Sunday, February 11, millions of fans gathered in front of their televisions or at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the Kansas City Chiefs faced the San Francisco 49ers in the LVIII National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl Championship. As the most-watched American TV spectacle, the Super Bowl is a cultural phenomenon, serving as the pinnacle of American football. Beyond the game, the event features extravagant halftime shows, impressionable commercials, and high-stakes entertainment. The event brings people together for a shared experience, celebrating sports, music, and pop culture.
The first quarter was uneventful, with neither team scoring. That changed in the first minute of the second quarter, when Mr. Jake Moody made Super Bowl history, scoring a field goal from the 55-yard line to put the San Fransisco 49ers up 3-0. Later in the second quarter, Mr. Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown off of a trick play after 49er quarterback Mr. Brock Purdy threw a lateral pass to wide-receiver Mr. Jauan Jennings. Mr. Jennings then threw a pass to Mr. McCaffrey, who accelerated into the endzone for a touchdown. Just before halftime, Mr. Harrison Butker put away a 28-yard field goal for the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the score at 10-3 with the 49ers in the lead at halftime. Shortly into the second half, Mr. Harrison Butker overtook Mr. Moody’s record for longest field goal in a Super Bowl, scoring a 57-yard field goal for the Chiefs.
Freshman Emma Matthews, member of the Sports Broadcasting Club, shared her excitement for the game. She shared how her family celebrates the Super Bowl.
“This year, I am rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs,” Emma said. “We usually get together with friends and families to watch the game. As part of a tradition, we make spreadsheets and all place mini bets on both the score of the game and how long the half time show will be. It is a very fun way to get together with friends and enjoy the game.”
Super Bowl commercials captivate viewers through their cinematic quality, incorporation of trends, surreal humor, and familiar faces. The anticipation for Super Bowl commercials is such that viewers eagerly await them as much as the game itself. The influence of social media is pivotal in extending the reach and engagement of these commercials, as viewers enthusiastically share their favorite ads online. Brands employ a creative strategy to captivate diverse audiences by leveraging influencers, athletes, singers, and actors from various backgrounds, ensuring that they leave a lasting impression on individuals with different interests, effectively reaching a broader spectrum of viewers. Emma reflected on the famous Super Bowl commercials.
“The commercials are another big part of the Super Bowl that many people look forward too,” Emma said. “It is a fun way to keep everyone involved in between timeouts, and I hope they are funny this year.”
At halftime, the winner of eight grammy awards Mr. Usher Raymond IV “Usher” took the field to perform for the Apple Music Halftime Show. He opened with his 1997 song “My Way” and followed with his 2004 hit “Caught Up.” Usher kept true to his pre-show promise of representing Black artists throughout the years, as he had discussed in an interview with “Good Morning America.”
Usher welcomed signer Mrs. Alicia Augello Cook “Alicia Keys” on stage as they sang their duet “My Boo.” He then shared the stage with Ms. Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson “H.E.R” as she performed a guitar solo, and he finally capped off his show with “Yeah” alongside Mr. Christopher Brian Bridges “Ludacrist” and Mr. Jonathan H. Smith “Lil Jon.” Mr. William Adams “Will.I.am” and Mr. Jermaine Dupri made appearances on stage too.
After going back and forth in the second half of regular time, the game ultimately went into overtime. Chiefs quarterback Mr. Patrick Mahomes engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive to secure the Super Bowl LVIII title. The night ended with a 25-22 victory for the Chiefs over the 49ers, which marked the Chiefs’ second consecutive year taking home the Lombardi trophy.
After the game, Mr. Mahomes collected another MVP award to add to his collection. After the game, he responded to a question asking if the Chiefs are becoming a dynasty.
“Yeah, it’s the start of [a dynasty]. We’re not done yet,” Mr. Mahomes said. “I know we’re gonna celebrate tonight, celebrate at the parade Wednesday in Kansas City, but we’re not done. We’ve got a young team, we’re gonna keep this thing going.”
Featured Image by Maggie Heffernan ’25
