Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had one of the toughest seasons of his coaching career, which saw him on the New Orleans Saints’ sideline in the Superdome.
This season ended in disappointment again in the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles, as the Eagles gained 345 yards in a dominant 40-22 win that denied the Chiefs a chance at a third straight championship.
“Their pass game was rolling, you know. And at the end of the day, they just came out and played harder than us,” said Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie. “Gotta take it on the chin and learn from it.”
Spagnuolo, often called Spags, came into the Super Bowl as one of the most well-known figures in the game. He had recently interviewed for head coaching positions with the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Having won four Super Bowls as a coordinator, Spagnuolo was praised for his ability to use creative blitzes to disrupt opponents’ offenses. This strategy helped the Chiefs beat teams like the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills in earlier rounds, and it worked two years ago against the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
However, while the Chiefs did manage to limit Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley to just 57 yards, the Eagles found other ways to dominate offensively.
“They had a heck of a game plan. They executed. They outplayed us to a man,” said Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis. “It’s the reality of the game we play. It sucks. They played a phenomenal game. They had a great game plan. We needed to do more.”
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones didn’t make much of an impact before leaving with a knee injury in the second half, and the entire Kansas City pass rush struggled.
Zack Baun celebrates awith Nick Sirianni in the 1st half
They couldn’t get to Jalen Hurts, who passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns, including a 46-yard strike to DeVonta Smith that helped seal the win.
“Spags did a few different things; he had a couple blitzes in there,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I thought the backs did a nice job — both of them — of picking the blitz up. And when we got through, (Hurts) moved, and they got some big plays.”
Hurts also rushed for 72 yards, and the Chiefs couldn’t stop the Eagles’ strong running game, including a successful tush push that put the Eagles up 7-0 early, a lead they would never lose.
“Hurts played really well, and he was poised the whole game,” said Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. “You know, he’s in control. And he made checks and he threw dimes and he just gave us opportunities. And when we were covered a little bit, he ran, used his legs.”
In the end, the Super Bowl resembled Spagnuolo’s tough 2012 season with New Orleans, when the Saints gave up a record 7,042 yards, the most in NFL history for a single season.
Philadelphia Eagles players celebrates with the trophy
Yo Philly: Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni are world champions!
A powerful Philadelphia Eagles defense made Patrick Mahomes’ life difficult, while Hurts made all the right plays to secure the win. The Chiefs’ hopes for a Super Bowl three-peat were dashed.
It wasn’t even a close contest.
Cooper DeJean celebrated his 22nd birthday with a pick-6, Josh Sweat pressured Mahomes throughout the game, and the Eagles crushed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to claim the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
Hurts threw two touchdowns and ran for another on a tush push, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. Vic Fangio’s defense was so strong that the Eagles didn’t need much from Saquon Barkley, who finished with 57 yards, breaking Terrell Davis’ record for rushing yards in a season and playoffs combined. Hurts passed for 221 yards.
“This is the ultimate team game. You can’t be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody — offense, defense, special teams,” Sirianni said. “We didn’t really ever care what anyone thought about how we won, or their opinions. All we want to do is win.”
Hurts has faced doubts since he played for Alabama in a national championship game and was benched for Tua Tagovailoa. Even finishing second to Mahomes in MVP voting two years ago didn’t fully quiet his critics. Now, he’s holding the Vince Lombardi trophy.
Sirianni, who dealt with criticism and mockery early in the season, proved his worth by adding a championship ring to his resume, which already includes one of the best coaching win percentages in league history.
“Things come right on time. The last time around, it wasn’t our time, it wasn’t my time, and sometimes you have to accept that you have to wait your turn,” Hurts said. He came close to beating the Chiefs two years ago in Arizona.
Superbowl filled with Stars
With Donald Trump becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplayed the Chiefs in every aspect, thrilling a pro-Philly crowd that cheered with each score, singing “Fly! Eagles! Fly!”
Even Taylor Swift’s presence couldn’t help the Chiefs. They lost for the first time in 10 games this season with the pop star in attendance, watching boyfriend Travis Kelce, who didn’t catch a pass until late in the third quarter.
Kansas City fans never imagined such a poor performance. The Chiefs had won three of the last five Super Bowls, with their only loss coming 31-9 to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers four years ago.
Mahomes had a perfect 8-0 record against Fangio’s defenses before the longtime coordinator and former Broncos head coach outsmarted Andy Reid, finishing his first season with his hometown team. Reid’s Super Bowl record fell to 3-3, including a loss with the Eagles.
The Eagles sacked Mahomes six times, the most he has ever been sacked in a game, with 2 1/2 sacks from Sweat and two from Milton Williams. They accomplished this without Fangio calling a single blitz.
“Defense wins championships,” Hurts said. “We saw how they played today. We saw the difference they made in the game. They gave us opportunities, gave us short fields. And we’re able to do what we do.”
Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts celebrate with the trophy
Barkley, the 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, only rushed for 31 yards in the first half as Philly built a 24-0 lead.
The Chiefs were aiming to become the third team in NFL history to win three straight championships and the first to achieve a three-peat in the Super Bowl era. Two years ago, Mahomes led a comeback, and Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning field goal in the final minute for a 38-35 victory over the Eagles. Mahomes also led Kansas City to an overtime win against San Francisco last year.
“That’s a great football team and we had to come out and play our best, and we did,” Sirianni said.
This time, a revamped Philly defense with eight new starters from the 2022 team made sure Mahomes couldn’t work his magic.
Sirianni was drenched in Gatorade with almost three minutes left in the game while backup QB Kenny Pickett took the final snaps.
“Today was a rough day all around. Nothing went right. I didn’t coach well. Proud of our guys for fighting. We will learn from this,” Reid said. “Too many turnovers, too many penalties. Against a good football team, can’t do that.”
Barkley and Hurts took the game away
Barkley helped Hurts into the end zone from the 1-yard line to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Up 10-0 after Jake Elliott’s 48-yard field goal, Sweat and Jalyx Hunt sacked Mahomes on back-to-back plays. Mahomes then rolled out and made a poor throw, which was intercepted by DeJean, who returned it 38 yards for a 17-0 lead.
“When you have a great line up front … makes it easier on the back end, and when they take the run away, it allows us to get the pass rush going,” DeJean said.
It was Mahomes’ first pick-6 in 21 career playoff games and ended a streak of 297 straight passes without an interception.
“We didn’t start how we wanted to. The turnovers hurt. I take all the blame for that,” Mahomes said.
All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun picked off Mahomes again late in the second quarter, and Hurts connected with A.J. Brown for a 12-yard TD pass, making it 24-0.
Hurts threw a perfect 46-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith to extend the lead to 34-0 late in the third quarter.
Mahomes threw a 24-yard TD pass to Xavier Worthy to avoid the shutout, but the 2-point conversion failed. He later threw two mostly meaningless TD passes, one to DeAndre Hopkins and another to Worthy.
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes walk off the field at the halftime break
After two weeks of discussions about questionable calls that led to public criticism claiming officials favor the Chiefs — a theory NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called “ridiculous” — the first penalty of the game only fueled the critics.
A 32-yard pass from Hurts to Brown, putting the ball at the Chiefs’ 18-yard line on fourth-and-2, was negated by a penalty for offensive pass interference. Brady, now a Fox analyst, and officiating expert Mike Pereira both disagreed with the call, though Brown did shove Trent McDuffie’s facemask.
On the next possession, the Eagles benefited from an unnecessary roughness penalty on McDuffie against Dallas Goedert after an incomplete pass on third-and-5.
Hurts then connected with Jahan Dotson on a 27-yard pass to the 1-yard line and scored on the next play.
Hurts’ streak of 217 passes without an interception ended in the first half when he was intercepted deep in Kansas City’s territory, but the Chiefs didn’t capitalize.
The Green Bay Packers are the only NFL team to win three championships in a row, doing so from 1929-31 and 1965-67.
The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-02, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neill, are the last team in major American professional leagues to win three straight titles.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Relationship Fuels NFL Popularity
Thousands of Super Bowl fans were partying on Bourbon Street, and fancy, celebrity-filled parties were happening on Friday night with less than 48 hours to go until the Super Bowl.
However, four miles away in New Orleans, a quiet French restaurant in the mostly residential Uptown neighborhood became the center of attention. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift surprised locals when they walked into the elegant restaurant ‘Lilette,’ known as ‘the sexiest restaurant in town.’
Cameras started flashing, fans gathered to see them, and social media was buzzing with the question: are they really out two nights before the Super Bowl?
It turned out that Kelce wasn’t the only Kansas City Chiefs player to step away from preparations for a moment. He was joined by Patrick and Brittany Mahomes in a private dining room, staying away from the busy main area where Joe Montana and Jennifer Coolidge were among the guests.
Fans stood outside the restaurant as the couple ate with the Mahomes. The foursome stayed for a few hours, but as news spread on social media, Swift’s fans gathered outside to catch a glimpse of her.
Kelce and Swift left just after 10 p.m., ending a night that left some Chiefs fans worried that Kelce’s focus might be on something other than the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
The decision to go out raised questions after Kelce and Swift had promised not to let outside distractions affect his preparation for the game. Last year, before the Chiefs’ win over the San Francisco 49ers, Kelce shared a strong opinion about why players shouldn’t be out and about before a big game.
Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)
Speaking to his brother Jason on the New Heights podcast, Kelce said, “We’ve got one week, we do what we need to do then we can party in Vegas for the rest of our lives.”
It came just days after reports said that Swift was “worried” her presence in the city could shift attention away from Kelce and the Chiefs’ Super Bowl hopes.
A source said, “Taylor doesn’t want to be the center of attention. She just wants to support Travis and help him focus on the game. She wants Travis to enjoy his Super Bowl week experience and be at 110% for Sunday, as she is dreaming about him making Super Bowl history and winning another Super Bowl and making a three-peat.”
Kelce and the Chiefs have the chance to make history by winning three Super Bowls in a row, something no other team has done. But by going out so publicly just 48 hours before the game, Kelce raised concerns about whether his focus was where it should be if the Chiefs lose to the Eagles.
Chariah Gordon, whose fiancé is Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr., shared in November that Andy Reid, the Chiefs’ coach, imposes a strict 11 p.m. curfew on his players. It seems Kelce didn’t break any team rules, but the situation is more about public perception, as he practiced on Saturday as expected.
Should Kelce and Mahomes really be out in public so close to such an important game?
They have a chance to make NFL history, but if they lose, questions will be raised about their decision to dine out in New Orleans.
One thing we know is that Swift would not have stayed with Kelce at the Chiefs’ Marriott hotel. NFL rules prohibit partners from staying in the same room the night before a game, although they can stay in the same hotel.
Coaches and players have spent the last two weeks preparing for the Eagles by refining their game plan and practicing. The nights leading up to the game are usually spent with team-building activities, making it uncommon for players to go out so close to the game.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce enjoying the match
Kelce’s actions are in contrast to how Julian Edelman, former Patriots wide receiver, used to prepare for Super Bowls. Edelman once explained his routine by saying, “Eat. Then we have meetings, usually.
Go over the game plan, go over the whole call sheet. And then I take a little melatonin and pass out. I like to be in bed by 9 and watch some TV. Catch a flick and then end up falling asleep.”
As Chiefs fans on Bourbon Street saw their two star players out in the city, some began to worry if they had lost focus. Social media was filled with opinions about their surprise outing, with one fan calling Kelce “unfocused” and another adding, “Bad look. Kelce supposed to be locked in and watching film. I’m sure that outing could have waited.”
A third person said, “Normally the players do not go out the week before they are playing in the Super Bowl because of how seriously they take the game, or so I’m told. Even saw an old clip of that Kelce guy saying that.”
Only Kelce and Mahomes know if the night out was a distraction. However, if the Chiefs lose, their night out will give fans something to criticize them for.
Nolan Smith had just won a national championship when the Eagles drafted him in the first round a couple of years ago. When he arrived at the NovaCare Complex that spring, the Eagles were still feeling the aftermath of their Super Bowl LVII loss to the Chiefs, which ended their 2022 season.
“Man, I just say it was a little bit of that sour taste in their mouth,” Smith said this week.
“And then it happened even worse last year with the first-round loss. I was on the team for that so I actually experienced that. Guys going home early. It just made me sad.”
By the time the 2023 draft class joined the team, the Eagles were trying to move past their Super Bowl loss and focus on the new season. But the loss still hung in the air a bit, and even some rookies felt it.
“I think everybody was really motivated,” third-round pick Tyler Steen said. “Even though they lost that game, I feel like there was a confidence there that we’re capable of going back there to that game and that we’re a really good team.”
By the time the rookies arrived at the NovaCare Complex, it wasn’t about pain anymore, and the Super Bowl loss wasn’t a constant topic of discussion.
“Guys were a lot more hungry for sure,” fourth-round pick Kelee Ringo said. “Rather than hurting anymore.”
But it did come up.
“I think it was just talked about in terms of flushing it and trying to get back there,” seventh-round pick Moro Ojomo said. “That was the goal.”
The Eagles had a great season in 2022. They won 14 games in the regular season to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC and easily defeated the Giants and 49ers in the playoffs. They even led by 10 points at halftime in Super Bowl LVII before losing in the second half.
“I think guys were hungry,” sixth-round pick Tanner McKee said. “It’s a tough thing to balance because you know the year went well because you make the playoffs and got to the Super Bowl but you just came up short at the end. You want to do everything you can to obviously get back to that point and actually finish through the finish line.
Philadelphia Eagles fans in the 2nd half
“I feel like this year, guys kind of feel that. We’ve been here before and we came up just short at the very end so let’s finish all the way through. Let’s do all we can to go out and play the game and do our thing.”
What stood out to most of the 2023 draft class was the team’s confidence. Despite their Super Bowl loss, the Eagles remained confident in their roster and were determined to return.
“I think there was a lot of motivation but I think they were kind of past that by the time I got in there,” third-round pick Sydney Brown said. “It’s all about the opportunity to get to the next one. I think the big thing is just going through adversity and they’ve been through adversity that year.
“Obviously, we lost in the first round of the playoffs the year after and now we’re back here with another opportunity to do it. How you get here is a journey. I think we’re influenced by the motivation of our losses and what we could have done, knowing that we could have been here. Now, we just have to execute at this point.”
After a strong 10-1 start in 2023, the Eagles fell apart. They lost in the first round to the Buccaneers in Tampa. In the offseason, Howie Roseman made changes, the Eagles got two new coordinators, and they turned things around.
Now, the Eagles are back in the Super Bowl, and the 2023 draft class—Jalen Carter, Smith, Steen, Brown, Ringo, McKee, and Ojomo—are ready to help their teammates finish the job.
“I know a lot of the guys who were super excited that we’re going to have the opportunity to play the same team,” McKee said. “I think it is a motivating factor just knowing we’re back here. We’ve been in the same position before and we’re going to do everything we can to have that good feeling after the game.”
Nick Sirianni mentioned that he’s likely to use the same approach as before.
As the Eagles prepare to face the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, Sirianni plans to let his players speak at their final team meeting before the game, which will take place at their hotel in New Orleans. He did this before Super Bowl LVII two years ago, and it created some emotional moments that the players will always remember.
“What you got to see was just how the guys care about each other,” Sirianni said this week. “The whole conversation was just when guys would get up there just talking about how much they mean to each other, how they’re going to play for each other, all those different things. Again, it’s not the best groups of individuals that win, it’s the best teams.
“It was a good moment for our team and we’ll see how that plays out. But remember a lot of things from that. A lot of different guys talking and it meant a lot. We’ll probably try to recreate that.”
Sirianni got the idea of giving players a chance to speak in front of the team from his time at Mount Union. This was a tradition for the Purple Raiders under Larry Kehres, and now it’s becoming a tradition for the Eagles.
On Thursday, several veteran players already knew they wanted to address the team.
“I prayed about it and I think it’ll come to me when it gets there,” said 15-year veteran Brandon Graham, who is expected to play in the Super Bowl, which could be his last game in the NFL.
“But whatever it is, it’s going to be from the heart. I feel that. I’m looking forward to delivering that speech with a bunch of the guys that’s going to be on the podium with me.”
Back in 2023, Jason Kelce stole the show with his raw emotion.
Kelce retired after last season, but there are still many veterans who will speak, including Graham, Lane Johnson, Darius Slay, Jordan Mailata, and others.
Philadelphia Eagles fans in the 2nd half
“Expecting the same,” Mailata said. “I just remember seeing our leaders at the time show emotion, state their reasons why, remind us of our reasons why, remind us of who we are as a unit. It’s a total team sport and you need everyone. I think that was probably one of the most memorable nights of my career.”
Johnson, 34, is one of the few players remaining from Super Bowl LII in the 2017 season. He is the only offensive player who will have played in all three of the Eagles’ recent Super Bowls.
In his 12th NFL season, Johnson has already said he will return to play in 2025. His words carry weight with his teammates, but he won’t plan them out.
“I’ll let it rip,” Johnson said. “I usually don’t plan. I don’t like to plan. I just go.”
Slay, 34, has been open about the possibility that this could be his last year with the Eagles. While he wants to play another season in the NFL, he recognizes the potential of the Eagles’ young cornerbacks and understands how the league works.
Slay said the meeting two years ago was “powerful” because of how much he values the relationships in the locker room.
The veteran corner plans on speaking but, like Johnson, doesn’t intend to prepare a speech.
“Nah, I’ll let it flow, man. I speak from the heart,” Slay said. “Whatever God blesses me with to come out, the wisdom I can give out to others about this game or whatever I need to say. The Lord will put me in great position to deliver a great message to these guys.”
It is expected to be an emotional night before the Eagles play for a Super Bowl title on Sunday.
However, Johnson expects this Saturday night to be a little different.
“Probably won’t get emotional like everybody did last time,” Johnson said. “It’ll be more, ‘We got business to handle.’”
Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson pose on the red carpet
At 72 years old and out of the NFL, Bill Belichick still managed to grab attention during Super Bowl week.
What was the former Patriots coach wearing on the red carpet?
All of his Super Bowl rings.
Belichick was the center of attention at the NFL Honors, where he not only showed off his impressive collection of Super Bowl rings, earned from winning more titles than any other coach in NFL history, but also got playfully teased during the awards show. On social media, people were less kind, especially after he walked arm-in-arm with his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
Belichick even ditched his usual hoodie for a burgundy sports coat, while Hudson looked stunning in a silver sequin dress.
These days, Belichick is as much a topic on TMZ as he is in NFL news or his new role as head coach at North Carolina. Hudson caught attention when she appeared to wear one of Belichick’s Super Bowl rings on her ring finger, sparking engagement rumors on social media. The Daily Mail even posted pictures of her “showing off a stunning sparkler” at a charity event in New Orleans on Wednesday.
Hold on, paparazzi.
Hudson later posted on Instagram that the ring she wore at the Honors was actually a Bridgewater State University Bearcats National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate Championship ring — not a Super Bowl ring.
Like any young couple — or at least a couple with one young person — they were spotted out after the show enjoying Bourbon Street bars.
The grumpy coach who didn’t engage with reporters in New England is now a media favorite after his split with the Patriots. He jokes around and shares insights on “The Pat McAfee Show” and has even hosted two podcasts. He appeared on the NFL Network on Thursday night but refused to pick a Super Bowl winner between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Bill Belichick shows his Super Bowl rings as he walks the red carpet
“He’s changed in a good way. I like it,” retired Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski told The Associated Press. “I like it big time. How he’s been representing. How he’s swaggy. How he’s been in a new world, not coaching in the NFL. He’s been spectacular. Everyone loves him now.”
Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as head coach with the New England Patriots and two more as an assistant with the New York Giants, even seems to have developed a sense of humor, at least about his relationship with Hudson.
Host and rapper Snoop Dogg made fun of the age gap between Belichick and Hudson during his monologue, joking about remembering a time when the Cowboys were good and the Chiefs were bad, and how Belichick’s girlfriend wasn’t even born yet.
Belichick and Hudson laughed politely while the crowd reacted with “awws” to the joke.
Social media users quickly joined in on the fun, with one person posting a picture of the couple at the awards show and writing, “You can make fun of Bill Belichick all you want, but I think it’s really nice that he took his girlfriend to the NFL Awards even if it is a school night.” Another shared a collage featuring Napster and “Toy Story 2,” joking, “All of these things are older than Bill Belichick’s girlfriend.”
Date nights might become harder to come by once Belichick returns to college.
Belichick signed a five-year deal with North Carolina in December worth $10 million per year in base and supplemental salary, with the first three years guaranteed, including buyout terms. There’s also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses.
That’s plenty of money for Belichick to buy as many rings as Hudson wants — just like her boyfriend — for all her fingers.
Reed Blankenship was a part-time player as a rookie during Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run two years ago and only played one defensive snap against the Kansas City Chiefs.
That’s why he’s amazed at the impact rookies like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have had on the Eagles this season, turning a secondary that was a weakness last year into a strength heading into the Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs on Sunday.
“It’s crazy hard,” Blankenship said about having a big role as a first-year player. “It’s great to see our rookies grow the way they did. They play, they study, and they ask questions like vets. Knowing that they know what their job is, it makes my life so much easier.”
Mitchell and DeJean are far from the only rookies who could play important roles on Sunday. Kansas City first-round receiver Xavier Worthy has become a key part of the passing game in recent weeks.
Mitchell, who finished second in the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, has allowed just five catches on 15 targets for 24 yards this postseason, according to NFL NextGen stats. Mitchell was drafted in the first round even though he played college football at Toledo in the MAC, but he has quickly become one of the better cornerbacks in the league.
“I’m just living proof that it doesn’t matter where you come from,” he said. “Just got to put in the hard work and just believe it.”
DeJean helped improve the defense after getting his first start in Week 6 and has allowed just 97 yards on 15 targets this postseason.
Philadelphia’s Jalyx Hunt has become an important situational pass rusher in the second half of the season and had a sack in the divisional round against the Rams. Will Shipley had a 57-yard run and forced a fumble in kick coverage, and Jeremiah Trotter has made key plays on special teams, all while GM Howie Roseman’s draft class has delivered.
Kansas City Chiefs players celebrate in the 1st half
“We’ve gotten great contributions from our rookie class,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “That’s a tribute to Howie and his staff for all the work they put in to get the right type of guys in, first and foremost. Talent only gets you the first part. You’ve got to have something else to get to where we are right now.”
The Chiefs don’t have as many contributors from their draft class, with safety Jaden Hicks being another key player along with Worthy. But the speedy Worthy, who set a record for the fastest 40-yard dash at last year’s combine, could be one of the most important rookies on Sunday.
Kansas City traded up to draft Worthy 28th overall last April, but there were questions about how his 165-pound frame would hold up in the more physical NFL.
“I was coming into the season doubted,” he said. “Everybody said he’s not fit to be a big-time receiver, he’s too small, injury-prone. I feel like I proved everyone wrong and I’m going to continue proving everyone wrong.”
Worthy leads the Chiefs with 10 touchdowns in the regular season and playoffs and has been at his best late in the season. He leads the team with 50 catches for 522 yards over his last nine games—excluding a one-snap cameo in Week 18—as he has built a strong chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“He’s gotten better every week,” coach Andy Reid said. “He and Pat have a tremendous relationship and he has Pat’s trust. That takes time and work for any young receiver and he’s done that.”
Jared Allen waves as he is introduced into the NFL Hall of Fame Class 2025
Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, Eric Allen, and Sterling Sharpe were voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, making this the smallest induction class in 20 years, following new offseason rules that made getting inducted harder.
Sharpe was selected as a seniors candidate and will be inducted alongside his younger brother, Shannon, making them the first siblings to be inducted into the Hall. Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning did not make it this year and will not join his older brother Peyton in Canton, Ohio.
Shannon was the one to deliver the news to Sterling, and the two brothers will be together in the Hall after the induction ceremony on August 2.
“I don’t think that has really set in yet,” Sterling Sharpe said. “It’s one of those situations where the closer it gets to having the same color jacket he has and standing in the same place he stood and being able to have a conversation about the journey to get there, I think it will set in. But right now it hasn’t hit home yet.”
This small class is different from previous years when at least seven people were inducted, but it has happened before. In the 2005 class, there were only four inductees, and there have been 18 other years with three or four inductees since 1963, when the first class of 17 was enshrined.
“You almost appreciate it more,” Jared Allen said. “Nothing comes easy. When I found out it was only four, it became more special. There’s a true emphasis on what it means to be a Hall of Famer. Clearly, we fit that. For me, it was kind of a sigh of relief.”
New rules were put in place this year after Hall of Famers pushed to make the Hall more exclusive. This led to the smaller class. The modern-era candidates were voted from 15 down to seven in the final stage, instead of five as in past years.
The 49 voters then chose five from the seven finalists, with anyone reaching 80% support or finishing in the top three automatically being inducted. In past years, all five finalists were voted in, and all five got inducted for the last 17 years.
NFL Hall of Fame Class of 2025 presentation during the NFL Honors Award show
Candidates from the seniors, coach, and contributor categories were grouped, and voters picked three. Candidates needed 80% support, with the top finisher automatically getting in, even if they didn’t reach the 80% mark.
Hall of Fame spokesman Rich Desrosiers said no decision has been made yet about whether this system will remain for 2026, but he added that it’s too soon to conclude after one year.
Gates was elected in his second year of eligibility. He played only basketball in college before becoming one of the NFL’s top tight ends after being drafted by the Chargers.
“The opportunity I got speaks volumes of how [the Chargers] believed in me,” Gates said. “I’m happy it all paid off.”
He became an All-Pro in his second season in 2004 and was an All-Pro again the next two seasons. Gates had a 16-year career with the Chargers, finishing with 955 catches for 11,841 yards and setting an NFL record for tight ends with 116 touchdown receptions. He ranks seventh all-time in TD catches.
Jared Allen was a four-time All-Pro who finished his career with 136 sacks, including a league-leading 22 in 2011 for Minnesota. He also led the league with 15 1/2 sacks for Kansas City in 2007 and reached double digits in sacks for seven straight seasons. His final game was a Super Bowl loss with Carolina against Denver in the 2015 season.
Eric Allen was a top cornerback for 14 seasons in the NFL, never having to move to safety as he got older. His career spanned from the 1988 “Fog Bowl” game, when he starred for Philadelphia as a rookie, to the 2001 “Tuck Rule” game in Oakland, his final game.
Allen finished his career with 54 interceptions, including eight returned for touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1989 and earned two second-team All-Pro selections.
Allen was inducted in his 19th year of eligibility.
Antonio Gates and Jared Allen in the award show
“Rarely does life play out like you want it to,” Eric Allen said. “There’s always some curves and bends. But time always reveals the truth. … It took maybe time for people to see the complexity of my situation.”
Sharpe had a short but successful career with the Green Bay Packers from 1988 to 1994. His best season was in 1992 when he became the sixth player to win the receiving triple crown, setting an NFL record with 108 catches for 1,461 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He broke his own record with 112 catches in 1993 and led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions in his final season, 1994, before a neck injury ended his career.
Sharpe was a three-time All-Pro and finished with 595 catches for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns. He trailed only Jerry Rice in receptions and TD catches over his seven-year career.
The Sharpe brothers will join three father-son pairs already in the Hall: Tim and Wellington Mara; Art Rooney Sr. and Dan Rooney; and Ed and Steve Sabol.
The other modern-era candidates who reached the final stage but did not make it were Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri. These four will automatically move to the final 15 for next year’s voting.
Other finalists who were eliminated earlier were Manning, Jahri Evans, Steve Smith Sr., Terrell Suggs, Fred Taylor, Reggie Wayne, Darren Woodson, and Marshal Yanda.
The seniors candidates who fell short were Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer, and Mike Holmgren missed out as the coach. Ralph Hay was also not inducted as the contributor.
What can viewers expect from Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance? So far, it’s confirmed that SZA will join him on stage, but more information may be shared on Thursday when the Grammy-winning artist speaks before Sunday’s game.
Apple Music’s Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis will interview Lamar and other pre-game performers starting at 10 a.m. Central time. The rap star takes the Super Bowl stage after winning two major Grammy awards — song and record of the year — for his diss track “Not Like Us.”
Apple Music will stream the interview on its platform and social media, including YouTube and Facebook.
This isn’t Lamar’s first time performing on the Super Bowl’s major musical stage. He’s excited to bring hip-hop back to the NFL’s championship game after performing as a guest with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Eminem in 2022.
The pre-game media session might reveal some details about the performance, but headliners often keep some surprises. Rihanna did this in 2023 when she revealed she was pregnant with her second child during her Super Bowl performance.
Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl 59 Opening Night
The Super Bowl will take place on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, where the Kansas City Chiefs, the defending champions, will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch.
Who else is performing at the Super Bowl?
The pregame show will have a local touch, with Jon Batiste singing the national anthem. Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle are set to perform “America the Beautiful.”
Ledisi will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as part of the pregame performances.
The national anthem and “America the Beautiful” will be performed by actor Stephanie Nogueras in American Sign Language. Otis Jones IV will sign “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and Matt Maxey will sign the halftime show.
Michael Porter Jr. takes the ball forward in the 1st half
Michael Porter Jr. has kept his attention on making shots, not on the trade rumors surrounding him.
He’s ignored the rumors and raised his level of play. On Wednesday night, the Denver Nuggets forward matched his career high with 39 points in a 144-119 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. This came after scoring 36 points on Monday in another win over the Pelicans.
Porter had been the focus of trade talk ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. He got a confidence boost after Monday’s game when head coach Michael Malone simply said, “We’re not trading Michael Porter.”
“I can’t control whether I get traded or not, so that was never something I was stressed about,” Porter said after his big game Wednesday, in which he also grabbed 12 rebounds, had four assists, and stole the ball three times in nearly 37 minutes. “But it is nice to be somewhere where you’re wanted, and to know that your coach is saying that.
I know things can change quick in this league, and you’ve got to win, and you’ve got to produce, but it is good to know that you’re wanted somewhere.”
Porter shot the ball well all game, finishing 16 of 23 from the field and hitting five 3-pointers. His teammates made sure to get him the ball late in the game to help him break his career high, but his final jumper missed. The Nuggets are 15-2 when Porter scores 30 or more points.
Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun celebrate after scoring
“It wasn’t just the 39 and the pretty jump shot,” Malone said about Porter’s performance. “It was the rebounding. It was the defense. It was the activity and the playmaking as well. So hats off to Michael for just impacting the game across the board.”
Trade talk is a regular part of the NBA, and this season has already seen some major deals. Nothing surprises three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who scored 38 points on Wednesday.
“Don’t take it personally. It’s a business. It’s a job,” Jokic said, giving advice to teammates who might get traded. “It’s not that you’re going to go do something else. You’re going to (another) team to play basketball. It can happen.
“That doesn’t mean that you’re a bad player, a good player. I think just maybe the team wants to change the energy. It’s a normal thing to happen in the NBA.”
Porter was selected by Denver at No. 14 in the 2018 NBA draft after a back injury affected his college career at Missouri. He sat out his first season in Denver following back surgery in July 2018.
In 2021, he signed a five-year maximum extension with the Nuggets. Over his career, Porter has shot 41% from 3-point range.
NFL Commissioner Roger speaks in the news conference
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell responded to the idea that officials favor the Kansas City Chiefs, calling it a “ridiculous theory.”
Goodell covered a variety of topics during his annual press conference, which kicked off Super Bowl week on Monday. These topics included diversity, a possible 18-game season, expanding the NFL internationally, Tom Brady’s dual role as both a broadcaster and co-owner, and more.
The Chiefs are aiming for a third straight Super Bowl win, facing the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of the 2023 Super Bowl, where Kansas City won 38-35. The Chiefs have benefitted from calls during their playoff run.
Some questionable calls, like two roughing-the-passer penalties in their divisional win over Houston, and a disputed spot on a Josh Allen sneak in their AFC championship game against Buffalo, have sparked conversation.
Goodell addressed the situation, saying, “A lot of those theories are things that happen in social media and they get a new life. I understand that. I think it reflects a lot of the fans’ passion and is a reminder for us on how important officiating is. I think the men and women officiating the NFL are outstanding.
We have the highest possible standards. It’s a ridiculous theory for anyone who might take it seriously. But at the end of the day it’s something we have to work at, how do we make our officiating better.”
The NFL evaluates officials not just on field performance but also in other aspects of their lives. Goodell praised the dedication of officials, saying they work hard to get things right and improve with every game.
Kansas City Chiefs players celebrate after the win
The league is looking into technology to help with line-to-gain measurements next season, but officials will continue to be responsible for spotting the ball. NFL executive Kimberly Fields mentioned that while technology could assist, it won’t replace the human element in spotting the ball.
On the topic of diversity, Goodell stated that the NFL’s efforts to promote diversity do not conflict with federal policies. The NFL has policies like the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview diverse candidates for key coaching and front-office positions. Goodell emphasized that these policies align with current law and practice, without relying on quotas.
Regarding international expansion, Goodell expressed confidence that the NFL could someday have a team outside the United States, and he hinted that a Super Bowl could follow. The league has held games in countries like England, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil, with a game planned for Spain in 2025. However, a Super Bowl outside North America would pose logistical challenges.
Goodell also discussed the possibility of extending the NFL season to 18 games. While formal negotiations with the players’ union have not taken place, Goodell said he had informal talks with NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr.
He explained that while fans love more football, the league has to approach any expansion carefully to ensure player health and safety. Since the NFL introduced a 17-game season in 2021, changes in equipment and training have reduced injuries, making the idea of an 18-game season more feasible.
Patrick Mahomes treated Super Bowl opening night like a quick drill, firing off answers one after the other. Travis Kelce, meanwhile, avoided questions about proposing to Taylor Swift.
The Kansas City Chiefs handled the Super Bowl kickoff event with ease, like they’ve done it before. The Philadelphia Eagles, fresh from their Super Bowl appearance two years ago, were also calm, though their standout player, Saquon Barkley, was new to the spectacle.
Barkley experienced the media frenzy for the first time. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni got letters and even a kiss from Chad Johnson. Quarterback Jalen Hurts cracked a smile or two during the night.
Before Mahomes, Kelce, and the Chiefs face Hurts, Barkley, and the Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday, they had to tackle the media madness.
Barkley wasn’t on the Eagles’ roster two years ago when they lost to the Chiefs 38-35. He left the New York Giants for a chance at a Super Bowl title.
“That’s why me and my family made the decision to come to Philadelphia, to have an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. And here we are,” Barkley said.
The Chiefs, who’ve been here five times in the past six years, are used to the oddball questions and requests during opening night.
Mahomes jokingly created a mock football team with NBA players, choosing Russell Westbrook as quarterback and Anthony Edwards at receiver. He even asked the media for restaurant recommendations.
Kelce discussed pop tarts with Swift’s name on them and said he hopes to match her energy on stage. But when asked about proposing to his famous girlfriend, Kelce avoided the question: “Super Bowl ring? Next question.”
Eagles Overtake Chiefs as Super Bowl Favorites After Playoff Odds Update
Players were asked about their favorite foods, colors, and music, among other things. A Mexican reporter handed Sirianni a pile of fan letters, and former Bengals star Chad Johnson kissed him on the head. Hurts burst into laughter when someone tossed him a cookie—an unintentional throw. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston asked Darius Slay questions before telling him to eat a “W.”
The Eagles went first, spending an hour answering questions from reporters from all over the world in the Superdome. The Chiefs followed and were greeted with loud cheers.
Media day has changed from a daytime event to a prime-time spectacle on national TV. Last year in Las Vegas, more than 6,000 media members from 26 countries covered the event.
Football strategy takes a backseat on the first night.
New Orleans is hosting its 11th Super Bowl and its first since 2013, when the Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers.
The Chiefs are aiming to make history by becoming the first NFL team to win three Super Bowls in a row. The Eagles are hoping for their second Vince Lombardi trophy. “We’re obsessed with winning,” said owner Jeffrey Lurie.
Both teams arrived on Sunday and every player and coach participated in media sessions on Monday night. Some players, including the head coaches and quarterbacks, will have more media time on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Most of the preparation was done last week, with game plans set and regular practices held since this week won’t be typical.
One person under particular scrutiny this week is Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who’s a top candidate for the head coaching job with the New Orleans Saints. Moore can’t accept the position until after the Super Bowl, but he’s still preparing to assemble a coaching staff while staying focused on the game.
Avoiding distractions, especially on opening night, will be key for both teams as they aim to set the tone for Super Bowl victory.
