- Wishnowsky stood out with the 49ers in the Super Bowl
- The West Aussie punter averaged 50.8 yards during the game
- San Francisco suffered a crushing defeat in overtime 25-22
Would-be hero Mitch Wishnowsky has been reduced to a subplot in the record books after failing to become the first Australian to play on a Super Bowl-winning team.
Much more than just playing, Wishnowsky excelled before his San Francisco 49ers suffered a crushing 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in a harrowing Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
Commentators marveled at Wishnowsky’s ‘incredible punt’ as the real-life rags-to-riches star terrorized Chiefs kick returner Richie James with every pigskin touch on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
The former glassman only kicked five times in almost five hours of theater between endless crossovers with Taylor Swift, the boyfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and the halftime show with American megastars Usher, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z .
But Wishnowsky, who averaged 50.8 yards, nearly etched his name in history with all five punts.
Mitch Wishnowsky had an outstanding game for his San Francisco 49ers
The West Australian received high praise for his punting performance in the Super Bowl
Few could have predicted the 31-year-old former WAFL reserves player would improve on his 54-yard opener that pinned the Chiefs behind the 11-yard line in the first quarter. “Amazing punt. It couldn’t be executed better,” said an enthusiastic announcer.
But he did, with a goal that brought the Chiefs back to the one-yard line in the third quarter.
James fumbled another ball as social media was filled with calls for Wishnowsky to be the first punter to receive the Super Bowl MVP award.
‘Wishnowsky has to be in the conversation for Super Bowl MVP!’ wrote sportscaster Brenton Speed.
“Mitch Wishnowsky is your damn Super Bowl MVP,” another fan wrote on X.
‘A bettor has never won Super Bowl MVP. Mitch Wishnowsky could change that tonight,” a third commented.
Such emotion was clearly overblown, and Wishnowsky’s potential defining moment ended in tears when the Chiefs cruised to victory on a Mecole Hardman touchdown with three seconds left in overtime.
As the Chiefs become the first repeat Super Bowl champions in 19 years, and ninth overall, Wishnowsky and the 49ers are enduring a nightmarish case of deja vu.
The 49ers suffered a crushing 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
They also lost the 2020 Super Bowl to the Chiefs, who are celebrating their third victory in five years.
Wishnowsky must settle for a less-sought spot in the record books as the first Australian to play in two losing Super Bowl games as the Australian curse continues in the NFL championship.
The Perth-born punter is the fourth Australian to lose a Super Bowl.
Defenseman Jesse Williams remains the only Australian with a Super Bowl ring, but that feat comes with an asterisk after Williams missed the Seattle Seahawks’ 2013 victory with a knee injury.
Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles, 2023), Arryn Siposs (Philadelphia Eagles, 2023) and Ben Graham (Arizona Cardinals, 2009) were also left out.