Chiefs win dedicated to founder’s deceased wife
The Chiefs dedicated their win tonight to Norma Hunt, the deceased wife of team founder Lamar Hunt.
In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Vince Lombardi trophy and captioned it, “For Norma” to honor the team matriarch who died in June 2023. The team has been wearing patch on their jerseys all season, including at tonight’s Super Bowl, with the initials “NKH” inside of a football to commemorate her.
Her son, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, said in a news release in September that it would be a tough season without her but that the family would be proud to honor her legacy.
“My mom loved football, and she loved the Chiefs,” he said. “She also believed in the power of sports to unite communities, and the impact sports can have on young people.”
Bettor wins $45,000 after calling it for the Chiefs — in August
Chad Bleznick was nervous the entire Super Bowl.
Not just because “Mahomes is my guy,” but because he put $7,500 on the Chiefs to win — back in August.
Once the thrilling overtime game ended, Bleznick was a whopping $45,000 richer.
“I bet on the Chiefs before the season at 6-1,” he said shortly after the game. “Thank you Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, I’m really grateful, amazing win.”
“I was really nervous at the beginning, but when you got Mahomes, you always gotta be confident,” he said.
Bleznick, 28, has a sports card business and bets regularly. He moved to Las Vegas because “it’s just good for business out here.”
“I gamble a lot,” he said. He also said that he’s a Taylor Swift fan and that “I like Kelce, too” — her boyfriend and Super Bowl champ.
Patrick Mahomes named MVP
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the Super Bowl’s most valuable player for the third time.
It’s still Taylor Swift’s world; we’re just renting
The pop sensation was on the field celebrating and sharing kisses with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
Swift is no stranger to Allegiant Stadium as Las Vegas was the second city on her Eras Tour in 2023.
She played at the Raiders’ home on March 24 and 25.
Chiefs presented with the Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Kansas City Chiefs were triumphant standing together on the field as they were presented the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Las Vegas.
Mahomes was asked what it was like to win after being doubted through the playoffs, particularly as he played his first postseason games on the road.
“Just know that the Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs,” Mahomes said. “Just know that.”
Meanwhile, tight end Travis Kelce hit the crowd with his trademark Beastie Boys reference, yelling out “you gotta fight, for your right, to parrrtty.”
49ers, one of the biggest winners in the Super Bowl era, have now lost 3 straight
The San Francisco 49ers, with five titles, remain one the the Super Bowl era’s biggest winners.
But now they’re on a three-game Super Bowl losing streak, having dropped title games in 2013 and 2020 and tonight.
They’re still short of the five title game losses of the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. The Buffalo Bills and the Minnesota Vikings have each lost four times in the Super Bowl.
Biden winks at Taylor Swift conspiracy theories after Chiefs’ win
President Joe Biden’s X account appeared to wink at recent conspiracy theories surrounding Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, who endorsed Biden in the last election.
Taylor and company celebrate Chiefs’ triumph
Kansas City storms the field
TOUCHDOWN! Chiefs win the Super Bowl
The Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions after a rough start in the first half and a scrappy comeback in the second.
Mahomes finds Mecole Hardman for a 3-yard touchdown.
What an ending for Hardman, who started the season with the New York Jets and was traded to the Chiefs in October for a late draft pick.
Hardman had previously played for the Chiefs but left in free agency. A hekuva redemptions tory.
Mahomes with a huge scramble!
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball for 19 yards and lands on the 13-yard line, as the team attempts to score a touchdown for the win.
This really is setting up for the storybook ending.
Chiefs already in field goal range
The Chiefs are now in field goal range. The Niners called a timeout with K.C. at its 37-yard line.
Rashee Rice catches a pass on third and 6 and takes it for 13 yards.
Huge catch for a rookie receiver.
Fourth down and K.C. takes a timeout
For the Chiefs, it’s do or die.
Fourth and 1. If they don’t get the first down, their season is over and the Niners are champions.
Mahomes scrambles for 8 yards. Game on!
Kansas City has to score
The game is over if the Chiefs don’t score.
They can tie it with a field goal. A touchdown would win them the game.
Moody strikes again!
Moody kicked a 27-yard field goal to give the Niners the lead, 22-19, before the Chiefs take possession in overtime.
How about a kicker for MVP?
Kittle momentarily runs off the field with shoulder injury
In a strange turn of events, 49ers tight end George Kittle ran off the field and back into the stadium.
According to the commentators, Kittle suffered a shoulder injury. Kittle is a driving force in the Niners’ offense, and it could hurt the team as it fights in overtime.
George Kittle will not be denied. His absence was brief but glaring after the 49ers were hit with a flag on one of the other tight ends.
A big catch and run by Christian McCaffrey puts the Niners in field goal range at the K.C. 24.
Holding penalty extends Niners drive
The Niners’ drive will continue after a holding call on third down.
The player held? Jauan Jennings, who is having a huge game.
Jauan Jennings wasn’t the hero San Francisco expected, but he’s the one keeping the Niners alive.
The 49ers WR has thrown for a TD, caught a scoring pass and drew a defensive holding that prevented a San Francisco punt in OT.
Yes, you take the ball in OT
In case there was any doubt, of course San Francisco wanted possession of the ball first after winning the coin flip.
It becomes a sudden death game if it’s still tied after each team has had one possession; thus you want that extra time with the ball.
Overtime: How it works
The NFL has its own set of postseason overtime rules, and they were changed recently. NBC Sports breaks down how it will work.
After a coin toss to determine who takes possession of the ball, each team will get a chance to score. Then, OT turns to sudden death. The next score wins.
During the regular season, at the end of a 10-minute overtime period, if the game is still tied, the game is marked as a tie.
But that can’t happen in the postseason — and definitely not at the Super Bowl.
A tie score at the end of the first overtime period launches a second 15-minute overtime, then a third and so on, until one team comes out on top.
The Niners win the toss and they’ll take the ball to start.
Heading into OT, San Francisco is favored by 2.5 points. The Game Total is now 43.5.
Huge second half for Kelce
After a slow first half, Kelce suddenly has eight catches on 86 yards.
His 22-yard grab on third-and-7 from the San Francisco 33 set up the tying field goal.
We’re headed to overtime! Chiefs field goal saves Kanas City.
This is the Super Bowl of kickers, as the Chiefs score yet another field goal to tie the game 19-19 and almost certainly send the game into overtime.
The last (and only) overtime Super Bowl — SB 51, New England 34, Atlanta 28, Feb. 2, 2017.
They’ve changed the OT rules since that Super Bowl so that each team gets an opportunity to possess the ball
Big players make big plays.
A huge catch by Kelce, and he’s knocked out of bounds at the 11-yard line.
The 22-yard catch means the Chiefs have time for a shot at the end zone — maybe two.
Chiefs still have one timeout.
The Chiefs wasted no time getting to the Niners’ side of the field.
An incomplete pass stops the clock with the ball at the San Francisco 43-yard line.
That’s a long kick, but withing Harrison Butker’s range …
Big first down as Mahomes finds the veteran running back Jerick McKinnon for a first down.
Chiefs take a time out — they have one more remaining — with 40 seconds left.
Mahomes looks like the most calm person in the stadium…
Moody! 49ers take the lead
A monster kick by Jake Moody puts the Niners back on top.
Moody drills a 53-yard field goal to take the lead 19-16 with less than two minutes left, potentially winning the game if the defense can hold off Patrick Mahomes.
Moody came into this game as a question mark for the Niners after some big misses.
Two field goals from 50+ yards is pretty incredible. What a night for him.
Budweiser keeps it ‘old school’ in ad
The beer brand brought back its signature Clydesdale horses-and-dog combo to save a bar from a Budweiser shortage during a winter storm.
It’s the two-minute warning, and it’s a tie game
Here
we
go.
San Francisco is now favored by 2.5 points and the total sits at 35.5 points at DraftKings.
Football basics: The clock
Among the most common questions asked by non-football fans is: Why does the clock run sometimes and stop other times? There are almost too many nuances and exceptions to clock rules to go over all of them, but keep these general points in mind:
The clock will always stop on a score, change of possession or incomplete pass.
The clock will always stop when there is no play at or under 2 minutes left in the second and fourth quarters. It’s the most ominously titled basic rule of pro football: the 2-minute warning (said in George Carlin’s voice)!
Each team gets three timeouts per half, and these could be valuable tools in strategically stopping the clock.
Inside the final 2 minutes of the first half and the final 5 minutes of the second half, the clock will almost always stop when the player runs out of bounds. There’s just one rare exception to this out-of-bounds clock stoppage, and that’s if a runner isn’t going forward — as Dallas Cowboys fans sadly found out with 28 seconds left in their playoff loss to San Francisco last year.
If the offense wants to keep time rolling, its best play will be run the football while staying inbounds.
This is particularly important right now. With less than five minutes, both teams will be trying to manipulate the clock to maximize their chances of winning.
The Niners will hope they can hang on to the ball til the very end of the game. The Chiefs want to get a stop with enough time to get into field goal range.
It’s a tie game after a Chiefs field goal
The Chiefs have equalized the game with a field goal after a failed drive to the end zone.
The score is tied 16-16.
Here comes Travis Kelce
Kelce has had a quiet game, but he’s coming alive.
Two big catches on this drive — one for 16 yards, another on third down for 13 yards — have the Chiefs moving.
A 25-yard pass to its other tight end, Justin Watson, has Kansas City at the San Francisco 21-yard line.
Touchdown! The 49ers take back the lead
The 49ers scored a touchdown to take back the lead after converting a risky fourth down.
But the difference in the game is only a field goal after the Chiefs blocked the extra point.
Special teams will be a huge part of the story if KC wins this… the muffed punt, the long field goal and now the blocked extra point
Jennings maybe puts himself into the MVP race with a TD catch to go with his TD pass?
Following his TD Pass in the 1st Half, DraftKings was offering 49ers WR Jauan Jennings at 350/1 odds to be the game’s MVP. That prop is no longer offered this late in the game. Does he have a shot at it?
A gutsy fourth-down call pays off for Niners
On fourth down and 3 yards to go, the Niners go for it — and get four yards from George Kittle.
That’s the tight end’s first catch — and it’s a huge one.
Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano is now the third player on the 49ers to be hurt on the field, but the cause is unclear, forcing the team to take a brief injury timeout.
He was able to get up and walk to the tent, but the team already has one player out. While Deebo Samuel is still in the game, he appeared to hurt his hamstring and is only just coming back from a shoulder injury.
HBCUs join Usher during halftime
One moment from Usher’s halftime performance that a lot of people are talking about is when he had two members of Kappa Alpha Psi, the second-oldest historically Black fraternity in the world, join him on stage.
You can see them in this clip as they “stroll” with canes and shimmy alongside the pop star. As HBCUs and HBCU culture have gained more mainstream notice and exposure since Beyoncé’s Coachella 2018 performance, this was another clear nod to the commercial growth for a lot of people, particularly Black Twitter/X.
This game has intense Super Bowl 5 vibes — just two touchdowns, lots of turnovers and other mistakes, and it’s likely to come down to a field goal at the gun.
On Jan. 17, 1971, the Colts beat the Cowboys 16-13 on a 32-yard field goal by Jim O’Brien with 5 seconds left in a game scarred by 11 (!) turnovers.
A much-needed first down for the Niners as third quarter ends
Trailing for the first time, the Niners’ offense is starting to move the ball.
It just got its first first down of the half and added another. It’s now on Kansas City’s side of the field.
That’s it for the third quarter.
Touchdown, Chiefs!
The Chiefs finally lead the game after recovering a fumble and scoring immediately.
One play after the Chiefs collected the muffed punt, Mahomes finds a wide-open Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 16-yard strike.
It’s Chiefs 13, Niners 10.
To their credit, the Chiefs kept hanging around and hanging around before catching a break and cashing in.
Eighteen points is the largest halftime deficit a team has overcome in a Super Bowl. The Atlanta Falcons were up 21-3 over the New England Patriots in 2017 and ended up losing 34-28.
If Kansas City ends up winning this game it would be tied for the third-largest Super Bowl halftime deficit a team has faced and erased.
Muffed punt!
A stroke of terrible luck for the Niners. The Kansas City punt hits the foot of one of the Chiefs’ players, making it a live ball.
The Chiefs jump on it and take over at the Niners’ 16-yard line.
Chiefs defense stepping up
The Niners’ defense has been great, but the Chiefs’ defense is keeping this close.
With another stop, Kansas City has stopped the Niners on three-straight possessions and given up -2 yards — that’s negative two yards.
Deebo back
Good news for the Niners: Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel is back on the field after a brief injury check.
Travis Kelce gets into it with head coach Andy Reid
The Chiefs tight end appeared to get into head coach Andy Reid’s face earlier in the game as frustration ran high.
Commentators remarked when it happened in the second quarter that it appeared Kelce was yelling at Reid to keep him in the game after the Chiefs’ offense struggled.
Reid was watching the field when Kelce approached and grabbed his arm, seemingly startled as the tight end’s emotions got the best of him.
Another long FB makes it Niners 10-6 Chiefs
That new record for longest Super Bowl field goal didn’t last long.
Harrison Butker drilled one from 57 yards to bring the Chiefs three points closer.
In the second quarter, Jake Moody hit a 55-yarder, which was then a record.
The game has a quick pause for a streaker, who was not shown on TV.
Chiefs manage first first down of the second half
In a tough defensive game, the Chiefs managed to pick up the first first down of the second half with a catch by Travis Kelce.
There were an interception and three punts in the third quarter before Kelce managed that first down.
And now the Chiefs are rolling. A big scramble by Mahomes for 22 yards.
Chiefs are in Niners territory.
Deebo goes down
Niners star wide receiver Deebo Samuel went down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury on the field.
It’s not clear how severe it was, as the Niners just punted. We’ll keep an eye on whether he returns to the game.
Bud Light leans into comedy, nostalgia in Super Bowl ad
Bud Light is returning to its roots with a new Super Bowl ad that features cameos from former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and rapper Post Malone.
The new ad comes almost a year after the brand attracted controversy with its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Anheuser-Busch, the brand’s parent company, received widespread backlash from conservatives last year after it partnered with the creator, who has 10.2 million followers on TikTok and 1.7 million followers on Instagram.
Conservatives, including celebrities like Kid Rock, began posting viral videos of themselves trashing Bud Light cans, pouring them down the sink and even shooting them.
U.S. CEO Brendan Whitworth said at the time that the company “never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.” Mulvaney later said the company did not support her through the backlash.
Sunday’s Bud Light 60-second ad cost an estimated $14 million, NBC News’ Brian Cheung reported. It features a “beer genie” granting wishes to a group of friends. The setting changes from a garage hangout to a dive bar to a house party, all locations that typically stock Bud Light.
Both teams’ elite tight ends are having quiet nights.
Kelce now has two catches for 10 yards. George Kittle is yet to record a catch and has only one target.
Beyoncé announces new album after Super Bowl ad debut
If anyone can break 5G, it’s Beyoncé.
After trying on many hats — as BarbBey, an astronaut and first Beyoncé of the United States — she couldn’t quite do it. But she can break the internet with the prospect of new tunes.
“OK, they ready, drop the new music!” Beyoncé said in the ad.
NBC News has reached out to her spokesperson for an update on whether there is new music on the horizon.
Is Taylor Swift’s lucky number enough to save the Chiefs tonight?
One thing both sports fans and Swifties are solidly in agreement on is the power of superstition, and Taylor Swift fans believe very strongly in what they call Tayvoodoo.
Tonight’s game aligns with Swift’s favorite number in myriad ways, and truthfully the Chiefs could use some luck going into the second half.
First of all, this will be the 13th game Swift has attended to support Kelce since the season began. Second, the game is being played on Feb. 11, and 2+11=13. And finally, this is Super Bowl 58, and 5+8 also equals 13.
Some even estimated before the game that Swift’s travel from Tokyo to Las Vegas could take roughly 13 hours. Not to mention that exactly a week ago, she won her 13th Grammy Award.
Seems like the universe is calling, but it’s up to the Chiefs to answer.
It’s kind of funny that Niners quarterback Brock Purdy’s number is 13 too..
A ‘Friends’ reunion during the Super Bowl
In this UberEats ad universe, Ross and Rachel weren’t on a break.
In fact, Rachel might not have even known Ross, as Jennifer Aniston “forgets” she ever worked with David Schwimmer in this mini “Friends” reunion.
Throughout the spot, a host of A-list celebs — including David and Victoria Beckham, Usher and Jelly Roll — each appear to forget something in order to remember all that UberEats has to offer.
“Have we met?” Aniston asks Schwimmer after he excitedly approaches her. Later, she asks him to “give me a hint.”
Clearly annoyed, Schwimmer responds that they “worked together for 10 years.”
“Ten years?!” Aniston replies. “You were great.”
Schwimmer then says, “You still don’t know, don’t you?” Aniston says he’s right.
Walking away with her bag of UberEats goodness, Aniston quips, “Like I’d forget 10 years of my life.”
Schwimmer, watching her walk away, says, “I hate this town.”
The ad also initially included a version of forgetfulness in which a man, eating peanut butter and covered in hives, forgets his allergy.
After the commercial first premiered, UberEats faced backlash from people who felt it was making light of a potentially lethal allergy. The moment was cut by the time the ad aired during the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are stopped just short of a first down and punt the ball away.
The Niners will start this drive with decent field position at their own 35-yard line.
Shaq gets his dream photo with Taylor Swift
Shaquille O’Neal posted a photo of himself with Taylor Swift at the game to his Instagram account tonight.
The basketball legend said yesterday he was just excited for the chance to meet her.
“She’s a fabulous person. I’m happy for her. I’m proud of her,” he said in an interview. “She’s done a lot. She’s definitely a cultural icon. I just want to shake the hand of greatness.”
Mahomes intercepted!
And it goes from bad to worse for the Chiefs.
On third down, Mahomes throws his first interception of the game. Niners safety Ji’Ayir Brown jumps a deep pass and is tackled by Travis Kelce at the 44-yard-line of Kansas City.
Well, Kelce now has as many tackles as he does receiving yards.
And the Chiefs defense comes up big.
They hold the Niners to a 1-yard loss on three downs.
A great punt pins the Chiefs at their own 2-yard line.
Second half is under way
The Chiefs have the ball, and they’re already off to a rough start.
The first play from scrimmage is a loss of 12 yards on a busted play to running back Isiah Pacheco.
Niners need to get running game in gear
If San Francisco is going to win, its powerful rushing attack, which registered a robust 4.8 yards per carry this season, will have to play a bigger role after halftime.
So far, the 49ers have just 49 yards on 14 carries (3.5 yards per carry).
San Francisco famously went away from running in the 2020 Super Bowl, triggering a huge K.C. rally. With about 5 minutes left in the previous Niners-Chiefs Super Bowl, San Francisco faced second-and-5 from its own 25 and threw consecutive incomplete passes.
That led to two Chiefs TDs, stunning San Francisco, 31-20.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, need to get Kelce going: 1 catch for 1 yard isn’t going to cut it.
Data point: The team leading at halftime has gone on to win the Super Bowl 77% of the time — in the 53 contests that weren’t tied at halftime, the leading team won 41 times.
No ‘Bieber Fever’ tonight
Justin Bieber was trending on X throughout the halftime show amid speculation that Usher might bring the pop sensation out as a guest.
The pair collaborated on a remix of “Somebody to Love,” but Bieber did not make an appearance, upsetting some Beliebers.
Usher concludes halftime performance with an ode to Atlanta
The performance was full of hits and paid tribute to Atlanta, where he started his career.
That halftime reinforces my belief that the Super Bowl halftime show is just too big for any single artist to really kill it solo. That show, plus the 90’s rap throwback from a few years ago with Dre, Snoop, etc — are head and shoulders better than the last solo efforts — Rihanna & Weeknd ::gets off soap box::
Heck ‘Yeah!’ — Lil Jon and Ludacris are here
After a cameo from will.i.am. for a rendition of “OMG,” Lil Jon came out to perform “Turn Down for What.”
Lil Jon then joined Usher for a performance of “Yeah!” Ludacris followed shortly after to rap his verse on the song.
Lil Jon brought the bangers with him, showing up on the field to give us a snippet of hit “Turn Down For What.”
Definitely the moment I was dancing along the most. While still editing the live blog, of course.
Is Usher giving Michael Jackson?
The intense dance routine, the singular gloved hand … I think Usher might be paying a bit of tribute to the King of Pop at Allegiant Stadium.
Usher’s shirt comes off (momentarily)
As expected, Usher shed his top — a classic move during his shows.
He also brought out H.E.R., who recently collaborated with him on his new album, “Coming Home.”
Watch this: Usher’s ‘Confessions Part II’ gets the crowd going
Fans put their hands in the air as Usher performed one of his biggest hits. The star then launched into a rapid-fire medley of hits like “Nice & Slow,” “Burn ” and “U Got It Bad.”
Alicia Keys joins Usher onstage
Keys and Usher performed their collaboration “My Boo.”
She had previously been reported to join Usher onstage. But it delighted the audience and viewers at home nonetheless.
We’re ‘Caught Up’ in Usher’s halftime performance
Usher is bringing his biggest hits to the show. He started off with classics “Caught Up” and “U Don’t Have to Call.”
Showgirls and performers on stilts are really bringing the Vegas showmanship.
Usher kicks off halftime show
The R&B star’s halftime show has begun. The expected runtime is 15 minutes, a bit longer than usual.
Very Vegas-y aesthetic so far.
Super Bowl throwback: In 2020, the teams were tied at halftime
Taking a quick look at the last Chiefs-vs.-49ers Super Bowl game, the two teams were actually tied 10-10 at halftime.
Similar to tonight, the 49ers were first to get on the scoreboard with a field goal last time. But the Chiefs scored a touchdown in the first quarter.
The second quarter of Super Bowl 54 basically was basically flipped. The Niners scored a touchdown and the Chiefs equalized the game with their own field goal.
Seven points is the most common halftime margin in Super Bowl history, with seven games (including this one) counting that difference. The average halftime margin? About 10, and 25 points (Super Bowl 22, Washington vs. Denver) was the largest halftime lead in the event.
And this is why you defer after winning coin flip
While the Niners have dominated the first half, Kansas City nicely manipulated the clock before kicking a field goal and leaving San Francisco with virtually no time.
Now the Chiefs can wipe out the whole first half of disappointment if they can score a touchdown on the second half’s first possession.
The Niners have more first downs (12-7), yards (189-157) and time of possession (17:07 to 12:53).
At halftime, the 49ers are now favored by 4.5 points over the Chiefs, and the expected point total (also commonly called the over-under) has shrunk to 36.5 points at DraftKings.
Halftime
And that’s the half. Low-scoring, but pretty intriguing.
Here comes Usher …
Worth noting how tensions are clearly very high between both teams — there’s been several small scuffles on the field already.
This isn’t necessarily surprising for the 49ers. Their game against the Eagles earlier this year was extremely charged, including a pre-game incident with a Philly player and a midgame shoving match.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign ad airs during commercial break
An advertisement for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential bid aired during the most recent commercial break. But it wasn’t your typical campaign promo. The ad re-used the jingle and visuals from John F. Kennedy’s presidential run in 1960.
RFK Jr.’s candidacy is widely considered a long shot, and his controversial views — including vehement opposition to Covid vaccines — have earned him a lot of scrutiny in the last year.
Click here to read more
Field goal for the Chiefs!
Harrison Butker knocks through a 28-yard field goal. The Chiefs have finally gotten on the scoreboard, but have failed to score a touchdown in the first half.
The game is 10-3 to the Niners.
Swift a draw during timeouts
During timeouts the crowd is obsessed with locating where Taylor Swift is sitting, with people scanning the boxes with their phones.
These fans were thrilled to finally find her.
This is a huge drive right here.
The Chiefs are deep in San Francisco territory now, with the ball at the 14-yard line. The Chiefs take a time out with 1:09 left in the half.
The Chiefs will get the ball to start the second half as well.
Kelce has been quiet so far: 1 catch for 1 yard.
Rashee Rice, who just took two handoffs, following a completion, was a lightly-recruited three-star wide receiver coming out of high school, but excelled at Southern Methodist University, where he led the FBS in receiving yards per game his senior season.
As a rookie he has quickly established himself as Mahomes’ most-trusted wide receiver. The Chiefs need him now for a spark.
Blue Ivy Carter spotted at the game with her dad
Our predictions: Who will Usher bring out to perform with him?
Judging by the halftime show teaser, Usher will most likely bring out Lil Jon and Ludacris to perform “Yeah!”
I am also delusional enough to believe that he will bring out Justin Bieber because a girl can dream. Bieber was spotted in Las Vegas ahead of the game.
And if Taraji P. Henson’s cameo in the ad is any indication, we’ll see Usher serenade a celebrity, which he did to Henson and others at his Las Vegas residency. Maybe it’ll be Taylor Swift, but he could also bring in Keke Palmer to recreate that viral moment.
TikTok creator Jasmine Jennings went viral last year for predicting the opening of Rhianna’s halftime show performance. She is back this year with another prediction for Usher’s set.
“Use your imagination with me,” Jennings said in her video. “Lights are off, lights go on as Usher is catapulted from the stage.”
Her guess for Usher’s first song is “Yeah!” — a 2004 hit featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris that topped the “Billboard” Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks.
We’ll be on the lookout as halftime approaches to see if Jennings is right for the second year in a row.
Dunkin’ taps New England icons
Ben Affleck enlisted his bestie Matt Damon and former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to join his Dunkin’-themed boy band “The DunKings.”
“How do you like them donuts? I’m so sorry,” Damon said.
Affleck’s wife, global superstar and former halftime performer Jennifer Lopez, was not impressed.
Yet another thing that makes the Super Bowl different from other games: the length of halftime.
The halftime break for a regular NFL game is 15 minutes. For the Super Bowl, they stretch that to about 30 minutes — giving more time for the show and for teams to make adjustments.
Football basics: The two-minute offense
In these final 2 minutes of play, there will be two kinds of plays that’ll be greatly beneficial to the Chiefs.
Of course, they’ll want plays of 10 yards or more to win a fresh set of four downs. But the second-best outcome here would be incomplete passes, because time is the Chiefs’ biggest enemy right now.
Other than forcing a turnover, the most devastating play a Niners defender could make would be to sack Mahomes. It would be a loss of yards, and worse, the clock would bleed without a timeout.
TOUCHDOWN Niners!
The 49ers score, giving us our first touchdown of the game.
A trick play from Jauan Jennings gave running back Christian McCaffrey the chance to make up for that first-quarter fumble. Jennings got the ball on a backwards pass and shot the ball over to McCaffrey, who took off into the end zone to give spectators a very fun moment.
San Francisco now leads 10-0.
So let me get this straight: In a Super Bowl with multi-time winner Mahomes and MVP finalist Purdy … the game’s first TD pass is by Jauan Jennings?!
There have now been 11 pass attempts by a non-QB in Super Bowls. Seven have connected for a TD.
Jauan Jennings was an elite high school quarterback before committing to Tennessee.
Looking for a late arrival to the MVP conversation? Jauan Jennings is still listed as a longshot at +35000 after that TD pass for the Niners.
Before tonight, 13 teams in the Super Bowl have been shut out at halftime. All went on to lose.
Temu debuts Super Bowl ads
The Chinese e-commerce platform has aired not one, but two commercials during the big game. Viewers have noticed Temu’s efforts — primarily because Super Bowl ads are notoriously pricey.
CNBC previously reported that Temu is looking to grow in the U.S. The marketplace planned $10 million in giveaways during the game.
Can director Martin Scorsese condense his genius into a 30-second ad?
Apparently the award-winning director did so for Squarespace.
The ad shows civilians — including Scorsese — who are too distracted by their phones and social media to notice an impending alien invasion. The aliens communicate their arrival by sending everyone their Squarespace site with the message “Hello Down There.”
Squarespace previously teased the collaboration by posting a video of Scorsese and his daughter Francesca — TikTok’s favorite father-daughter duo — conceptualizing the ad.
Taylor draws boos and cheers with a chug
The Niners-heavy crowd here at Allegiant Stadium just heartily booed Taylor Swift when she was shown on the scoreboard.
Swift took a hefty chug of her drink while on screen — which drew some cheers.
Swift fans exchange friendship bracelets
Taylor Swift fans at the stadium are handing out friendship bracelets — just like they did during her ongoing Eras Tour. I scored three, featuring “Mahomes,” “Chiefs” and her reputation album hit “End Game.”
Greenlaw is out
The 49ers’ Dre Greenlaw is out of the game (for now) after slipping and appearing to injure himself while jogging back onto the field after a commercial break.
After Greenlaw was carted off the field, an NFL commentator said it was an Achilles injury.
During this most recent timeout, the scoreboard showed Super Bowl watch parties in Mexico, Brazil and Australia.
The NFL will have a game in Brazil this year that will include the Philadelphia Eagles and another team yet to be named.
Taylor Swift is wearing a custom pendant with Travis Kelce’s jersey number on it
Swift, who arrived at the game wearing a black tank top and a red jacket, is also wearing a gold diamond pendant featuring an “87” designed by Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry.
“Yes, we made the necklace. Yes, I’m freaking out,” Gottlieb posted to her Instagram story.
Read more in Today.com’s live blog.
The Chiefs’ D is able to stop the Niners after that turnover.
Another huge punt is briefly fumbled, but Chiefs returner Richie James is able to corral it.
An available bet that seemed like a far greater longshot prior to kickoff was “No Touchdown for the Game.” It was available at 160/1 odds.
Mahomes bomb! And then a fumble!
Patrick Mahomes just completed a 53-yard pass, just for the Chiefs to lose the ball on the next play.
Mecole Hardman caught the pass at the 10-yard line in a spectacular play — and what looked like a turnaround for the struggling Chiefs. But devastation was just around the corner.
Isiah Pacheco lost the ball after being hit by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, turning possession over.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is ‘Agent State Farm’ in new ad
Like a good neighbor, Arnold Schwarzenegger is there.
The action star and former California governor took on a new role in State Farm’s Super Bowl ad. He’s saving puppies from burning buildings like any good hero would. His one Achilles heel? He can’t seem to get State Farm’s signature catchphrase right.
Luckily, he got an assist from Danny DeVito, who reminded folks that State Farm is there like a good neighbor — not neighbah.
Lana Del Rey spotted in the stands below Swift’s box
One of Taylor Swift’s besties, Lana Del Rey, also appears to be at the game.
Though she is not in a box with Swift, it appears her spot in the stands is directly below her “Snow on the Beach” collaborator.
The singer appears to be sporting a 49ers jacket.
San Francisco starts the scoring with a field goal
Kicker Jake Moody nailed a 55-yard field goal to give the Niners a 3-0 lead.
That’s a big kick for Moody, who had been struggling lately. He had hit only three of his last five kicks.
And it’s a Super Bowl record for longest field goal.
We move into the second quarter scoreless, as neither the Chiefs nor the 49ers managed to score any points.
While the 49ers have at least managed to run the ball, the Chiefs’ two offensive drives were brief. It’s been a strong defense from San Francisco so far, but its offense has made a series of painful mistakes that have hurt its chance of scoring.
The announcers just noted this is the first scoreless first quarter of a Super Bowl since the Patriots and the Rams in February 2019.
NBC Sports’ fantasy and betting analyst, Lawrence Jackson, earlier today predicted the Chiefs would win in a rout. His response to the early minutes of the game? “The score still 0-0 but the Niners can move the ball right now and the Chiefs can’t. That’s telling. Yikes!”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024 was introduced during that timeout — and the biggest cheer came for beloved 49ers great Patrick Willis.
Willis gave the Niners-heavy crowd an appreciative wave.
None of these Super Bowl ads are really popping so far
We’re almost at the close of the first quarter, and even more shocking than Christian McCaffrey’s first-drive fumble is the fact that none of the highly anticipated Super Bowl ads have excited the NBC News live-blogging team (save for the “Wicked” trailer).
Hoping to get some more between-play entertainment as the night continues!
It may not have been the ad with the most bang but I really enjoyed watching a different kind of football star, Lionel Messi.
Meanwhile on Nickelodeon…
Everyone’s favorite “Spongebob Squarepants” characters are helping with commentary.
When asked if he’s ever heard of the state of Iowa, Spongebob replied that it “sounds exotic.”
Four possessions, no points
Even though both the Chiefs and the Niners have had the ball twice already, neither team has put any points on the board in the first quarter so far.
The 49ers have made a series of errors, while the Chiefs have struggled to make inroads with the Niners’ defense.
A huge punt swings the field around.
Niners punter Tommy Townsend kicks it 62 yards, with no return.
The game has already swung considerably in the sports betting market.
Halfway through the first quarter, the Chiefs are now favored by 1.5 points, and the total number of expected points has shrunk to 41.5 at DraftKings.
Paramount+ watchers report app crashing
Several X users took to the platform to share their streaming troubles during the Super Bowl.
Some replied to the service’s X post about the Super Bowl seeking assistance.
This NBC News reporter has also had the app crash a few times since kickoff.
We’ve reached out to Paramount+ for comment.
The 49ers’ offense is off to a rocky start with offensive lineman Trent Williams earning two back-to-back flags, the first for a false start and then another for holding.
Williams is a strong player, but even the smallest mistakes can make or break a Super Bowl.
Dynamic QBs will have to play a little safe
There’s nothing worse Purdy or Mahomes could do today than to give the ball away.
In three games when Purdy threw one pick, the Niners went 2-1 this regular season. He threw two picks in two games, both losses. And his four-interception Christmas nightmare led to a humbling blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
In eight Mahomes games when he threw exactly one pick, the Chiefs were 3-5. There were four games when Mahomes threw two interceptions, and remarkably, the Chiefs were still 2-2 in those games.
Lots of Niners fans singing along as the PA system plays Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Journey played at the halftime of the NFC championship, when the Niners were down big to the Detroit Lions — a set list that included the band’s famous anthem about keeping the faith.
‘Deadpool’ and ‘Wicked’ previews drop
Two eagerly anticipated movies got their first looks during the early commercial breaks: the third entry in the “Deadpool” franchise and Jon M. Chu’s big-budget adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked.”
The third “Deadpool” debuts in the U.S. on July 23, while the big-screen “Wicked” — the first of two planned chapters — arrives Nov. 27. (“Wicked” will be released by Universal Pictures, a unit of NBC News’ parent company, NBCUniversal.)
A big stop by the Niners after that fumble.
The Chiefs go three and out, failing to log a first down. Here comes the punt team.
FUMBLE!
The 49ers fumbled the ball just a few minutes into the game, losing their offensive start and giving the Chiefs the ball already.
The 49ers had logged three first downs in four plays before running back Christian McCaffrey was stripped by the Chiefs defense just shy of the 25 yard line.
And we’re under way. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker puts it through the back of the end zone.
Gronk misses his chance at redemption.
FanDuel ambassador Rob Gronkowski missed his Kick of Destiny. Again.
The sportsbook promo promised $200 in bonus funds to every bettor who put $5 on Gronkowski if he had made the kick.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid doesn’t lose much when he’s gotten an extra week to prepare.
In the playoffs during the Mahomes era, Reid is 6-1 off of a bye or an extra week of rest. The only person to beat him? Tom Brady.
All due respect to Brock Purdy … he ain’t Tom Brady.
Football basics: The coin flip and the deferral
The Chiefs have one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in football, Patrick Mahomes, but there’s a reason his team didn’t want to go on offense after winning the coin flip.
In a relatively new football trend, teams have opted to “defer” their chances to receive the kickoff and go on offense first, instead opting to kick to the opponent and play defense to start.
The hope is to have possession at the end of the second quarter and manipulate the clock so that the other side doesn’t get much or any time with the ball late in the half. If the Chiefs get lucky and play it right, they could get back-to-back end-of-half possessions — and potential consecutive scores — without the Niners ever touching the ball.
And the coin toss goes to …
Baby, let the games begin!
The 49ers lost the coin toss, giving the Chiefs the option to get the ball to start the game or start the second half. The Chiefs chose to defer, giving them the ball at the start of the second half.
Last year the Chiefs also won the coin toss against the Eagles and chose to defer, putting the Eagles on offense for the start of the game.
Lahainaluna High School football players tapped as honorary captains
Six months after wildfires in Maui devastated the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, the NFL announced that players and coaches from a local high school will serve as honorary coin toss captains at the Super Bowl.
Lahainaluna High players Morgan “Bula” Montgomery, Teva Loft, Kaulana Tihada and Kuola Watson will be on the field for the coin toss. Coaches Dean Rickard, Garret Tihada, Jon Conrad and Bobby Watson will join them.
“The school would like to thank the NFL and its partners for this unimaginable opportunity and their continued support for Lahaina,” Lahainaluna High School principal Richard Carosso said in a news release. “We are very excited for our coaches and players to be a part of the Super Bowl and are proud of how well they represent the values and spirit of their team, the school, and the Lahaina community.”
The NFL said it has been helping to replace football equipment for the high school, Lahaina Intermediate School and the nonprofit youth club team Lahaina Chiefs Pop Warner.
Reba McEntire gave a bombastic performance of the national anthem accentuated with pyrotechnics and planes flying above. “Coda” star Daniel Durant also performed the anthem in ASL.
Reba’s anthem was short and sweet. According to CBS’ Jonathan Jones, she sang the song in 1 minute and 34 seconds.
Synergy alert! Keep your eyes peeled for these movie trailers
Don’t be surprised if you see trailers for movies from Paramount Pictures, CBS’ corporate cousin.
“A Quiet Place: Day One,” the third installment in the horror franchise, was the first to appear during commercial breaks.
John Krasinski’s “IF” and “Bob Marley: One Love” are also likely to debut.
All three movies are scheduled to roll out in theaters in the first half of the year.
It’s not clear whether any of the other big Hollywood studios booked ad time this year. I’m curious whether Disney plans to advertise the fact that it has exclusive streaming rights on “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”
The rapper busted out an acoustic guitar for his rendition of the classic song. Taylor Swift and Blake Lively were seen swaying along to Malone’s performance.
The teams are introduced and we’re getting closer …
The Chiefs were loudly booed as they took field … this feels like a Niners home crowd.
Andra Day kicks off preshow
Andra Day graced Super Bowl viewers with a beautiful, soulful rendition of “Lift Every Voice And Sing” to start the game.
If that’s any indication of tonight’s performances, we’re in for a great show.
Some American Indians protest Chiefs outside stadium
A stone’s throw from Allegiant Stadium, surrounded by fans streaming in for the big game, a group of about 20 American Indians protested what they called the “racist stereotypes” of the Kansas City Chiefs’ name and logo and their fans’ signature “Tomahawk chop” hand gesture.
One held a sign reading: “Taylor Swift doesn’t do the Tomahawk Chop. Be like Taylor.”
“It’s too bad, because I love sports,” said Fawn Douglas of the Las Vegas Paiute tribe.
Normally, she said, she would have been excited that the Super Bowl was in her hometown: “But how am I supposed to enjoy this?”
The group of protesters included Native people from southern Nevada, as well as several who traveled in from Kansas City and other places.
Gaylene Crouser of the Standing Rock Sioux, who lives in Kansas City and is the executive director of the Kansas City Indian Center, watched as fans walked by doing the Tomahawk chop in an apparent effort to taunt the protesters.
“It seems like blatant racism against Native Americans is the only socially acceptable form of racism these days,” she said. “It’s not just socially acceptable — they’re celebrating it.”
The campaign against Native American team names and logos has had several high-profile victories in recent years: In 2020, both the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins opted to change their names after years of pressure, and they are now known as the Guardians and the Commanders, respectively.
Among the protesters outside Allegiant Stadium was Amanda Blackhorse, a Dine (Navajo) activist from Arizona who was deeply involved in the protest campaign against the Redskins. She said that the Chiefs’ ownership knows their team name is offensive — hence their decision to ban headdresses from their stadium in Kansas City — and that it’s only a matter of time before they follow in the footsteps of their Washington counterparts.
“These guys are next,” she said. “They know they are.”
Las Vegas has invested billions into sports. Will it pay off?
Once known mainly for gambling and debauchery, Las Vegas has catapulted itself to the world of professional sports in recent years. Now it’s hosting Super Bowl 58.
Allegiant Stadium, where the Super Bowl will be played, has spurred change. The $2 billion venue was built for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and opened in 2020. Its capacity is of 65,000 people. That has allowed the city to host events of major magnitude, such as sold-out Beyoncé and Taylor Swift concerts in 2023 and now the biggest U.S. sporting event of the year.
“We’re not really concerned about our supply of fun being more than the United States or the world can handle,” Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill said in August. “We’re going to keep adding to that, and we’re confident that people around the globe are going to continue to come.”
Allegiant Stadium brought 1.52 million incremental visitors to the area, according to the 2023 impact report by the Las Vegas Raiders, with 88% of those visitors saying it was “the primary reason for their visit.”
Read the full story here.
Gayle King, Gwen Stefani and Kelly Clarkson are wearing silver, red and purple puffer vests designed by Kristin Juszczyk, who is married to San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Juszczyk’s designs went viral in January after she made Taylor Swift a custom jacket featuring No. 87, Travis Kelce’s jersey number. She has since landed a licensing deal with the NFL.
The puffer vest seen on various celebs today is the first licensed NFL drop by Kristin Juszczyk Designs. Juszczyk and the NFL auctioned off one of the vests in a charity bidding that ended yesterday. The proceeds are going toward the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Usher has arrived!
Our halftime headliner is in the building, arriving in what appeared to be an all-black sweatsuit and a blanket draped over his shoulders.
The R&B star was all smiles in a clip posted by the NFL, offering a small wave as people cheered him on.
Carl Weathers’ final role
Actor Carl Weathers, famous for his roles in the “Rocky” movies, as well as “Predator” and a more recent turn in “The Mandalorian,” died this month at 76.
But perhaps his final role is in FanDuel ads as Rob Gronkowski’s coach, as the former NFL tight end preps to kick a field goal as part of a promotion from the gambling company. One of the ads featuring Weathers aired about an hour before the game started.
FanDuel execs consulted with Weathers’ family before deciding to keep him in the ads, Variety reported.
We’ve got about 45 minutes to kick off.
The lively hourslong scene outside Allegiant cleared out in a hurry, and the stadium is filling up. It’s already loud — like a low-level roar at almost all times.
It’s not full — but pretty full considering we still have a little while to go as the DJ plays Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas.”
Players to watch: Nick Bosa
San Francisco’s all-pro defensive lineman Nick Bosa has 15 total quarterback pressures in two playoff games this year. Two of those have gotten home for sacks.
The Chiefs’ tackle duo on the offensive line might be the easiest matchup he’s seen this postseason.
SpongeBob is performing during Nickelodeon’s Super Bowl broadcast
Usher will have some competition today — live from Bikini Bottom. Five years ago, a petition to have “Sweet Victory” from “SpongeBob Square Pants” performed at the Super Bowl in honor of the late Stephen Hillenburg — the creator of “SpongeBob SquarePants” — got over a million signatures. “You asked for it. You got it,” CBS Sports said in an announcement on X.
Fans of the iconic animated sponge will finally get the Super Bowl moment they have been waiting for — “Sweet Victory” will kick off the Nickelodeon presentation of the broadcast.
Here are the details on Taylor Swift’s Super Bowl look
Swift arrived at the stadium in a Chiefs bomber jacket from WEAR by Erin Andrews, according to Sarah Chapelle, who meticulously documents the singer’s looks on her popular fashion blog, “Taylor Swift Style.”
Chapelle has grown a following of 243,000 on Instagram, where she goes by the handle @taylorswiftstyled.
Swift paired the jacket with the Crystal Slit Jeans from AREA, Chapelle wrote in her Instagram post.
The pop star’s shirt is a Crochet Corset Top from Dion Lee, Chapelle wrote in a different post. And her bag is the Football Clutch from Judith Leiber.
49ers tight end George Kittle ready to go
Will viral Pop-Tart re-emerge from the dead?
I’m not the biggest football fan, but I simply cannot look away when a new sports mascot emerges or a moment from a game goes viral. During the first Pop-Tarts Bowl in December, in which the Kansas State Wildcats beat the North Carolina State Wolfpack, a new celebrity emerged.
Strawberry, Pop-Tarts’ oversized edible mascot, spent the entirety of the game bopping around with glee.
Until, quite literally, the world watched it descend into a toaster and get eaten alive by the winning players. As the Pop-Tart faced its death, it held a sign that read, “Dreams really do come true.”
“RIP in peace,” the game’s announcer said. “Can’t wait to eat you.”
Of course I know the Super Bowl isn’t the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but I’m still hoping the little mascot re-emerges from the dead and finds its way back onto the field or, at the very least, in a Super Bowl ad.
Chiefs will be without wide receiver Kadarius Toney
The Chiefs have declared Kadarius Toney inactive for tonight’s game.
The mercurial wide receiver has been at the center of storylines around the Chiefs all season long. After he was traded to Kansas City last season — and caught a touchdown in the Super Bowl — his sophomore campaign in western Missouri has been less than ideal.
In the Chiefs’ season opener against the Detroit Lions, Toney almost singlehandedly cost Kansas City the game with dropped pass after dropped pass. He never seemed to get going in an offense that was supposed to be one of the league’s most effective units. In a critical late-season game against Buffalo, he caught a backward lateral pass and ran into the end zone for what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown, only to have the play called back because he had lined up incorrectly. The Bills won.
Toney has been injured throughout the playoffs, and the circumstances around his injury have been controversial, with Toney claiming he was improperly designated. Head coach Andy Reid later suggested Toney could be a healthy scratch for the Super Bowl.
Player to watch: Christian McCaffrey
A focal point of today’s game: 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, arguably the most important playmaker on either team.
McCaffrey’s dad, Ed McCaffrey, played in the Super Bowl 25 years ago as his Denver Broncos were wrapping up their second straight victory in the NFL’s title game.
The coach of that Broncos team? Mike Shanahan — father of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
Kyle Shanahan and Christian McCaffrey can join their fathers as Super Bowl Champions.
A 49ers victory would make them the 9th and 10th pair in history. Most recent members of the club are Howie and Chris Long. Kyle and Mike Shanahan would be the first head coaching duo.
How to decipher sports gambling jargon
If you’re new to sports betting and all of these terms and numbers sound (Jimmy the) Greek to you, no worry. Here’s a quick lesson:
The most basic bet will be taking or giving points. The Niners are a 1.5-point favorite, so a wager on San Francisco means you’d have to win by 2 points or more to “cover the spread.” The Chiefs could win outright or come within 1 point of knocking off the Niners, which would give K.C. backers the win.
Another popular bet is the over/under, when you predict the combined number of points, which in this case is 47.5.
And in all of these wagers, a gambler has to give up a small fee for the honor, known as the vigorish, or vig. The typical vig is an $11 bet that would return a $10 profit.
A third popular bet would be the money line. Here you can root for your team without a care or a concern about the point spread.
The Niners-Chiefs money line is pretty close at -130 or +110, meaning a bet on San Francisco would require a $13 investment for a $10 profit. A bet on the underdog Chiefs means a $10 investment would bring an $11 profit.
It’s also worth noting that sports gambling’s ubiquity is causing some to raise alarms.
“This is a public health emergency happening, and we’re not talking about it yet,” Harry Levant, a gambling addition therapist whose his career as a lawyer was ruined due to gambling, recently told “60 Minutes.”
His patients are generally younger, have access to institutional money, and don’t have the risk-reward intelligence that comes at age 25 and older.
“I have patients who gamble in the shower,” Levant said. “I have patients who gamble before they get out of bed in the morning. I have patients who gamble while they are driving. There are no guardrails.”
Tiësto replaced by Kaskade as this year’s Super Bowl DJ
Tiësto, who was scheduled to be the Super Bowl’s first in-game DJ, said Thursday he will have to miss the game because of a “personal family emergency.”
Previous Super Bowls featured DJs (including DJ Khaled, D-Nice, Zedd and DJ Snake) playing at the pregame during players’ warmups. But Tiësto, a Grammy-winning DJ/producer who spends many weekends playing in Las Vegas nightclubs, was going to play “during featured breaks within the game, some of which will be televised on CBS as well as livestreamed on Tiësto’s social channels,” according to Variety.
On Thursday, hours after Tiësto pulled out of the game, Kaskade announced he has been tapped for the role.
“Las Vegas has been my second home for the past decade, as an architect of creating a landscape that includes House and Dance Music residencies as part of its destination,” Kaskade wrote on X. “To be able to be the first Electronic Musician to be part of the full game experience of the Super Bowl held in Las Vegas seems like coming home, and I’m beyond excited to represent my community.”
From ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ to the Super Bowl: Brock Purdy defied the odds
A wealth manager, a former payroll specialist and a tractor company employee were all — not long ago — rated as superior quarterbacks to San Francisco 49ers star Brock Purdy, who’ll be on pro football’s ultimate stage this weekend.
Purdy’s meteoric rise — from dead-last draft pick to MVP finalist and Super Bowl signal caller — laid bare the nearly impossible task of predicting future skill on the gridiron in evaluations that often make or break careers.
Purdy insists that his long under-the-radar path has been a blessing in disguise.
“It’s been the story of my life, being overlooked in high school. I wasn’t a high recruit,” Purdy told reporters Thursday. “All I needed was a shot and an opportunity, and coach [Matt] Campbell gave it to me at Iowa State, and sure enough life is repeating itself. I was drafted last, went to the Niners and got an opportunity.”
Read the full story here.
People are betting on whether Travis Kelce will propose to Taylor Swift
Gambling sites already have a series of “prop bets,” or side wagers unrelated to the game itself, related to pop superstar Taylor Swift and boyfriend Travis Kelce, according to Variety.
Asked at a news conference Monday whether there would be “another ring” if the Chiefs win, Kelce said, “I’m focused on getting this ring, and that’s all my mind’s focused on.”
Bettors are also putting money on Kelce’s play — 90% of bettors believe his total receiving yards will be over 71.5 yards. He has exceeded that number the last two games.
Mahomes warms up
ICYMI: A person tried to climb the Vegas Sphere (and got arrested)
Las Vegas police confirmed last Wednesday that a man was arrested after he climbed a structure on the 200 block of Sands Avenue, where the Sphere is located.
Video of the man scaling the Sphere, a massive, eye-catching entertainment center that opened in September, went viral on social media.
According to NBC affiliate KSNV, police later confirmed that “urban climber” Maison Des Champs was arrested. Des Champs is known for scaling tall buildings across the U.S. and documenting it on social media to protest abortion.
Team Ruff wins the Puppy Bowl
The 20th Puppy Bowl was a close game until the very end, but Team Ruff came out on top. It beat Team Fluff 72-69.
Meet the NFL’s newest sports journalist. He’s 11.
Sorry to all the veteran sports reporters out there, but I think Jeremiah Fennell is my new favorite journalist on the beat.
The 11-year-old was tapped by the NFL to be a correspondent at the Super Bowl, and he’s been crushing it.
“I started to do this at the age of 7 years old because I wasn’t able to play sports due to some medical issues, but I still like the sports environment,” Jeremiah told NFL Network’s Michael Robinson, a former NFL running back.
“So I decided to hone my craft in journalism at the age of 7. And I started my YouTube channel. And, yes, I do think I can keep this as a career because I do still love the sport and I do know a lot about it, so I think that interviewing people can be a long career for me.”
Already, Jeremiah has interviewed Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and 49ers stars George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Fred Warner.
Jeremiah also did a red carpet interview with another young NFL correspondent, Taylen Biggs, who was there to interview athletes about their fashion.
Taylor Swift has arrived
Taylor Swift has arrived in Las Vegas, Ian Rapoport announced on “NFL GameDay Morning,” after a highly anticipated race around the world — and against time — to make it to the Super Bowl after her performance last night in Tokyo.
The NFL’s X account shared a video of the pop star arriving with Ice Spice and Blake Lively.
Read more here.
Football jargon: An Octopus
Did you know you can bet on an Octopus in the Super Bowl?
An Octopus happens when the same player scores a touchdown as well as the subsequent two-point conversion. 98% of the betting public believes there will be an Octopus in Super Bowl LVIII.
Looking for tickets? Here’s how much they cost right now
With 2 1/2 hours left until after kickoff, tickets are getting more scarce and expensive.
Shortly after 1 p.m. PT on StubHub, the cheapest ticket was in $9,218 in the upper-deck corner behind the Chiefs sideline.
Behind the 49ers bench, the best deal appears to be in Section 414 for $9,621.
Travis Kelce arrives for game day
Travis Kelce is game day ready. According to his stylist, Danielle Vanessa Salzedo, Kelce’s outfit is custom Amiri. She posted the look to her Instagram story.
It’s giving reputation era.
Watch these excited fans gear up for the big game.
Showgirls outside the stadium? Of course, it’s Las Vegas.
If there are no showgirls, is it really a Las Vegas event?
Fans entering the southside of Allegiant Stadium were greeted by event model April Swartz in all her feathery glory.
Swartz, a Las Vegas resident, said she never envisioned pro sports, much less a Super Bowl, coming to Sin City.
“It’s been so energetic, high-energy here all week,” Swartz said.
A shift in the betting winds
The point spread for Super Bowl LVIII has shrunk from San Francisco favored by 2 points to the 49ers favored by 1.5 points. That means some sharp/influential bettors have put substantial money on the Kansas City Chiefs today.
A favorite bet for many on Super Bowl Sunday is the coin toss. 57% of the betting public has bet tails.
The spread has largely sat between -1.5 and -2.5 the past two weeks. The public seems to overwhelmingly think that Mahomes will win today, but the market remains steadfast that the Niners are a rightful favorite.
The sharps — including Jay — are all on the 49ers. But a reminder — the sharps were on the Eagles last year.
Where does Taylor Swift get all her Chiefs merch?
Since September, the pop star has been photographed cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs games while sporting red vintage team apparel. It’s prompted many online to ask where Swift gets the team swag from.
Some of her looks are one-of-a-kind finds or were custom made for her. Most of the Chiefs gear Swift has sported comes from local stores and independent fashion designers.
Among the designers? Kristin Juszczyk, the wife of 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk. She went viral in January for the No. 87 puffer jacket she created for Swift.
Read more on where the pop star has sourced some of her most memorable Chiefs game-day looks so far.
The NFL Instagram account shared a video of Kyle Juszczyk’s new jacket designed by his wife for the big game.
The jacket features the signatures of his teammates, who could become Super Bowl champions this evening.
Las Vegas chapel offering free weddings for couples named Taylor and Travis
Forget engagement rumors, one Las Vegas chapel is hoping Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tie the knot tonight — at its venue.
Chapel of the Flowers is offering a free wedding ceremony on Super Bowl Sunday to any couple with the names Taylor and Travis.
Swift and Kelce are included in that deal, if they choose to make the big day their wedding day as well.
Drake bets big on Chiefs win
Drake placed a $1.15 million wager in favor of a Kansas City Chiefs win ahead of their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years, NBC Sports reported.
“I can’t bet against the swifties,” Drake wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday, referring to fans of Taylor Swift (who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce).
The post appears to show a screenshot of his seven-figure gamble on the sports-betting site Stake.
We’re inside the stadium
It’s hours before kickoff and most Allegiant Stadium inhabitants include: workers and security guards going over their plans; a handful of absurdly early fans; and, of course, some cheesy reporters looking for pictures to mark this occasion.
It feels like the calm before the storm right now, or like strolling New York City streets before dawn, appreciating the relative peace and quiet when mayhem is around the corner.