Tag: Super Bowl

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; President Donald Trump (center) salutes alongside daughter Ivanka Trump (right) and New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson during the national anthem before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Eagles to celebrate Super Bowl win at White House

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Eagles are welcome in the White House, and Philadelphia accepted an invitation to celebrate its Super Bowl LIX win on April 28.

Two days after the completion of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Eagles are scheduled to attend a ceremony at the White House honoring the 2024 champions for their win over the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans last month.

“I know there was a lot of fake news about an invitation that wasn’t sent or was sent, we want to correct the record: we sent an invitation, they enthusiastically accepted, and you will see them here on April 28,” White House press secretary Karoline Levitt said Tuesday.

The Eagles did not attend the White House after winning Super Bowl LII in 2018. President Donald Trump, then serving his first term, called off the event after learning several prominent players planned not to attend. Only four players from the 2018 Super Bowl champion were on the roster for the 2024 season and latest Lombardi Trophy.

The 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers visited the White House in February.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; President Donald Trump talks with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Report: Eagles ‘look forward’ to White House visit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles gladly would accept the invitation to the White House traditionally extended to Super Bowl champions, multiple outlets reported.

That refutes rumors that reached a crescendo Monday that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie would decline to visit with President Donald Trump.

Front Office Sports, citing an NFL source, said the Eagles “look forward” to an invitation, which the White House confirmed to Politico had not been issued as of Monday.

Trump was at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans. He left early in the second half but was the first sitting president to attend the championship game.

The Eagles are the first team to win a championship in Trump’s second term, but he did host the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Feb. 3, nearly eight months after they won the title.

In Trump’s first term, which began in January 2017, some teams didn’t get an invitation or players declined to attend, saying they were against Trump policies and positions. That included his stand against players who chose to kneel for the national anthem.

After winning the 2018 Super Bowl, most Eagles players and coaches said they would boycott a visit to Washington, D.C. Instead, Trump pulled the invitation and gave the stage to the U.S. Marine Band and Army Chorus for a musical tribute to the nation.

–Field Level Media

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni wields the Vince Lombardi trophy during the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl celebration in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

Philly revelry: Eagles celebrate Super Bowl LIX title

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Howie Roseman strolled to the podium, Lombardi Trophy in hand, and took a big puff of a celebratory cigar.

His forehead had been cut by a can of beer thrown in his direction, but the Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager didn’t seem to mind.

“I bleed for this city!” he bellowed.

Below, a sea of fans clad in Kelly green roared back in approval, not that they had ever stopped.

Cheers and beers were aplenty throughout downtown Philadelphia on Friday as scores of Eagles fans braved the cold to celebrate their team’s second Super Bowl championship.

Philadelphia secured its latest Lombardi in dominant fashion, blasting Kansas City 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX last Sunday in New Orleans.

The party started late Thursday night, with fans sleeping in tents along the parade route to ensure they’d get an up-close look at their heroes the following day.

After beginning on Broad Street, the parade route made its way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the Eagles took the podium atop the iconic “Rocky” steps to give speeches.

Players posed for pictures with fans along the way while catching beer cans thrown from the jubilant crowd. Tight end Dallas Goedert even made a one-handed snag on a hoagie tossed his way atop one of the parade’s double-decker buses.

Star running back Saquon Barkley made a young girl’s third birthday extra special by lifting her up and holding her as giddy family members recorded the interaction. Barkley also recognized one of the team’s ball boys in the crowd and helped him over the barricade to join the parade.

Roseman wasn’t the only one to fire up the sea of fans from the podium, as Super Bowl MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts, head coach Nick Sirianni and wide receiver A.J. Brown all sent the crowd into a frenzy when they approached the mic.

“You know, I told myself that when I got drafted, that I wouldn’t come to the Rocky steps until I won a championship,” said Hurts, who accounted for 293 yards and three touchdowns in the Super Bowl win. “And now we’re here.”

Sirianni, 43, secured his first title in his fourth season as the Eagles’ coach. He did it by avenging a three-point loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII two years earlier.

“This team is special. We can’t be great without the greatness of others and that certainly applies to our fans,” Sirianni said.

Brown, who caught a 12-yard touchdown from Hurts and finished with three receptions for 43 yards against Kansas City, clapped back at the criticism he received throughout the regular season.

“They said I was a diva, they said all I care about was stats,” Brown said. “You gonna get all those things wrong about me, but one thing you get right: I’m a (expletive) champion!”

Brown, Hurts and company got off to a shaky start in 2024, losing two of their first four games ahead of their Week 5 bye.

The Eagles soon found their stride and rattled off 10 straight wins to seize control of the NFC East. They clinched the division in Week 17 and finished 14-3 to secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Never having to leave Philadelphia throughout the NFC playoffs, the Eagles took care of the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders before exacting revenge on Kansas City and former Philadelphia coach Andy Reid, storming ahead 34-0 in the third quarter against the two-time defending champions.

“I’m so happy you didn’t have to go through a nail-biter game,” veteran defensive end Brandon Graham said. “It’s about us being gritty. We’re going to stay gritty.”

Friday’s parade was not entirely joyful, though.

Area police said two women were shot in the leg during an argument that occurred near the parade route, per ESPN. It is unclear whether the shooting was related to the celebration.

Last year, one person was killed and at least 22 others were wounded in a mass shooting at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade in Kansas City, Mo.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; A general view as Fox NFL Sunday co-host Terry Bradshaw interviews Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) after winning against Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Fox projections put Super Bowl viewership at record high

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Despite the Super Bowl being a blowout, an average of 126 million U.S. viewers tuned in to see the Philadelphia Eagles thrash the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday, according to estimates Monday from Fox Sports.

The game in New Orleans was available for viewing on Fox, Telemundo, Fox Deportes, Tubi and the NFL digital’s channels.

The old record of 123.7 million was set a year ago when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime on a game shown by CBS, Nickelodeon, Univision and streaming channels.

Fox projected the peak viewership for Sunday was 135.7 million in the second quarter, from 8-8:15 p.m. ET. By halftime, the Eagles led 24-0 and the competitive portion of the game was essentially over.

Tubi, which made the broadcast available for free, drew 13.6 million viewers, part of a total of 14.5 million people estimated to have streamed the game.

The official ratings for the Super Bowl, calculated by Nielsen, are due to be announced on Tuesday.

The Super Bowl is annually the most watched U.S. telecast of the year. In fact, 19 of the top 20 most-viewed telecasts in national history are Super Bowls, the lone exception being the final episode of the sitcom “M*A*S*H,” which drew 105.9 million viewers in 1983.

Until this year’s official numbers come out, No. 1 on the list is last year’s Super Bowl, and No. 2 is the Super Bowl from February 2023, when 115 million saw the Chiefs edge the Eagles 38-35 in Glendale, Ariz.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Eagles’ Super Bowl parade scheduled for Friday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The City of Brotherly Love will celebrate their Super Bowl championship, appropriately, on Valentine’s Day.

City officials announced Monday that Philadelphia will hold a parade for the Eagles this Friday in honor of their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

“The City can confirm the Eagles’ celebration will be on Friday, February 14,” the city government’s official X account posted. “Together, with the @Eagles, we will reveal more details soon.”

Those details, including the time and parade route, were not yet public.

Philadelphia had some experience staging a Super Bowl parade eight years ago when the Eagles won their first championship in franchise history by beating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII. It was a much more lopsided affair on Sunday when the Eagles beat the Chiefs 40-22 in a rematch of Super Bowl LVII.

Eagles president Don Smolenski said during a radio interview on 94WIP that an incoming winter storm will affect the Philadelphia region Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday, and that played a role in selecting Friday.

The celebrations overnight in Philadelphia led to a number of apprehensions and arrests, with police there saying five people were apprehended for assaulting officers and another is being investigated. Four other arrests were made: two for aggravated assault, one for reckless endangerment and one for disorderly conduct.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with head coach Nick Sirianni after winning against Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Fab Five: Teams with strong chance at being Super next season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Drudgery from many outside the vocal and red-clad territory of Chiefs Kingdom sprouted over the prospect of Kansas City earning an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat this season.

Not to worry. Someone else can hoist the Lombardi Trophy, after all, as the Philadelphia Eagles proved with a 40-22 rout of the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday night.

So, can the Eagles become the first team since the 2022-23 Chiefs to repeat as world champions? We’ll know that answer come Feb. 8, 2026, when Super Bowl LX is contested in Santa Clara, Calif.

Until then, there’s no denying that the Eagles will be front-runners to make another deep playoff run next season. Here’s an early look at their prospects and those of four other hopefuls.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Dominant line play steered the Eagles past the Chiefs on Super Sunday and carried them to victory throughout the season.

The good news for Philadelphia is actually great: The defensive front that helped produce six sacks and the offensive line that kept an efficient attack churning against the Chiefs will return largely intact next season.

Newly minted Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts and his silent swagger aren’t going anywhere, either, and you’ve probably heard a thing or two about the resurgence of running back Saquon Barkley.

General manager Howie Roseman and Co. figure to prioritize re-signing guard Mekhi Becton and defensive end Josh Sweat in free agency. Personnel challenges always surface for defending champions, though, and the Eagles have young talent to slot in with their veterans.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Sure, the three-peat bid ended with a surprising yet resounding thud, but the reality that keeps the Chiefs in contention is who remains as their coach and quarterback.

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes looked befuddled through much of the Super Bowl until KC began finding paydirt in garbage time. The duo assuredly has a championship pedigree, though, helping Kansas City to three titles and five Super Bowl appearances since the 2019 season.

Still only 29, Mahomes has made a habit out of getting his supporting cast to shine. With the Chiefs having scarce cap room and a glut of impending free agents, he’ll have to follow suit once more after what looks like an uphill climb of an offseason for general manager Brett Veach and the front office.

Philadelphia exposed holes in the Chiefs’ offensive line that need to be addressed, and Kansas City also has a need for a possession wide receiver.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Yeah, he’s dynamic and talented, but can he win the big one?

A variation of that question seemingly follows Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson into every new season, so why should 2025 be different?

Jackson has at least shown a penchant for leading Baltimore to the doorstep of a breakthrough, helping the team to double-digit victories and an AFC playoff berth in six of his seven seasons. Only 28, he projects for much more success as a passer and a runner and could have a chip on his shoulder after a narrow runner-up finish in the MVP race.

The Ravens must address the left side of their offensive line in the offseason, with tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Patrick Mekari facing free agency.

Adding defensive playmakers would be helpful, too. The Ravens finished in the bottom fourth in turnovers forced this past season and have just three takeaways in their past nine playoff games.

BUFFALO BILLS

With reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen guiding the offense, the Bills surely carry the potential to create Bedlam in Buffalo (by way of Orchard Park, N.Y., of course).

Allen made league history in 2024 as the first player with at least 25 touchdown passes and 10 rushing TDs while throwing fewer than 10 interceptions. He remained a stellar leader, nearly piloting the Bills to the Super Bowl in a nail-biting AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.

Correcting its recent postseason struggles against Kansas City tops Buffalo’s would-be in-season list of objectives. Before that, though, the front office must help set the Bills up for success in an offseason in which Amari Cooper, Rasul Douglas and Damar Hamlin, among others, loom as unrestricted free agents.

DETROIT LIONS

Numerous key figures from the Lions’ recent surge will return to the fold in 2025, including quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery and pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who will be back from a serious leg injury.

Still, the matter of who won’t be back on a team still woozy over a divisional-round loss to the Washington Commanders after an NFC Championship Game appearance during the 2023 season is significant.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears) and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (New York Jets) departed for head-coaching jobs, while a handful of other coaches from Dan Campbell’s staff left to take other opportunities.

The culture of confidence that Campbell has instilled remains intact, though, and the team must also figure that injuries couldn’t be so burdensome to the organization in back-to-back seasons.

And if you’re a fan of superstition, the Super Bowl LX logo pops with several shades of Honolulu-like blue.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) talks with Fox announcer Terry Bradshaw after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

MVP Jalen Hurts, Eagles find multiple ways

Posted on | by Field Level Media

NEW ORLEANS — Jalen Hurts was comfortable sharing the spotlight from September through January.

But on the second Sunday night in February when it mattered most, the Eagles’ quarterback stepped to the forefront and earned the Most Valuable Player Award in Philadelphia’s 40-22 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX in the Caesars Superdome.

“Jalen just knows how to win,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “He does a great job of blocking out the noise. He’s special.”

Hurts denied Kansas City what would have been the first three-peat in Super Bowl history. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown, becoming the fifth player with multiple touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in a Super Bowl.

Hurts was characteristically humble in sharing the credit for the Eagles’ dominance.

“It took a total team effort,” the five-year veteran said. “The defense played the way they have all year. Defenses win championships, and you saw how they were the difference in the game. They gave us opportunities with short fields, and we made the plays we had to make in order to put points on the board.”

Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles as a free agent from the New York Giants last offseason and greatly enhanced the team’s rushing game by gaining more than 2,000 yards on the ground.

Barkley and the Eagles’ top-rated defense also excelled in three playoff games, while the passing game was inconsistent and Hurts was hobbled by a knee injury sustained in the divisional game against the Los Angeles Rams.

“We’ve been able to find multiple ways to win,” Hurts said.

On Sunday, Hurts led an efficient offense that accumulated 21 first downs and had the ball for nearly 37 minutes by making big plays that staggered the Chiefs.

On Philadelphia’s second possession, he threw completions of 20 yards to Dallas Goedert and 27 yards to Jahan Dotson, leading to Hurts’ 1-yard sneak for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

After throwing an interception with his team in field-goal range on the team’s next possession, he bounced right back by throwing a 22-yard completion to A.J. Brown to set up Jake Elliott’s 48-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.

“I try to embrace every situation,” Hurts said. “I try to turn every negative into a positive, every weakness into a strength.”

The Eagles also led the Chiefs by 10 points at halftime in the Super Bowl two years ago and wound up losing 38-35. This team kept extending the lead.

The defense chipped in a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown by rookie Cooper DeJean and a Zack Baun interception at the Kansas City 14-yard line, leading to Hurts’ 12-yard touchdown pass to Brown and a 24-0 halftime lead.

On the Eagles’ first possession of the third quarter, Hurts had scrambles for 16 yards and 14 yards and threw a 22-yard completion to Barkley, leading to Elliott’s 29-yard field goal.

Then late in the third quarter, on the first play after the Chiefs turned the ball over on downs at their 46, Hurts launched a touchdown pass to DaVonta Smith for a 34-0 lead.

From there, Hurts managed the game well enough to get two more field goals from Elliott amid Kansas City scores that never threatened the lead.

Hurts’ performance ended a series of disappointments in championship opportunities.

In the Super Bowl loss two years ago, he passed for 304 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 70 yards and three scores.

“As good as it was,” Hurts said Sunday, “it wasn’t enough to win. Sometimes you have to accept that you have to wait your turn.”

As Alabama’s quarterback, Hurts lost to Clemson in the 2016 College Football Playoff Championship Game and was benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa in the Crimson Tide’s 2017 championship victory against Georgia.

After Hurts transferred to Oklahoma, he lost to LSU in a 2019 CFP semifinal.

“It’s been an unprecedented journey,” Hurts said. “There have been ups and downs, highs and lows. But it’s been a fun ride.”

The ride may be just beginning for the 26-year-old.

“It’s always the beginning until it’s the end. And I’m a long way from the end,” he said.

–By Les East, Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) reacts on the field after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Travis Kelce sets Super Bowl catches record, but will he return to Chiefs?

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Travis Kelce set the Super Bowl record for most career receptions, but now the focus is on whether he will catch any more passes.

The longtime star tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs is no sure thing to return to the club in 2025 as retirement talk has hung in the air most of this season.

Kelce’s four receptions in the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday lifted his Super Bowl total to 35, two ahead of legendary Jerry Rice. Kelce caught four passes for 39 yards against the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Kansas City star quarterback Patrick Mahomes hopes Kelce returns for a 12th full NFL season.

“I know he still has love for the game,” Mahomes said. “He’ll get time to spend with his family and make that decision on his own. He’ll be welcomed back here with open arms.”

The Chiefs brass reportedly isn’t confident that Kelce will return.

Kelce didn’t address his future after the stunning setback, and he was far from upbeat.

“You don’t lose bad without everything going bad,” Kelce said.

Kelce ranks second in Super Bowl history with 389 receiving yards and passed Lynn Swann and Rob Gronkowski (364 apiece) on Sunday. Rice holds the record of 589 yards.

A 10-time Pro Bowl selection, Kelce had career lows of 823 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 8.5 yards per receptions this season. He did catch 97 passes, narrowly missing his fourth 100-reception season.

Kelce’s brother, Jason, retired after last season. He was a star center for the Eagles for 13 seasons.

Travis Kelce’s level of celebrity has risen during his relationship to singer Taylor Swift. But not only did the Chiefs lose badly Sunday, Swift received many more boos than cheers when she was displayed on the Jumbotron inside the Superdome.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) shakes hands with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens jockey for shortest odds for Super Bowl LX

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sportsbooks have not come to a consensus on the favorite to win Super Bowl LX next year.

After the Eagles’ dominant 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX, Philadelphia grabbed favorite status at BetMGM (+650) and DraftKings (+600).

But both the Chiefs and Eagles had the shortest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook at +650, while ESPN BET pegged the Baltimore Ravens as co-favorites with Kansas City at +650 to win it all.

A Kansas City victory on Sunday would have made the Chiefs the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. That result surely would have locked up their status as the team to beat in the 2025 season.

Instead, not only did the Chiefs lose, they were behind 40-6 late before a pair of touchdowns in garbage time. It was tracking to be one of the most one-sided Super Bowls on record before the late scores.

The Chiefs’ loss was perhaps most reflected in their odds at BetMGM. They didn’t even crack the top two, instead settling into a tie for third with the Buffalo Bills at +750, behind both Philadelphia and Baltimore (+700).

The Eagles, for their part, have been to three of the past eight Super Bowls and won two. Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts is just entering the prime of his career at age 26, and the offseason signing of star running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year contract made an immediate difference.

The Ravens have yet to win a Super Bowl in the Lamar Jackson era. Their path is made more difficult by sharing a conference with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who have won the AFC championship five of the past six years.

The Ravens, Chiefs and Bills were all tied for second on DraftKings’ board at +700 as of this writing.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Super Bowl notebook: Chiefs fall flat in bid for first three-peat

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Kansas City Chiefs were vying to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Instead, they became the ninth squad to come up short while attempting to score the elusive three-peat.

Kansas City was the only one of those teams that won consecutive Lombardi Trophies to return to the Super Bowl for a third straight time. But the Chiefs came up short with Sunday’s 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

The Chiefs trailed by as many as 34 points before narrowing the gap late in the contest.

The Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers (twice), San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots were the other organizations to win two straight Super Bowls.

Three of those teams lost in the conference championship the following season, two others fell in the divisional round and three missed the playoffs.

Prior to this season, the Patriots were the most recent team to give it a shot, beating the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2003 season and topping the Eagles a year later before losing to the Broncos in the divisional round of the 2005 campaign.

Kansas City defeated the 49ers to win it all last season, and this year’s Super Bowl was a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which the Chiefs won 38-35 over the Eagles on Feb. 12, 2023.

The Steelers’ two chances for a three-peat came when the franchise won four Super Bowls in a dominating six-season span. After winning titles following the 1974 and 1975 seasons, Pittsburgh lost to the then-Oakland Raiders in the 1976 AFC Championship Game.

The Steelers later won the 1978 and 1979 season Super Bowl crowns before missing the playoffs in 1980.

–Philadelphia’s Cooper DeJean is a rookie cornerback known for preventing touchdowns. Saquan Barkley, a seven-year veteran, ran for 2,005 yards, caught 33 passes for 278 yards and scored 15 touchdowns this season.

So among the Eagles’ players who played in Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX on their birthday, guess who found the end zone?

Midway through the second quarter, with the Eagles leading 10-0, the 22-year-old DeJean stepped in front of a pass by Patrick Mahomes near the right sideline, crossed the field and found blockers near the left sideline for a 38-yard touchdown. It was his first NFL interception and touchdown.

Barkley, 28, finished with 97 total yards from scrimmage. He rushed for 57 yards on 25 carries, and his 40 yards receiving came on six catches.

ESPN had the pair on their set for a postgame interview, where host Chris Berman awarded them with birthday cake.

–In a game nearly free from injuries, the one notable exit was that of Kansas City Chief star defensive tackle Chris Jones, who left the game in the third quarter with a knee issue and did not return.

Jones went down on a run by Barkley with about six minutes left in the period. He was ruled doubtful to return soon after.

Earlier in the game, Jones was seen receiving treatment on his neck after the Chiefs attempted and failed to stop a Philadelphia “tush push” touchdown.

Jones, who recorded one quarterback hit, is a three-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion during his tenure with Kansas City. He signed a five-year, $158.75 million free agent deal with the Chiefs in March 2024 that made him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.

Jones had one sack earlier this postseason against Houston and five in the regular season.

–With the state of NFL officiating seemingly under extra scrutiny in recent weeks, referee Ron Torbert’s crew doled out penalties to the Chiefs and Eagles in similar numbers.

Kansas City was dinged seven times for 75 yards, and Philadelphia was flagged eight times for 59 yards.

Notably, on the Eagles first possession, they faced fourth-and-2 at midfield and Jalen Hurts appeared to complete a 32-yard pass to A.J. Brown. However, Brown was called for offensive pass interference amid some hand-fighting with cornerback Trent McDuffie, and the Eagles punted on fourth-and-12 instead.

Fox analyst Tom Brady expressed concern with the call.

“(Brown is) a big, physical, strong receiver. Just getting off the press on McDuffie. Aw, don’t like that one bit. This is too critical of a game,” Brady said.

–Field Level Media