The Super Bowl has been an ongoing tradition in the NFL since the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs first played in 1967. The Super Bowl was invented with two different conferences, the American Football League (now known as the American Football Conference or (AFC) and the National Football League which turned into the National Football Conference (NFC); eventually both conferences combined to create the National Football League (NFL). In 1967, the price of admission to the Super Bowl was just $12, whereas the average price for a ticket in 2024 was $8,600. This increase indicates how popular the Super Bowl has gotten over the years, and how high the demand is for fans to watch the two best teams face off and see in person who will hoist the Lombardi trophy.
This year’s Super Bowl was a match between the San Francisco 49ers (SF), and the Kansas City Chiefs (KC). There was a lot of drama going into the Super Bowl, mostly because Chiefs star Travis Kelce is dating artist Taylor Swift. This highly televised relationship has brought significant attention to the Chiefs as thousands of Swift followers watched the team on their route to the Super Bowl. The increased media attention made many die-hard NFL fans frustrated that the attention was going to a non-football player; these fans argued that the focus of the Super Bowl is the football. A resulting trend on social media declared that everyone but the Chiefs and Swift fans would be rooting for the 49ers out of protest, which was different from most years when the fan vote was closer to 50/50. I got to speak with Franklin junior I.J. Marsh about his opinion on the Taylor Swift drama, Marsh is not a huge fan of Swift, and stated, “I didn’t really care for it, [the Swift drama] I would have rather the 49ers won.”
Going into the game, the 49ers were favored to win by two points. However, the Chiefs were the defending champions and have arguably the best player in the NFL: quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs hadn’t had the regular season they expected; meanwhile the 49ers played lights out in the regular season, and were ranked as the number one seed in the NFC. In the end, both teams were able to grind it out in the postseason and both made it to the Super Bowl.
The game started hot with the 49ers marching down the field, but once in scoring position, star 49er running back Christian McCaffrey fumbled the ball, causing a huge turnover by the Chiefs to start the game. Nevertheless, the next three possessions led to punts and the first quarter ended 0-0.
To start the second quarter, 49er kicker Jake Moody made a 55-yard field goal to give the 49ers the first lead of the game at 3-0. The Chiefs were in need of a long sustaining drive and some points on the board; everything was looking good until they reached the 49ers nine-yard line when Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco fumbled the ball to SF. At that point, both teams had suffered costly turnovers in opponent territory. The next two positions led to punts for both teams. But thanks to a trick play by Jauan Jennings; a wide receiver for SF, the 49ers were able to score the first touchdown of the game with a Jennings to McCaffery catch, giving the 49ers a 10-0 lead.
Desperate not to be held scoreless at halftime, the Chiefs had four and a half minutes to put points on the board before the end of the second quarter. They were able to get to the nine-yard line again and were in prime position to score a touchdown, but the 49ers defense was able to hold strong and force the Chiefs to kick a field goal. SF went into halftime with a lead of 10-3.
Up to this point, fans were unimpressed by low scores; the game had been marketed as a high-scoring matchup but key turnovers by both teams and good defense led to a total of only 13 points. Fans were beginning to compare the game to Super Bowl LIII when the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams in a slugfest, notoriously known as one of the most boring Super Bowls of all time.
Halftime shows have been a tradition since the beginnings of the Super Bowl, first played by bands from the University of Arizona and Grambling State University. Since then, some of the most famous artists of all time have performed, including Michael Jackson, Prince, U2, and many more. This year, the R&B singer Usher performed. His performance was enjoyed by many, including myself, as he played hit songs like “Yeah” and “Superstar.” Usher also brought out special guests Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Ludacris, and Lil Jon. Franklin senior Andrew Metz enjoyed this year’s halftime show but didn’t think it was anything special: “I think it was a good halftime show … there were no insane sets like there were for Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre … I think out of the last couple [of Super Bowls] it was very middle of the pack.”
To begin the second half, the Chiefs started with the ball and were looking to tie the game up with a touchdown. However, what happened instead was very different. Patrick Mahomes threw an interception to the 49ers, giving SF a great field position to extend their lead. Even with the opportunity, the 49ers were not able to capitalize, and just like the first half, the next three positions resulted in punts for both teams. KC was finally able to break the streak when kicker Harrison Butker made a record-breaking 57-yard field goal, putting the score at 10-6. To fans’ dismay, the next two possessions ended in punts, but shockingly, the 49ers punt returner fumbled the ball during his return, leading to a Chiefs possession at SF’s 17-yard line. In a surprising turn of events, the very next play the Chiefs were able to score their first touchdown of the game with a catch from wide receiver, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, giving KC their first lead of the game at 13-10.
The 49ers started the fourth quarter in Chiefs territory and converted a clutch fourth down and three yards to go. SF was able to get in the end zone with a reception from receiver Jennings. The extra point was blocked, amidst 49er fans groans of disapproval, but SF held the lead at 16-13. At last, the much-anticipated points began racking up on the scoreboard. Following the 49er touchdown, the Chiefs marched right up the field and were threatening to score another touchdown, but the 49er defense was able to anchor down in the red zone again and force a field goal, tying the game at 16 apiece. With a little less than two minutes to go, 49er rookie kicker Jake Moody clutched up, making a 53-yard field goal to take the lead 19-16. Now Patrick Mahomes had to take his team down the field with 1:53 left to tie or take the lead. With a couple of huge third-down conversions, the Chiefs were able to make a field goal and send the game into the second overtime in Super Bowl history.
In the regular season if the first team to receive the ball scores a touchdown, they win; in the playoffs, the other team gets an opportunity to match them. This rule was imposed in 2022 because teams didn’t think that a winner should be decided over a coin toss. However, after the game, 49er players admitted they didn’t know that rule, while Chiefs players said they did know about the change. Because SF didn’t know about the rule change, when they won the coin toss, they elected to receive the ball first.
The 49er drive started really well, they were able to convert on two huge third downs, but on third and four in KC’s nine-yard line, they couldn’t and had to settle for a field goal to make the game 22-19 SF. That now meant if the Chiefs went and scored a touchdown, they would win their second Super Bowl in a row. Early into the drive, the Chiefs had a fourth and one; if they didn’t get the first down the 49ers would win the Super Bowl. But when in doubt give the ball to your best player: which was Patrick Mahomes who got the first down with ease. After a couple of third-down conversions, the Chiefs had four yards left to win the Super Bowl, and with a pass to receiver Mecole Hardman in the endzone, the Kansas City Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowls.
This year’s Super Bowl was one to remember with all the drama surrounding it and ended in one of the best ways a game can end. Two teams fought for 60 minutes to become world champions, but only one could. This 2023-2024 season, it was the Kansas City Chiefs.
