Earlier than Mahomes, Kelce and the Chiefs tackle Hurts, Barkley and the Eagles within the Tremendous Bowl on Sunday, they needed to deal with the media in waves.
Barkley wasn’t right here two years in the past when the Eagles misplaced to the Chiefs 38-35. He left the rival New York Giants to affix a profitable workforce and did his half with a historic season.
“That’s why me and my family made the decision to come to Philadelphia, to have an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. And here we are,” Barkley mentioned.
The Chiefs have been right here 5 instances up to now six years so that they’re used to the unusual questions and odd requests which have grow to be far too widespread on opening night time.
Philadelphia Eagles working again Saquon Barkley participates throughout Tremendous Bowl 59 Opening Night time, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in New Orleans, forward of the NFL soccer recreation between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Sunday. (AP Picture/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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Mahomes picked NBA gamers for a mock soccer workforce, selecting Russell Westbrook at quarterback and Anthony Edwards at broad receiver. He even requested the media for restaurant suggestions.
Kelce talked up Swift’s pop tarts and mentioned he hopes to match her power on stage when he’s on the sphere. However requested if he plans to suggest to his Grammy-winning famous person girlfriend, Kelce pulled a Drew Rosenhaus: “Super Bowl ring? Next question.”
Gamers had been requested their favourite meals, colours, Kendrick Lamar songs and extra. A Mexican tv reporter gave Sirianni a stack of letters from followers. He additionally received a kiss on the pinnacle from Johnson, the previous Bengals star also called Ochocinco. The often stoic Hurts cracked up laughing when somebody tossed him a cookie — it was an errant throw. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, working for a tv community, fired questions at Darius Slay earlier than telling him to eat a “W.”
The Eagles went first, spending an hour speaking to hundreds of reporters from throughout the globe contained in the Superdome. The Chiefs got here later and obtained a loud ovation.
Media day has advanced from a daytime occasion on Tuesdays to a reside, ticketed, prime-time showcase on nationwide tv. Greater than 6,000 media members from 26 international locations had been accredited to cowl the Tremendous Bowl final 12 months in Las Vegas.
Sure, that is the place a feminine reporter confirmed up in a marriage gown and veil and proposed to Tom Brady in Arizona in 2008. He politely declined.
Soccer’s Xs and Os take a again seat for the primary night time.
The Large Straightforward is internet hosting its eleventh large recreation and first for the reason that Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers within the Harbaugh Brothers Bowl in February 2013.
The Chiefs are chasing historical past, aiming to grow to be the primary NFL workforce to three-peat within the Tremendous Bowl period. The Eagles are looking for the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi trophy.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) participates throughout Tremendous Bowl 59 Opening Night time, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in New Orleans, forward of the NFL soccer recreation between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Sunday. (AP Picture/Brynn Anderson )
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“We’re obsessed with winning,” proprietor Jeffrey Lurie mentioned.
Each groups arrived Sunday and each participant and coach was accessible to the media for one hour on Monday night time. A choose group of gamers, together with head coaches and quarterbacks, even have media classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Because of the hectic schedule, many of the preparation was accomplished final week. Recreation plans had been put in and each groups held regular practices as a result of this week received’t be routine.
One one who’ll be underneath the microscope this week is Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who’s a frontrunner to grow to be the pinnacle coach of the Saints. Moore can’t settle for the job till after the Tremendous Bowl however he must be getting ready to assemble a training employees whereas specializing in the duty at hand.
Staying targeted will probably be a precedence for everybody on each groups. Avoiding distractions, particularly the primary night time, might set the tone for profitable all of it Sunday.