Super Bowl 59 updates: Eagles beat Chiefs in a star-studded rematch

Before Super Bowl 59 officially ended with Philadelphia winning 40-22, fans were already pouring into Center City.

Police barricades set up around City Hall blocked access and, at times, created a bottleneck of fans trying to beeline to Broad Street celebrations.

“I don’t care if they lose every game in the season,” Bishop said. “I’ll root for them ‘til the day I die. Tonight is the best night of my life.”

» READ MORE: After a blowout Super Bowl win, Eagles fans celebrate the ‘best night’ of their lives

A performer in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show was detained on the field and could face charges after unfurling a combination Sudan-Palestine flag with “Sudan” and “Gaza” written on it.

The NFL confirmed the person was part of the 400-member field cast. The New Orleans Police Department said in a statement that “law enforcement is working to determine applicable charges in this incident.”

The performer stood on a car used as a prop for Lamar’s performance and held up the flag.

“The individual hid the item on his person and unveiled it late in the show,” the NFL said. “No one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent.”

Roc Nation, the entertainment company which produced the show, said that the act “was neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal.”

The show continued without interruption and it did not seem as though the person was shown on the broadcast of Lamar’s performance.

Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles’ ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat.

Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push to earn Super Bowl MVP honors, and Vic Fangio’s defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn’t need much from Saquon Barkley.

The game-changing running back finished with 57 yards, breaking Terrell Davis’ record for yards rushing in a season, playoffs included. Hurts threw for 221 yards.

» READ MORE: Super Bowl 59 overview: Eagles deny Chiefs a 3-peat with dominant defense and MVP Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts has often been judged by his failings more than his successes over the course of his career.

Getting benched at halftime of a college football championship game. Being forced to transfer from Alabama to Oklahoma just to be able to regain a starting job. Getting drafted in the second round to be a backup and then having his passing prowess questioned as he quickly became a starter and had a successful launch to his NFL career.

All those doubts helped fuel Hurts along the way and now he will be forever known as a Super Bowl MVP.

» READ MORE: Jalen Hurts quiets any doubters with a Super Bowl MVP

In typical Philly fashion, fans have started climbing poles and lighting fireworks around Center City following the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl win.

Mayor Cherelle Parker and other city officials urged citizens to not climb poles last Thursday, although many have not heeded the advice.

Streets are blocked off around City Hall and a strong police presence has been spotted in the area following the Eagles’ win.

Before the game even ended, thousands of Eagles fans packed Broad Street, climbing poles and setting off fireworks, something Mayor Cherelle Parker and other city officials warned not to do last Thursday.

In a blowout victory, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, earning a welcomed and anticipated win for Eagles fans’ and ending Kansas City’s bid for three consecutive championships.

The Eagles won 40-22 after producing the second-largest first half lead in Super Bowl history to hoist their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.

“Salutations!,” said the actor Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, as he introduced Kendrick Lamar at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome for the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show — a powerful, commanding creative choice by the first solo hip-hop artist to ever headline the coveted slot.

As if there were any doubts of the Pulitzer Prize–winning rapper’s ability to put on a show.

He started with “GNX,” moving into “Squabble Up.” For just under 13 minutes during the halftime show sponsored by Apple Music and Roc Nation, Lamar commanded the field.

Dancers dressed in red, white and blue joined Lamar. But even in their patriotic colors, they were labeled “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” by Jackson’s Uncle Sam, who reminded Lamar to “play the game.” Then, he launched into “Humble.,” “DNA.,” “Euphoria” and “man at the garden.”

“Score keeper, deduct one life,” Jackson interrupted again. Lamar launched into “peakboo,” and then teased a performance of “Not Like Us.”

“I wanna play their favorite song but you know they love to sue,” Lamar told the women dancers behind him, referencing Drake.

It is hard to underscore the ubiquity of “Not Like Us” — with its billion streams on Spotify, the massive hit is a regional anthem for Los Angeles, a rallying cry for community and against culture vultures, a diss track that won Lamar the highly publicized feud with Drake and the track that won song and record of the year at the Grammys last weekend.

SZA appeared on stage for “Luther” and “All the Stars.”

“That’s what America wants — nice and calm,” Jackson said.

And then, like clockwork: Lamar launched into “Not Like Us” — with the removal of the word “pedophiles” in its lyrics — into “tv off.”

He brought out the producer Mustard and tennis superstar Serena Williams was spotted crip walking along to the diss track.

As the second half of Super Bowl 59 began, Eagles fans were jubilant and optimistic in Mac’s Tavern in Old City. And they had good reason to be: the Birds were up, 24-0, against the three-peat-seeking Kansas City Chiefs.

Cheers and “E-A-G-L-E-S” chants broke out for every Birds score or sack on Patrick Mahomes, and boos rang out when West Reading native Taylor Swift appeared on screen (though one heckler kept calling her “Taylor Smith,” along with an expletive).

At the half, fans stepping out of bars along Market Street begin to celebrate and cheer together, with tinges of amazement at how well the half has gone.

Birds fan Courtney Foster traveled all the way from Fort Worth, Texas, for the game.

“Because we wanted to party tonight, because we know we gonna beat their a** tonight,” he said.

Foster said he, like most of the Delaware Valley, felt pretty confident going into the second half.

“Broad Street party, baby,” he said.

Saquon Barkley rushed for 31 yards in the first half of the Super Bowl and set the NFL season rushing record, postseason included, topping the mark of 2,476 yards set by Terrell Davis.

The AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Barkley needed only 30 yards to top Davis’ total set in 1998 when he helped the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl. Also that season, Davis was the last running back to win Super Bowl MVP.

Barkley ran the ball on the first offensive play of the Super Bowl and finally got the mark after a slow first half on a 2-yard run on the last play of the half. Barkley had 12 carries for 31 yards for a measly 2.6 yards per carry. He averaged 5.8 yards in the regular season.

The Eagles were fine without Barkley’s usually spectacular production. Thanks to two interceptions by the defense and two total touchdowns from Jalen Hurts, the Eagles led the Chiefs 24-0 at halftime.

» READ MORE: Eagles running back Saquon Barkley sets the NFL’s season rushing record, including the playoffs

In an unsettled time, the most effective commercial messages are all about reassurance, togetherness and entertainment.

So that may help explain why — at a time when every fresh news alert seems to deliver a new seismic jolt about the world — the ads featured in this year’s Super Bowl mostly touch on safe subjects we traditionally expect in Big Game commercials: Nostalgia. Comedy. Celebrities. Patriotism. And poignant humanism.

“Those ads that really respond to human connection and humanness are going to rise to the top,” says Abigail Posner, director of Google’s U.S. Creative Works, who tracks how clips of Super Bowl ads perform on YouTube and are featured on the streaming service’s YouTube AdBlitz hub.

“Because we’re in a moment of great challenges and unknowns, and also with the influx of technology, there’s that fear,” Posner adds. “So when we go back to what we are all about, we’re about love, we’re about family. We’re about challenging ourselves … I think that always touches us.”

With ad space topping out at $8 million per 30 seconds for time in a broadcast that was the most-watched single telecast on U.S. TV last year, Super Bowl ads are also a gigantic business aimed at boosting the biggest companies, films, celebrities and products on the planet.

Which means this year, there’s lots of ads designed to put a human, down-to-earth face on major technology products (Google Pixel’s Gemini A.I.), pharmaceutical companies (Pfizer and Novartis), fast food conglomerates (Little Caesars and Doritos) and even gambling (BetMGM and Fanduel).

It also seemed that many more ad campaigns rolled out their spots in advance, counting on an advance media push. And in a cultural moment when some have disdained socially conscious terms like “woke” and the NFL removed the lettering “end racism” from the field’s end zones, it makes a certain kind of disappointing sense that advertisers have toned down the messaging. Instead, they’ve dialed up the slapstick humor and absurdist situations, while dialing back earnest takes about turbulent social issues.

With all that in mind — and noting some analyses are based on advanced versions of ads released before the game started — here’s the 2025 edition of my look at what worked and what flopped on the biggest advertising showcase in modern media.

Best use of a celebrity conspiracy theory: Uber Eats “A Century of Cravings.”

It’s always entertaining to watch a famous face embrace their reputation for being crazy. So this ad, which positions Matthew McConaughey as a Mad Men-type NFL executive insisting football is just a “conspiracy to make us hungry” — then playing all these people through the past century who made it happen, including Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka — offers just the right kind of absurdist crazy that makes a Super Bowl ad pop. Toss in cameos from Kevin Bacon, Martha Stewart, “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans — eating wings, of course — and “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and you wind up with an ad that entertains, whether you’re a tinfoil hat-wearing member of the online broligarchy or someone who just likes laughing at them.

» READ MORE: The best (and worst) Super Bowl commercials … so far

With the first half in the books, it’s safe to say this is the complete opposite of whatever Super Bowl performance Kansas City had hoped for. Philadelphia has turned in one of the most dominant halves in Super Bowl history and leads 24-0.

It’s been a disaster on all fronts for the Chiefs offense, which has managed just a single first down and only 23 total yards. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is having one of the worst games of his decorated playoff career — he has completed only five passes and thrown two costly interceptions, both of which resulted in Eagles touchdowns. Tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins have both dropped key passes and combine for no receptions.

The only bright spot for Kansas City has been its containment of superstar Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who is averaging just 2.6 yards per carry so far.

But it may not matter much. Only one team — the 2016 New England Patriots, led by Tom Brady — has ever trailed by more and come back to win the Super Bowl.

If anyone could do it again, it might be Mahomes. The quarterback is 5-2 in his playoff career when trailing by double digits — three of those five wins were Super Bowls.

The Chiefs won the opening coin toss and chose to defer, so they will receive the ball to start the second half.

Taylor Swift was back at the Super Bowl to watch Travis Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Her reception was a whole lot different than last year.

The pop superstar, who was cheered loudly when she showed up at the big game in Las Vegas, was instead booed by the heavily pro-Eagles crowd when shown on the video boards inside the Superdome during a break in the first quarter.

Sitting next to rapper Ice Spice, Swift gave a bit of a side-eye and wrinkled her nose when she realized the booing was directed at her.

Swift and Kelce have been a sports-and-entertainment power couple since early last season, when the four-time All-Pro tight end invited the now-14-time Grammy Award winner to watch him play in a matchup with the Bears. Kelce had famously tried to deliver a friendship bracelet to Swift when she played at Arrowhead Stadium, only to be thwarted.

Their relationship blossomed as the Chiefs pursued their second consecutive Super Bowl last year, and Swift was part of the on-field celebration on a cold night in Baltimore when the Chiefs beat the Ravens to win the AFC championship.

Then came Swift’s star turn at the big game in Las Vegas.

She was in the midst of her Eras Tour and had played a concert in Tokyo the same weekend. Swift made a mad dash from there to the airport, hopped a private jet to Los Angeles, and made it to Las Vegas with time to spare. Once inside Allegiant Stadium, fans and TV cameras watched Swift win a beer-chugging contest, party with celebrity friends such as Blake Lively and Lana Del Rey, and eventually make her way to the field following the Chiefs’ 25-22 win over the 49ers.

Kelce and Swift celebrated by locking lips as red and gold confetti fell around them like rain.

There was no closely watched trip around the globe this week, though.

Swift arrived in the Big Easy in time to join Kelce on a double date with Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, on the players’ night off Friday. The couples dined at Lilette, a French restaurant near the Garden District.

On the eve of the big game, Swift was spotted with musicians Danielle and Alana Haim at Gianna Restaurant.

The big question swirling Sunday was not whether Swift would make it to the game, like last year, but what could happen if she found herself on the field afterward, celebrating Kelce’s third straight Super Bowl title and fourth overall.

The 35-year-old Kelce has been noncommittal about playing next year, and some within the Chiefs organization are bracing for his potential retirement. Kelce has been laying the groundwork for his post-playing career, building a lucrative podcast with his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce, and appearing on “Saturday Night Live” and other TV shows.

Then there’s the question of whether Kelce might pop the question. According to BetMGM, those willing to gamble on his plans could get 8/1 odds that Kelce would propose to Swift with a Chiefs victory.

The Chiefs are 19-3 with her in the crowd, including 9-0 this season. She has never seen them lose in the playoffs.

On the same day he caught an interception and ran it back for a touchdown, the defensive back turned 22. He’s not the only one with a Super Bowl birthday — Saquon Barkley turned 29.

The Kansas City Chiefs meet the Philadelphia Eagles for a date with history. The Chiefs are trying to become the first NFL team ever to win three Super Bowls in a row, and the Eagles are eager to stop them and avenge their 2023 loss.

NPR and our member stations in Kansas City, Philadelphia and New Orleans will have highlights from the halftime show, the best (and worst…) commercials, and of course results for you throughout the night.

After the first quarter, the Eagles lead 7-0 after a rushing touchdown by quarterback Jalen Hurts on classic Philadelphia tush push play. (For all the conspiracy theories on social media about referees and the Chiefs, Philadelphia’s touchdown came after an unnecessary roughness penalty extended the Eagles’ drive on what would have otherwise been a 4th and 5.)

The Chiefs offense, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has yet to find much of a foothold. One bright spot for Kansas City: The Chiefs’ defense has so far had success in containing Eagles superstar running back Saquon Barkley, who is averaging just 2.4 yards per carry so far.

The Chiefs won the opening coin toss and deferred, so they will receive the ball to start the second half.

By the time the Super Bowl began, South Broad Street in Center City had been closed to traffic, City Hall was completely ringed by steel barricades and some police in the area were geared with riot helmets.

Fans are so committed to being downtown when the hoped-for win happens, they are willing to stand outside in 36 degrees Fahrenheit weather to watch the game through the windows of crowded bars.

But no street poles have been greased, breaking from a yearslong city tradition for postgame victory celebrations.

Despite tragic evidence that people will attempt to climb things while celebrating a sports win, and Bourbon Street in New Orleans taking such precautions, at the game’s coin toss there were no climbing deterrents in place around City Hall.

Fans from all over packed into bars and restaurants along South Street ahead of kickoff for Super Bowl 59.

Outside MilkBoy, students Vala Sigursjoddir, Joanna Abdelmalak, Jade Regnart, and Grant Hampton — from Iceland, Canada, South Africa, and Savannah, Ga.,  respectively — stepped out for some air. They arrived at the bar over two hours before kickoff.

“I watch [football] once a year and it’s on the Super Bowl day,” Abdelmalak said. “Since I go to school in Jersey, I’m now … an Eagles fan.”

Zayn Makki arrived much closer to kickoff and was still in a long line to get into a crowded Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub.

“I’m getting a little annoyed, I want to be in there before the game starts,” he said. “I won’t be happy if kickoff happens while I’m out here.”

Makki brought a whistle, in reference to viral sensation Gillie da King and “Blow the Whistle.”

Peter Pantina got his tickets for the watch party at Cavanaugh’s Headhouse Square on Tuesday, after he found out his friends were going to be there. He opted not to join his fantasy football group at Ortlieb’s.

Patina, a self-confessed 49ers fan, brought a Super Bowl jersey that referenced no individual team but had NFC and AFC on the shoulders, which he was planning to give to a friend inside as a peace offering. He himself wore a white, button-down shirt with eagles stitched over each of his collarbones.

“I love my city, I love my friends, I love my family,” he said. “I almost wore my Sixers jersey tonight — I’m a big Sixers fan — but supporting the city of Philadelphia.”

Patina’s plans after the game? Regardless of the result, getting straight back to his job editing video.

As millions around the world get ready to watch the Eagles take on the Chiefs, a select few watching today will already know what it’s like to play for the Lombardi Trophy.

Thousands of Eagles fans flew through the doors at the Verizon FanFest trying to score the best seats at the watch party.

Among them is former kicker David Akers, who played for Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX.

“Today’s such an incredible day in the United States,” Akers said. “Tomorrow’s going to be a lower day of attendance at work, especially here in Philly after a victory.”

Between 5,000 to 6,000 people are expected to attend today’s event, according to Verizon’s Atlantic North Market President Chris Flood.

Neighbors around Roosevelt Mall, the site of a deadly plane crash last week, are welcomed to a pre-Super Bowl tailgate party in the parking lot.

Car dealer Gary Barbera and State Representative Jared Solomon pulled together the event over the course of four days to give the community a sorely needed celebratory event.

“I was there Friday night, and what I saw was just carnage,” Solomon said. “We saw debris everywhere, plane parts, smoke, fire, people being evacuated. First responders swarming the area who did an amazing job. Contrast that to where we are now. Immediately, the neighborhood came together, found ways to support one another.”

“I’m born and raised and work here, Northeast Philly,” said Barbera, whose car dealership is a couple blocks away from the mall. “These are nice people. Nice, solid. Friday night, they just got paid, and they gotta deal with a plane crash? A medical plane crash, even worse.”

Tables set up in the parking lot outside of the LA Fitness gym are laden with trays of complementary hoagies and sodas. Heaters and free toys for neighborhood children are provided by St. John’s Memorial Baptist Church in Fairhill. A large screen is set up with a projection of live pre-game television coverage from the Superdome in New Orleans.

That is where Barbera would have been if a plane had not fallen out of the sky onto Cottman Avenue. He said he had tickets to the Super Bowl.

“Of course I have Super Bowl tickets,” he said. “I’m way happier knowing that this thing came together, and we tried. I’m way happier.”

Barbera said he invited off-duty police officers and first responders, and distributed flyers throughout the neighborhood to attract people.

Pete Sarno and Cindy O’Neil live across the street from the mall and saw a flyer for the tailgate. They had already abandoned their gameday plans and were up for a last-minute pre-game.

“We decided to stay home. It was just so much going on, just to try to catch up,” Sarno said. “The streets were blocked off for six days. The power was out for a day. You had to give ID to go in and out to get food or go to work. It was just hard. Normal things were very abnormal.”

“I just really wanted to celebrate with the community,” said O’Neil. “Go Birds.”

You don’t have to be an American football fan, or even an American, to have heard about the Super Bowl. For the NFL faithful, the event is a final push toward the end zone following a season-long drive down the gridiron, each yard filled with shot nerves and high blood pressure. But for those who are just joining for the final sprint (and didn’t understand the metaphor in that last sentence), here’s everything you need to know to get caught up to speed.

Last year’s Super Bowl winners, the Kansas City Chiefs, will be playing against the Philadelphia Eagles.

If a Chiefs–Eagles Super Bowl sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Just two years ago, the two teams competed in Super Bowl 57, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes helped lead his team to victory.

What’s all this chatter about a ‘three-peat’?

This year, all eyes are on the Chiefs. Not just because Taylor Swift’s boyfriend is on the team (though it helps ) but because they have the chance to do something that no team has ever done before: win three straight Super Bowls.

Can they do it? We shall see.

Gamblers are split in the early wagering on the Super Bowl. Sports betting site BetMGM has the Chiefs as the favored winners with odds at -130. The underdog Eagles have their odds at +110.

Who are some key players to watch?

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, #26, helped lead the Birds to the Super Bowl and had an incredible season. He signed a $37.75 million, three-year contract last March and became the ninth player ever to rush for 2,000 yards in a regular season. He also set an NFL record by completing seven touchdown runs of at least 60 yards in the regular season and playoffs.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, #1, had a great Super Bowl against the Chiefs two years ago, but he lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the first half of Kansas City’s 38-35 comeback victory.

But that won’t cut it this time, especially not in Philadelphia.

As for the Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, or as his teammates and coaches call him, “ Laid-back Pat, ” is one of the greatest in the sport. He already has three Super Bowl rings and is chasing a fourth, and is a two-time league MVP who is shattering records every season.

Travis Kelce, #87, has been ranked by AP as the NFL’s top tight end two years in a row. Kelce is Mahomes’ most trusted pass catcher, so you can expect to hear the two players’ names mentioned in tandem a lot on Sunday.

This dispatch originally appeared on WHYY’s Billy Penn.

Jelloman isn’t being coy. He thinks the Eagles will win Sunday — and he’s making the Jell-O shots to celebrate a second Super Bowl title.

That, after all, is Philly native Paul Vile’s thing.

“I’m not gonna be superstitious about scores or anything, but I know we’re gonna win,” said Vile, aka Jelloman, to Billy Penn during an appearance at MaGerk’s Bar & Grill in Fort Washington on Wednesday night. “I mean, defense and Saquon [Barkley], I know we’re gonna win.”

And when they do, Jelloman will be there on the streets of Philadelphia, crowdsurfing and handing out 3,000 Jell-O shots. He did the same thing after the NFC Championship Game two weekends ago (and two years ago), though with only half as many Jell-O shots. You’ll have to watch the video to see how he plans to distribute them.

This has been Vile’s thing for nearly two decades, since he concluded that being a bricklayer was boring and he saw how much people enjoyed a good Jell-O shot — or any Jell-O shot.

Since then, he has been crafting and distributing Jell-O shots at music festivals and concerts across the country, becoming a beloved figure among festival-goers. His creative “Jell-O murals” — artistic displays spelling out band names using Jell-O shots — have earned him backstage invitations and recognition from various artists.

Beyond the music scene, Jelloman has become a local icon at Eagles events, where he energizes crowds by crowd-surfing and sharing his signature Jell-O shots.
And yeah, he is the brother of musician Kurt Vile, further embedding him in Philadelphia’s rich musical culture.

 

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This dispatch originally appeared on NPR.

In the hours before kickoff, the parking lots outside Lincoln Financial Field turn into a carnival. Amid a sea of green tents, Philadelphia Eagles fans in vintage jerseys toss footballs, grill up sausages and cheesesteaks, make elaborate cocktails on the beds of pickup trucks and dance to music from DJ decks.

“There’s nothing like this in the world,” marvels Kenny Justice, 59, who is a frequent caller to WIP, Philadelphia sports talk radio, and has been a Birds fan since at least first grade.

Justice is on to something. English soccer fans have their pints and pubs, but the tailgate is a uniquely American ritual.

Omelettes and cheesesteaks — for free

For last month’s NFC Championship game between the Eagles and the Washington Commanders, Justice and his son, Roman, 14, attended the tailgate of Ed Callahan, a retired naval intelligence officer, who’s been tailgating here for more than two decades. Callahan operates out of his massive green RV — the Eagle Mobile II — which is covered with images of legendary Eagles players, such as Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White.

For breakfast, Callahan’s crew cooks up the tailgate’s signature omelettes with imported Irish Swiss cheese, American cheese and Philly cream cheese. Lunch is 30 to 40 pounds of cheesesteak. Callahan figures he feeds about 100 people. Half are friends, and the rest, friends of friends.

“We don’t charge money,” says Callahan, 78, “this is all hospitality.”

Callahan says core tailgate members contribute, but he estimates that this season, including the playoffs, he spent about $5,000 to fund the events.

The tailgate is an opportunity for Eagles fans, who are known for their intense devotion, to eat, drink, reminisce and blow off steam.

“I have to be professional all week,” says Justice, who owns an engineering architecture firm. “I’m a father. But then you get to come down here and you get to act like you’re a crazy kindergartener.”

» READ MORE: The American tailgate: Why strangers recreate their living rooms in a parking lot

The road to Super Bowl Sunday has been paved Kelly green by Eagles fans far and wide, from pop-up murals and roadside merch stands to a Ben Franklin statue in Old City fully outfitted in Eagles gear.

The Bird Gang spirit isn’t hard to find. You just need to open your eyes.

WHYY News presents: a non-comprehensive list of how Philadelphia has shown up for the Birds leading up to their Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City chiefs:

1. A sign outside Arrowhead stadium encouraging Chiefs fans to call for a “pep rally in your pocket,” only to be met with the Eagles fight song

2. “Go Birds” being translated in multiple languages at the Philadelphia Visitor’s Center

3. Philly cementing its status as a mural capital, with pop-up murals celebrating Eagles pride and star running back Saquon Barkley

4. The Prometheus Ukrainian Male Chorus of Philadelphia performing “Fly, Eagles, Fly”

5. The “Always Sunny” and “Abbott Elementary” crews representing in New Orleans

Oh hello New Orleans. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/4wSuiuU3TO

— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) February 8, 2025

6. Every plane full of Eagles fans leading Eagles chants

7. The pipe organ at Philly’s historic Wanamaker Building playing the Eagles fight song

8. Isgro’s pastries rightfully celebrating Saquon Barkley’s iconic hurdle

9. The Ben Franklin statue above Library Hall being fully outfitted in Eagles gear, including an A.J. Brown jersey, Eagles hat and flag

10. All of the prop bets — from Philly and Kansas City’s dueling libraries, animal shelters, public schools and even public media stations

11. Every furry friend wearing their Eagles Sunday best

 

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12. Philly’s skyline radiating Eagles green

LIGHTING UP THE PHILLY SKY @budlight | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/MgJZdaZerg

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2025

13. The Betsy Ross House raising an Eagles flag while chowing down on green hotdogs

 

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14. The outpouring of brotherly love from Philly’s sports teams

A little bit of Brotherly Love!

🦅🦅 GO BIRDS! 🦅🦅#RingTheBell x #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/gjVhqq9y6X

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) February 9, 2025

15. The pop-up merch tables on the side of the road serving our last-minute Eagles gear needs

Did we miss any? Let us know!

This story originally appeared on WHYY’s Billy Penn.

he Eagles are back in the big game and Billy Penn’s big game bingo is back for a third year.

In 2023 we hoped, in 2024 we moped, and now it’s time to dream again, while poking fun at the cliched ways the national sports media covers the Birds and the city.

So to help take the edge off the tension or as a way to pass the time till Kendrick Lamar performs, we’ve got two bingo cards to enhance your viewing experience.

Card No. 1 is for keeping track of the predictable references likely to be shoehorned into the Fox broadcast and ads, with a few Chiefs mishaps thrown in for good luck. Cross off each one when it comes up. When you get a full line of adjacent squares, shout it out, loud and proud.

Card No. 2 is all about the stars who call Philadelphia home, even if they don’t live anywhere nearby anymore. If their mug flashes by on camera or are spotlighted by the announcers — or they show up in a commercial — mark it down in the appropriate box, and try to complete the columns and rows.

Print out a PDF version at the links below and play against your friends, or download the image (or screenshot) and mark up the board on your phone to share for social media bragging rights.

Download PDF for print  •  Download image file

Download PDF for print  •  Download image file

Above all, cheer on the Eagles: Go Birds!

Sloppy kisses. Midfield snoozes. Ear nibbles. Indiscriminate potty breaks.

That’s the state of play expected Super Bowl Sunday — not for NFL players, but for their adorable canine counterparts competing in this year’s Puppy Bowl.

While the Philadelphia Eagles have their sights set on a Super Bowl rematch in New Orleans, a dozen Philly-area shelter dogs, including three with special needs, will be competing in Puppy Bowl XXI.

The “call-to-adoption” TV event marks its 21st year with its largest field of contenders: 142 puppy players representing 80 shelters and rescue organizations from 40 states and territories.

Philly-area shelter pups didn’t make the cut for the Puppy Bowl’s starting lineup this year, but one rescue does harbor a »potential secret weapon: Saquon Barky.

Has this Bernese mountain dog and Australian shepherd mix made puppy history with over 2,000 rushing yards? Did he gift an entire offensive line personalized golf carts? Who’s to say.

Which Philly-area shelters are heading to Puppy Bowl XXI?

Seven puppies from the Delaware Valley will represent Team Ruff and five will represent Team Fluff in the quest for the coveted “Lombarky” trophy.

In Philly’s suburbs, Phoenix Animal Rescue in Chester Springs, Chester County, and Providence Animal Center in Media, Delaware County, will be sending two pups each.

South Jersey will be represented by four puppies — two hailing from MatchDog Rescue in Marlton, Burlington County, and two from Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue in Deepwater, Salem County.

In Delaware, Renee’s Rescues in Hockessin, New Castle County, will send one pup.

Brandywine Valley SPCA, whose work spans the Delaware Valley, has three pups competing.

Super Bowl Sunday is here, and the anticipation is at an all-time high.

The Kansas City Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, are aiming for a historic three-peat in their Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts at the helm and the NFL’s No. 1 defense, the Birds are ready to rewrite history.

Both teams bring powerhouse talent to the field, but the matchup is more than just X’s and O’s: it’s about legacies, redemption and proving who truly deserves to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

As the countdown to kickoff intensifies, so does the debate over who has the edge.

WHYY’s “Morning Edition” host Jennifer Lynn sat down with Ty Johnson, host of “The Fanatic” on Philly Sports Radio, to break down the key matchups, the impact of star players like Saquon Barkley and whether the Eagles’ dominant defense can stop the Chiefs’ high-powered offense.

» READ MORE: Ty Johnson breaks down Super Bowl 59: The Eagles are the better team. But can they win?

This dispatch originally appeared on NPR.

As Americans prepare to watch the most highly anticipated football game of the year, some will also spend a lot of money betting on who the winner will be and other parts of the game.

A record $1.39 billion is expected to be spent on betting legally on Sunday’s Super Bowl — up from $1.25 billion in 2024, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA). It also coincides with warnings from officials to beware of scammers looking to take advantage of the intense interest in the game.

The estimated spending is driven by two factors: The growing number of states that allow legal sports betting and trust in the legal betting system, Joe Maloney, senior vice president of strategic communications at the AGA, tells NPR. Legal sports betting through retail and online sportsbooks is permitted in 38 states, according to the organization.

“We’ve got a lot of sports fans that are contributing to these increasing totals that are now in jurisdictions that are legal,” Maloney says.

Simply put, sports betting is considered illegal when one places a bet with an operator or bookmaker that is not permitted or licensed by a local jurisdiction. The majority of legal sports betting on the Super Bowl will take place through legal sportsbook apps, Maloney says. Americans will also place legal bets in person at casino sportsbooks, he says.

Losing your bet with the wrong person could cost you more than bragging rights

While many Americans are expected to bet legally, scammers are also expected to cash in on Super Bowl wagers.

Officials, including in Arizona, are warning Americans to be vigilant of betting scams. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) encourages people to check with the BBB on potential betting scams and do their homework on the company they plan to place their bets with.

» READ MORE: 2 reasons why a record $1.39B is expected to be bet on the Super Bowl

Before the Eagles takes the field this Super Bowl Sunday, fans need to get in the right mindset.

Whether you’re tailgating in South Philly, hosting a watch party at home or pregaming in New Orleans, we’ve got 59 tracks to fuel your Bird Gang spirit.

From Boyz II Men’s “Motown Philly” and Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” to Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares” (public radio-friendly edition), here’s WHYY News’ Philly-inspired Eagles Super Bowl playlist:

Wagers, contests, and collaborations between the City of Brotherly Love and the City of Fountains are back on the table for Super Bowl 59.

Here’s what’s at stake:

Philadelphia Museum of Art vs. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Each museum will each put a master work from their respective collections on the line. A shortlist of masterworks that could be up for loan will be revealed once curators huddle to consider the potential spoils of victory.

The Philadelphia Zoo vs. Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

The Kansas City Zoo put forth a challenge via Instagram:

“How about the winning team donates $50 PER POINT their team scores to a Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program of their choice?” the caption reads.

The winning proceeds will be put towards conservation programs.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia vs Children’s Mercy Kansas City

As part of the Football Fans for Kids Health effort, Children’s Mercy Kansas City challenged the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Each hospital is aiming to raise $15,000 by Super Bowl Sunday. Proceeds will go to the I Love Children’s Mercy Fund.

PAWS vs. Great Plains SPCA

Great Plains SPCA is collaborating with Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in the Shelter Showdown, where shelters compete to see who can rally the most support from their communities.

So far, more than $105,000 has been donated to the Shelter Showdown to care for animals in need — more than $45,000 of it in Kansas City and more than $38,000 in Philadelphia.

Philabundance vs. Harvesters Community Food Network

Harvesters Community Food Network and Philabundance are facing off to see who can raise the most money to fight hunger in honor of their hometown team.

As of Tuesday afternoon, both organizations were just over the $4,000 mark.

Pat’s King of Steaks vs. Joe’s Kansas City BBQ

Joe’s Kansas City BBQ has wagered with Pat’s King of Steaks, the originator and inventor of the steak and cheesesteak sandwiches. According to a tweet announcing the wager, the loser of the bet “feeds some well deserving local fireman.”

School District of Philadelphia vs. Kansas City Public Schools

If the Chiefs win: School District of Philadelphia students and staff will wear red and gold to school and send some goodies from Philadelphia to their Kansas City counterparts. If the Eagles win: Kansas City Public Schools staff and students will wear green and white to school and send treats to Philadelphia.

WHYY vs. KCUR

WHYY and KCUR are making a bet of our own: WHYY will send KCUR a basket full of Philly food — soft pretzels, Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews and more — if the Chiefs win. If the Eagles win, KCUR will send WHYY some Kansas City barbecue.

» READ MORE: Here are the biggest Super Bowl wagers between Kansas City and Philadelphia

Super Bowl 59 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will air on Fox at 6:30 p.m.

Viewers can stream the game on Fox Sports’ website and app, as well as on the NFL+ app, fuboTV and Tubi.

This dispatch originally appeared on NPR.

This Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles is fast approaching. Even for non-football fans, the entertainment is often worth tuning in for. Here’s your guide to all the performances tied to the big game.

Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the Super Bowl 59 halftime show with special guests, including fellow Grammy-winner SZA.

The two have collaborated on a number of songs, including “All the Stars,” from the Black Panther soundtrack and “Luther” from Lamar’s latest album, GNX. Both are possibilities for Sunday’s setlist. Many fans also hope Lamar will perform the Grammy-winning song of the year, “Not Like Us.”

Pre-game performances 

Just before kick-off, musician and composer Jon Batiste will take the field to perform the National Anthem.

R&B artist Ledisi will precede Batiste with a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a poem written in 1900 by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson, which is often referred to as the Black National anthem.

Musician Troy Andrews, popularly known as Trombone Shorty, and Christian singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle will perform “America the Beautiful.”

The Human Jukebox Marching Band from Southern University, a Louisiana-based HBCU, is set to play during the pregame show, the school’s director of bands announced on The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Festivities are already in swing leading up to the game. St. Augustine High School’s Marching 100 ushered both teams into the Caesars Superdome on Monday night.

You can stream the performances – and the football game – live on Fox, and on a number of streamers, including NFL+, Fubo, Tubi, Sling and Hulu + Live TV. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, and the pre-game show will air throughout the afternoon.

This dispatch originally appeared on NPR.

NPR sports correspondent Becky Sullivan has some tips for what to watch for in this year’s game:

A close, back-and-forth game

All signs point to a close game. The Eagles defense aims to limit big gains and force teams to beat them with small plays. But that’s exactly how the Chiefs like to win: Kansas City is 12-0 in one-score games this season. The Kansas City defense is no slouch either, and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has struggled at times when pressured.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes

The key to the Chiefs’ three-peat hopes is their 29-year-old quarterback who is great all the time but somehow even better in high-stakes moments: in the playoffs, on 3rd and 4th downs and on game-ending drives.

The tush push

The Eagles have become known for their unusually successful take on the quarterback sneak. Here are the physics behind the play.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley

After Philadelphia signed him last spring, Barkley has blossomed into the game-changer he always had the potential to be. He became only the ninth player ever to rush for more than 2,000 yards in the regular season, and he has more 60-plus-yard touchdown runs in one season than any player ever.

And some pre-game bonuses

Keep an eye out for Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins’ arrival outfit, and whether this Chiefs player tears up during the National Anthem.

Super Bowl 59 is finally upon us, and the Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up for a rematch against Kansas City.

The Birds are looking to rewrite history: The team narrowly lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57 in Arizona. Now, they’re trying to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Philly.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big game.

When and where is the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl 59 will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

How can I watch Super Bowl 59?

The Super Bowl will air on Fox. Viewers can stream the game on Fox Sports’ website and app, as well as on the NFL+ app, fuboTV and Tubi.

Who will be performing at halftime during Super Bowl 59?

Rapper Kendrick Lamar will be the halftime performer. SZA will also be featured as a special guest.

What are the stakes?

The Eagles will be making their third Super Bowl appearance in seven seasons.

An Eagles win over the Chiefs would mark the Birds’ second-ever Super Bowl title. The first, lest we forget, came in the form of a 41-33 win over the New England Patriots in Minneapolis.

Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley is also 30 yards shy of breaking the NFL season rushing record (postseason included) set in 1998 by Denver Bronco Terrell Davis. All he wants is a Super Bowl win.

Kansas City, meanwhile, is looking to become the first NFL team to win three Super Bowls in a row.

What are the odds?

The Chiefs are currently favored by 1 1/2 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

How many Super Bowl birthdays are there?

Super Bowl Sunday happens to fall on the birthdays of star running back Saquon Barkley and rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean, who are turning 28 and 22, respectively.

If the Eagles win, will they head to the White House?

When the Eagles won their first Super Bowl in 2018, President Donald Trump called off the team’s visit to the White House, citing a dispute over the national anthem, though none of the Eagles took a knee during the anthem that season.

“They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country,” Trump said in a statement at the time.

After the Chiefs won their AFC championship title, the president offered his congratulations. So far, Trump has been mum on the Eagles’ NFC championship victory.

Whether the Birds would be invited to the White House again after a Super Bowl win remains to be seen.

Is President Trump attending Super Bowl 59?

Yes, President Donald Trump will be in attendance, per a White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the president’s plans. The president is also slated to appear in a pre-taped interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier prior to the game.

Will Philly be greasing the poles?

Pole-climbing has become synonymous with Philly sports celebrations.

Historically, police and city officials have cautioned against pole-climbing, fearing potential damage. After the NFC championship game, an 18-year-old Temple University student identified as Tyler Sabapathy fell from a Center City pole while celebrating. He succumbed to his injuries days later.

In the wake of Sabapathy’s death, Philadelphia police say they are reviewing their strategies to keep fans safe heading into the Super Bowl. The city did not say if officials greased the poles or if they plan to moving forward.

Will Taylor Swift be at the Super Bowl again?

Berks County, Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift has been a regular at Arrowhead Stadium for two seasons now thanks to her boyfriend, Chiefs star Travis Kelce (brother to former Eagle Jason Kelce). Along the way, she’s helped change the face of the NFL fandom and transformed Kansas City.

After attending the AFC Championship in Kansas City last month, bets are on that she’ll be back in the stands at the Superdome, especially if there’s a chance she’ll get to celebrate with Kelce on the field again.

Plus, she doesn’t need to fly back from Japan this time.

Where can I watch the Super Bowl 59 in and around Philly?

If attending the game in New Orleans isn’t in the cards for you, there are plenty of options for watching the game locally.

WHYY’s Billy Penn has a breakdown of Philly Super Bowl watch parties, from Lincoln Financial Field and Chickie’s & Pete’s to Punch Buggy Brewing Company, Misconduct Tavern and beyond.

Where can I find a Philly-inspired playlist to hype me up for an Eagles Super Bowl rematch?

Look no further, Bird Gang.

KCUR’s Gabe Rosenberg and Savannah Hawley-Bates contributed reporting.