefs and the Eagles and the 22+2 group,” Widener said. “The Brennan family and the three-peat.”
It would not be a 22+2 gathering if spices were left out of the mix. Widener said halftime is when things will heat up as far as food offerings at the party.
“We are going to eat some very spicy extracts,” Widener said. “We’re going to start out with jalapeño, habanero, red savina, ghost pepper, Carolina reaper — those are the hot sauces then we are going to kick on the extracts ... psycho slayer, Satan’s blood, mad dog plutonium.”
Members of the group said they are most looking forward to seeing the Chiefs have a chance to do something no team has ever done before — win three Super Bowls in a row.
“I’m excited and I am ready for another win,” Brennan said.
