Super Bowl LIX
Super Bowl LIX is the upcoming American football championship game of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2024 season. The game is scheduled to be played on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.[4] A rematch of Super Bowl LVII from two years earlier, the game will be played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion and two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles. It will be the 8th Super Bowl played in the Superdome and the 11th overall in New Orleans, the most recent being Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, held in the same venue.[5] The game will be televised in the United States by Fox and streamed on Tubi.[6] BackgroundHost selectionOn May 23, 2018, the league originally selected New Orleans as the site for Super Bowl LVIII, then tentatively scheduled for February 4, 2024.[5] In March 2020, the league and the NFLPA agreed to expand the regular season from 16 to 17 games starting in 2021, pushing Super Bowl LVIII to February 11, 2024, and causing a conflict with New Orleans's Mardi Gras celebrations.[7] On October 14, 2020, the league decided to move Super Bowl LVIII to another city (Las Vegas was later chosen) and awarded Super Bowl LIX to New Orleans instead, as Mardi Gras in 2025 is not until March 4, thus avoiding any conflicts.[4] LogoThe official logo was unveiled on February 12, 2024, and follows the logo template established since Super Bowl LVI, with the Roman numerals featuring imagery representing the host city/region. For this event, the Roman numerals contain artwork by local artist "Queen" Tahj Williams[8]—a figure in the community of Mardi Gras Indians.[9] It marks the first time the NFL has collaborated with a local artist on the design of a Super Bowl emblem.[8] The design—created with beads—features Mardi Gras inspired red, green, and gold-colored fleur-de-lis patterns (a symbol long connected with New Orleans and used as the logo for the New Orleans Saints), evoking the designs of ironwork balconies typical in the city's architecture (particularly in the French Quarter).[10] SecuritySuper Bowl organizers said they would review security procedures in the wake of the truck attack incident on Bourbon Street on January 1, 2025, that saw 15 killed and dozens injured, which forced the delay of the 2025 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome to the following day. Tourism official Walt Leger III said on New Year's Day that the priority would be on the immediate response to the attack but "[t]here will be more deep conversations in the coming days and weeks to discuss possible enhancements for the Super Bowl."[11] Meanwhile, the NFL released a statement assuring that the game would be a "safe and enjoyable" experience.[12] TeamsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs entered Super Bowl LIX with a Super Bowl victory the previous two seasons, attempting to become the first NFL team to win three Super Bowls in a row. Under head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs finished the regular season 15–2, tied with the Detroit Lions for the best record in the league.[13] Despite the Chiefs going 15–2, quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a down year in relation to his standards, missing the 4,000 passing yards mark. However, he had seven game-winning drives, tied for second-most all-time. Tight end Travis Kelce led the team in receiving yards (823), while running back Kareem Hunt led the team in rushing yards (728). Wide receiver Xavier Worthy had a productive rookie season, with 742 yards and nine touchdowns.[14] The Chiefs acquired WR DeAndre Hopkins in a mid-season trade with the Tennessee Titans; Hopkins had 437 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in five starts.[15] The offensive line included Pro Bowlers Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith, with Thuney and Humphrey also being selected to the AP All-Pro team. The Chief's defense was headlined by All-Pros defensive tackle Chris Jones (5.0 sacks) and cornerback Trent McDuffie (two interceptions). Other notable players include George Karlaftis (8.0 sacks), Nick Bolton (106 tackles), and Justin Reid (87 tackles). They were a top-four defense for the second straight year under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Super Bowl LIX marks the seventh appearance for Kansas City, who won Super Bowls IV, LIV, LVII, and LVIII, while losing Super Bowls I and LV. They have played in the Super Bowl four times in the past five seasons, winning three of them. The Chiefs became the first team to win two consecutive Super Bowls and play in a Super Bowl the following season; the previous eight teams to win two consecutive Super Bowls failed to appear in the game for a third consecutive season.[16] Philadelphia EaglesUnder head coach Nick Sirianni, the Philadelphia Eagles improved upon their 11–6 record in 2023, going 14–3. This is Philadelphia's fifth Super Bowl appearance, following a win in Super Bowl LII and losses in Super Bowls XV, XXXIX, and LVII.[17] Quarterback Jalen Hurts had an efficient season, with career highs in completion percentage, yards per attempt, passer rating, and only five interceptions. However, he only attempted 361 passes due to the high workload from first-team All-Pro RB Saquon Barkley, who became the ninth player in league history with 2,000 rushing yards in a season.[18] The Eagles receiving corps included second-team All-Pro WR A.J. Brown (1,079 yards), WR DeVonta Smith (833 yards), and TE Dallas Goedert (496 yards). The offensive line was one of the best in the league, with Cam Jurgens, Landon Dickerson, and Lane Johnson making the Pro Bowl, as well as Johnson and Jordan Mailata being selected as All-Pros.[19] Under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Eagles had the second-ranked defense in the NFL, headlined by ILB Zack Baun (151 tackles, five forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks). The defensive front consisted of All-Pro DT Jalen Carter (4.5 sacks), DT Milton Williams (5.0 sacks), OLB Josh Sweat (8.0 sacks), and OLB Nolan Smith (6.5 sacks). The secondary had multiple key contributors, including rookie CBs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, safeties Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and veteran CB Darius Slay.[20] PlayoffsThe Chiefs entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the AFC and earned a first-round bye. In the Divisional Round, they defeated the Houston Texans, 23–14. In the AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills, 32–29, making it the fourth time in five seasons that the Chiefs defeated the Bills in the playoffs. The Eagles went into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. In the Wild Card Round, they defeated the Green Bay Packers, 22–10. In the Divisional Round, the Eagles defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 28–22. The Eagles went on to defeat the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game, 55–23, setting a record for the most points scored in a conference championship game. Pre-game notesThe game will be a rematch of Super Bowl LVII played two years earlier, in which the Chiefs defeated the Eagles, 38–35. As the designated home team in the Super Bowl's annual rotation between the two conferences, the Eagles chose to wear their green home jerseys with white pants. The Chiefs will wear their white road jerseys with red pants. This matches the uniforms both teams wore in Super Bowl LVII.[21] Andy Reid is the winningest head coach in both Philadelphia and Kansas City's team history, having previously coached the Eagles from 1999–2012. With the Eagles, Reid held a 130–93–1 (.583) record with one NFC Championship. Entering Super Bowl LIX, Reid has a 143–53 (.730) record, five AFC Championships, and three Super Bowl victories with the Chiefs, serving as head coach since the 2013 season.[22] As was the case with Super Bowl LVIII, this game has been dubbed by some as the "Swifite Bowl" (or "Swiftie Bowl II") due to the high-profile relationship between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop star Taylor Swift, due to Swift's frequent presence at Chiefs games.[23][24] EntertainmentFanFestOn January 7, 2025, Verizon announced that it was launching the Verizon FanFest across all other NFL cities where on the day of the Super Bowl at 4:00 PM EST, fans could travel to the stadium and meet NFL Hall of Famers, take selfies at the 50-yard line, spike a ball in the endzone, tour the locker room, enjoy food from local small businesses, get exclusive merchandise, among other activities. Special activities were provided in New Orleans.[25] PregameOn November 28, 2024, the NFL announced that Jon Batiste would perform the U.S. national anthem, Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle would perform "America the Beautiful", and Ledisi would perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing". Stephanie Nogueras would provide sign language for the national anthem and "America the Beautiful", while Otis Jones IV would sign for "Lift Every Voice and Sing".[26] HalftimeOn September 8, 2024, it was announced that rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the halftime show.[27] Lamar previously co-headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show in 2022.[28] On January 23, 2025, it was announced that SZA would be a special guest in the show.[29] BroadcastingUnited StatesTelevisionSuper Bowl LIX is scheduled to be televised in English by Fox with Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi, and Mike Pereira on the call.[30] It will be the second Super Bowl to be broadcast under the 11-year NFL television contract as part of the four-year rotation between CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC/ESPN.[31][32] On October 14, 2024, it was announced that both Fox Deportes and Telemundo would air separate Spanish-language feeds of the game for the first time.[33] Fox announced that it had sold out most of its advertising inventory for Super Bowl LIX in August 2024. The 30-second ad slots were priced at $7 million each. This sale included the main event inventory and additional slots typically reserved by the network.[34] In January 2025, some advertisers, including State Farm Insurance, withdrew their commitments due to the 2025 California wildfires. This allowed Fox to re-sell these ad slots at a higher rate. According to reports, several of these newly available slots were sold for $8 million each.[34] Furthermore, the interest in advertising extended to the pregame coverage of the event. Traditionally, ads during this segment sold for around $2 million for 30 seconds, but in this case, the prices rose to $4.5 million, reflecting increased demand.[34] The season 3 premiere of Fox's game show The Floor will air following the game.[35] As a cross-promotion for the game, Fox series Kitchen Nightmares began airing special Road to Super Bowl LIX episodes in January 2025 as the first half of its ninth season, which focus on restaurants in New Orleans and feature guest appearances by NFL players and personalities.[36] Fox is also scheduling broadcast television airings of Fox Sports 1's studio lineup on the Friday prior to the game, including First Things First and The Herd with Colin Cowherd.[30] StreamingOn January 15, 2025, Fox announced that Super Bowl LIX will stream on Tubi, Fox Corporation's free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platform, for the first time; this returns the game to free Internet television without a paywall or TV Everywhere requirement for the first time since Super Bowl LV (Super Bowl LVI had been available free on small screen devices[37]). Tubi will also stream a digital-exclusive pre-game show hosted by Olivia Culpo—Tubi Red Carpet at Super Bowl LIX—which will focus on pop culture topics relating to the game.[30] RadioWestwood One holds the national radio rights to the game,[38] with Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner, Laura Okmin, and Gene Steratore on the call. International
Game summaryBox scoreSuper Bowl LIX – Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
OfficialsSuper Bowl LIX will feature seven officials, a replay official, a replay assistant, and eight alternate officials. The numbers in parentheses below indicate their uniform numbers.[40]
This marks the second time Torbert has served as a referee for a Super Bowl, as he also did so in Super Bowl LVI.[40] Morton will be the second official to work a Super Bowl after participating in one as a player (joining Terry Killens in Super Bowl LVIII),[42] and the first to do so after winning a Super Bowl. Morton won Super Bowl XXXIV as a linebacker with the St. Louis Rams.[43] NotesReferences
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