Super Bowl 2024 live: 49ers - Chiefs pregame updates | 9 February summary news
Super Bowl 2024 build-up, Friday 9 February 2024
What is a "Star-Spangled Banner"?
Of course, the Super Bowl wouldn't be the Super Bowl without the national anthem being belted out beforehand. Lots of you will likely know the words to sing along to "Star-Spangled Banner," but what's the meaning behind the name? And have you ever heard the word "spangled" in any other context?
Chiefs' last practice
This is what it's all building up to. The 2023 season started on 7 September and, just over five months later, will come to an end in Las Vegas on Sunday. What will we do once it's over? I suspect we'll have plenty of other things to keep us entertained as we wait for the 2024 season, while the winners in Sin City will have plenty of time to celebrate.
One last game.
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Reaching the Super Bowl in your rookie season in the NFL? The stuff dreams are made of for 49ers placekicker Jake Moody. This year, he set the record for the longest successful kick by a rookie kicker (57 yards) and has also made a pretty penny or two.
Why do the Chiefs and 49ers both play in red?
As we discussed a little earlier, there is a bit of a color clash going on for this year's Super Bowl. Luckily, the Chiefs and 49ers won't both be wearing red (can you imagine?), with the Niners, the "away" team, switching to white for Sunday's game.
Buy why do they both play in red anyway? Good question! Paul is the man with all the answers.
Kelley L Cox / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
San Francisco 49ers: how they reached the Super Bowl
1st in NFC West (12-5)
Divisional playoffs: Green Bay Packers 21-29 49ers
NFC Championship: Detroit Lions 31-34 49ers
ROB CARR / Getty Images via AFP
Kansas City Chiefs: how they reached the Super Bowl
1st in AFC West (11-6)
Wild Card playoffs: Miami Dolphins 7-26 Chiefs
Divisional playoffs: Chiefs 27-24 Buffalo Bills
AFC Championship: Chiefs 17-10 Baltimore Ravens
How much of a factor could the weather in Las Vegas be? Well, you'd imagine the game being played at a brand spanking new (more or less) stadium means it'll be pretty sheltered from the elements. So maybe this question is more for fans who have travelled to Sin City than for the players?
Alicia Keys "confirmed" as Halftime Show guest with Usher
For some, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is almost a big as the game itself. For others, it's even bigger...
Reports claim this year's headliner, Usher, will be joined on stage by Alicia Keys. The pair bagged a number one single, "My Boo", in 2004.
What are your favourite Halftime Show performances?
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Many of you may well remember the recent Super Bowl between the Chiefs and the 49ers, which Kansas City ended up winning in 2020. Both teams have reached plenty of championship games, but have there been any other meetings between the two? Sveto takes a look.
Every team's Super Bowl record
There have been 20 Super Bowl winners over the years, with four franchises yet to feature in a championship game. How's your team doing?
For what it's worth, the Chiefs are 3-2, with the 49ers 5-2. Who's getting a third L tomorrow?
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Few men have as much NFL - and indeed Super Bowl - experience than Chiefs' coach Andy Reid. William is here to take a little look at his coaching record with his current team, who he has been with for 11 years, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Over on the Chiefs' side of things, Andy Reid has helped create something of a dynasty, with his team reaching four Super Bowls in five years. He's been explaining why he's always been confident of success with the Kansas City franchise.
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How are the home and away teams designated?
Get used to seeing Brock Purdy in that white 49ers jersey. The Californians have been designated as the away team for Sunday's game in Las Vegas and the Chiefs, the home team, have opted to play in red. How are home and away teams decided for Super Bowls?
Great question. Here's how.
Niners' staff on the way to Las Vegas
We normally think of NFL teams as being a 53-man roster or having 11 players out on the field. But there's A LOT more to it than that, as this clip from the San Francisco 49ers social media team helps to show. Over 800 full-time staff have headed to Las Vegas for Sunday's game against the Chiegs
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Who is 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan?
The on-field protagonists, in this case Mahomes, Kelce, Purdy and the likes, often take centre stage when it comes to the Super Bowl, but the off-field battle on the touchline is, of course, just as important. Andy Reid will hope to lead the Chiefs to a third championship, while the Niners' Kyle Shanahan is looking for his first victory at this stage.
Here's the lowdown on the 44 year old, courtesy of Paul.
Super Bowl records
With the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Brock Purdy taking to the field on Sunday, would it surprise you to see any number of Super Bowl records broken at Allegiant Stadium? Here are how a whole host of them currently look.
Which ones can you see falling this weekend?
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Kyle Shanahan’s men face the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of 2019′s NFL championship game this Sunday but who are the favorites to be crowned champions?
"It's an opportunity to become champions. It's everyone's dream to win the Super Bowl and just having the chance to play in a game like this is amazing. From the moment you step into the stadium, you feel the atmosphere vibrating around the stands and that has an effect because not everyone has the opportunity to play such a huge game. It's an opportunity you have to take. Being crowned champions is what you live for, what you work towards, every day, every week... missing out on that is very tough".
All the rings at the Sphere
Spectacular. All 57 Super Bowl rings in all their glory on the Sphere's 16K resolution wraparound LED videoscreen.
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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (centre) passes the ball during practice in Las Vegas on Friday, ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
(Photo by JAMIE SQUIRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Speaking at the announcement that the Bernabéu is to host an NFL game in 2025, NFL executive VP Peter O’Reilly spoke glowingly of the remodelled arena.
“We got the chance to set foot in the Bernabéu in its new form for a Champions League match earlier this year, and we were just blown away by that incredible stadium," he said.
Edging closer to Super Bowl time...
The Las Vegas Sphere, which boasts a spectacular LED exterior, is leading the countdown to Super Bowl LVIII.
The Sphere's high-tech 'exosphere' has also been used by Super Bowl advertisers, who have had to dig deep for screen time on the entertainment venue's outer shell.
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Having also made a cameo appearance just over a decade ago, Usher is preparing for his first Halftime Show as the headline act - and says he's preparing a performance that will offer fans "hope for the future".
But which team does the eight-time Grammy winner support himself?
AS USA's William Allen takes a look at Usher's NFL allegiances.
During today's announcement of a Spain game in 2025, the NFL's executive VP, Peter O'Reilly, said the league had no plans to build on its series of overseas fixtures by bringing international franchises into the competition.
At Allegiant Stadium, Mahomes will - as ever - be cheered on by his wife, Brittany.
AS USA's Corina González profiles the quarterback's childhood sweetheart, who is also a major figure in the Kansas City sporting scene.
Mahomes "makes it look so simple" - former Chiefs QB
Former Kansas City quarterback Rich Gannon has spoken of his admiration for Patrick Mahomes, as the Chiefs’ signal caller bids to win a third Super Bowl in only his sixth season as the team’s No. 1 QB.
“Mahomes irritates me, because he makes it look so simple and I know it’s not,” Gannon said. “I’ve got great respect for Patrick’s body of work, and what he’s been able to accomplish in his first six years as a starter.”
The 58-year-old, who spent four seasons with the Chiefs in the second half of the 1990s, added of Mahomes: “He has so many of the qualities that we love in that position.
“Most importantly, there’s his accuracy, his anticipation and his decision-making, but I think what I appreciate most about him is his ability to turn a bad play into a great play.”
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McCaffrey laughs off hotel fire alarm
Super Bowl fever is sweeping the nation and supporters will do anything to to give their team the slightest edge, but it looks like some fans may have taken things a little to far in the build up to Sunday's game. The San Francisco 49ers were woken up in the early hours by a fire alarm in the team hotel. The sirens later turned out to be a false alarm.
Many suspect rival fans may be behind the nighttime disruption and 49ers star Christian McCaffrey is no different.
"Is it random? No, there's no way it was random. But this is all part of it," he said.
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Behind the scenes with the Super Bowl 'bomb squad'
It's one of the biggest events on the planet and, with around 60,000 fans packing the Allegiant Stadium on Sunday night, keeping everyone at Super Bowl LVIII safe is no easy feat.
There are countless agencies and law enforcement entities involved in the production, but one of the little-known groups involved are the FBI Bomb Technicians. They spend more than a year planning to make sure spectators are safe and the big game goes off, figuratively, without a hitch.
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NFL announces Madrid fixture for 2025
The 2023 NFL season is closing in on the thrilling finale, Super Bowl LVIII, but the league has just announced the location of the NFL International Games for 2025. Football fans in Madrid, Spain will get the chance to see a competitive NFL fixture up close in Real Madrid's iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Previous editions of the overseas fixture have been held in London, Mexico City, Munich and Frankfurt.
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The Super Bowl in a sporting institution, a cultural phenomenon, and an advertising bonanza. Every year some of the world's most famous faces are rolled out for lavish commercials for big-name brands.
This year the world's most expensive piece of advertising real estate is though to run around $7 million for a 30-second slot. Lionel Messi stars alongside Jason Sudeikis and Dan Marino in one of this year's most highly-anticipated ads.
NFL MVP awarded to Lamar Jackson
His Baltimore Ravens may have been defeated in the NFL Championship Game, one step away from the Super Bowl, but Lamar Jackson was celebrating last night. The 27-year-old was named the 2023 MVP at the NFL Honors evening on Thursday, the second time that he has been named the league's best player.
Last year's winner was Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who became just the 11th player to win the league MVP and the Super Bowl in the same season. Mahomes will not be able to repeat that historic double this year, but he can win a third championship ring on Sunday.
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Usher, who is to perform the Halftime Show during Sunday’s Super Bowl clash between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, has never seen his team lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The R&B singer is a fan of the Atlanta Falcons, who are one of 12 franchises in the NFL that are yet to win a Super Bowl. The Falcons have reached the championship game twice, but on both occasions conceded 34 points on their way to defeat. The Georgians lost out to the Denver Broncos in 1998 and - after throwing away a huge lead - to the New England Patriots in 2016.
Most Valuable Player in a Super Bowl is the outstanding individual award available for a footballer in the big game. Over the course of the 57 Super Bowls, 47 players have been named MVP, with six players being named more than once. If you want to be named MVP in a Super Bowl it helps to be a quarterback.
The San Francisco 49ers and defending champions Kansas City Chiefs take to the field at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday. Around 1,000 private planes are expected at Las Vegas area airports this weekend.
In last year’s game in Glendale, Arizona, there were 562 business plane arrivals at airports for the occasion. The 2022 event in Los Angeles saw 752 arrivals, as per the business aviation tracker WingX.
Who's on national anthem duty on Sunday?
R&B star Usher will look to wow the crowd at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Sunday during the half-time interval with Reba McEntire set to perform the national anthem at Super Bowl LVIII as part of a pregame performance in Vegas.
Post Malone is slated to sing “America the Beautiful” before McEntire takes the stage and Andra Day will then perform a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Following Chris Stapleton in 2023, 68-year-old Reba, is the second consecutive country performer to be given Super Bowl anthem assignment.
Drue Tranquill of the Kansas City Chiefs and MLS star Omar González are among the sportspeople who wear the collar to protect themselves from brain damage.
Fascinating insight as the FC Dallas player explains to our colleague Will Gittins (as part of an exclusive interview) the benefits of wearing the collar.
Will Keano be in Vegas?
Former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United legend Roy Keane has made no secret of love for the 49ers and has visited the Santa Clara stadium on a number of times over the years.
Will Cork's favourite son make it to Vegas to see the San Francisco side possibly clinch their sixth Super Bowl victory in franchise history?
Helmets for the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs / Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
49ers injury updates
George Kittle (toe) and defensive lineman Arik Armstead (foot, knee) were both limited participants in practice for the first time since the team clinched their Super Bowl berth, the same applied to Ambry Thomas (ankle) and linebacker Oren Burks (shoulder).
Tackle Trent Williams was the only player to not practice because of his normal veteran rest day.
Latest Chiefs injury report
Joe Thuney failed to train with the Chiefs on Thursday and is a doubt for Sunday with McKinnon, Rashee Rice, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire only able to train partially as they recover from their respective injuries.
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Get your Super Bowl x Usher cap
The Usher x New Era x 9FIFTY Snapback Hat is just one of the many items of merchandise the Super Bowl throws up this year.
This year, half-time artist Usher has his own Super Bowl line featuring t-shirts, caps and replica footballs.
A look back at the last ten triumphant teams from a decade of Super Bowl finals.
The playing surface in Vegas is ready
A fine time lapse video shows how the pitch was laid out with team logos and markings ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl final.
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Getting a Super Bowl ticket
With this year’s Super Bowl set to be hosted at the 65,000-seater Allegiant Stadium, the fourth-smallest venue in NFL, this means that tickets are at a real premium this year, even more than usual.
So, what to do if you’ve missed out on a ticket via the traditional avenues and you are still desperate to see the action in Vegas on Sunday night.
Assuming one is deep pocketed, then resorting to resale platforms is the inevitable alternative. At the time of writing (8 February), Seat Geek’s cheapest ticket offers a Section 324 (Row 8) Super Bowl ticket for just under $6,000.
Adele is in town
Adele will perform at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and those lucky enough will have the chance to see her on both Friday and Saturday this weekend
For other music fans in Vegas this weekend, Christina Aguilera will take to the stage at the Voltaire Belle De Nuit at The Venetian on February 9 and 10. Kool & the Gang will get things going at the International Westgate Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on February 9 and will also be performing on February 10.
With so much happening over the next few days, the “Entertainment Capital of the World” should live up to expectations as the 49ers take on the Chiefs in the main event this weekend.
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Prince, Michael Jackson, Coldplay, Rihanna, Madonna, The Weeknd... who stole the show at the legendary Super Bowl half-time interlude over the years?
Breaking down the good, bad and forgettable.
LARRY W. SMITH / EFE
The last time the Chiefs and 49ers met
The last time the two NFL powerhouses faced one another was in October 2022 as a packed house at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara watched the Chiefs overcome with a 44-23 win. A dominant showing from the visitors in the second half with Patrick Mahomes supplying key passes was instrumental in seeing the Chiefs secure a comfortable victory.
"Sheer terror" of half-time show set-up
The Super Bowl halftime show typically lasts around 13 minutes. Indeed, that was something that Rihanna commented on in the past when she considered the daunting nature of squeezing 17 years of music into a show that fans in Arizona, could enjoy. This year of course will see Usher take on the task of entertaining not just those in attendance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the hundreds of millions of viewers across the globe as well.
“Six minutes on and six minutes off the stage,” Charles Coplin, a former vice president of special events for the NFL, said in 2010. “There’s just no way to describe that other than sheer terror.”
Spain to host 2025 NFL international game
The city of Madrid, Spain, will host an official NFL game in 2025. The announcement will be made by Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice-president of club business and league events. As part of the 2025 season, Real Madrid’s newly revamped Santiago Bernabéu in the capital will host a regular season match.
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All roads lead to Vegas
Baltimore and Detroit were both the beaten semifinalists with Tigers fans still coming to terms with almost securing a place in what would have been the team's first ever Super Bowl appearance.
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It's getting closer !
Welcome, once again to our daily build-up ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
Can the Chiefs retain then title they won last against the Philadelphia Eagles or can the the 49ers stem the run of two defeats at their last two Super Bowl finals in 2012 and 2019?
We will bringing you all the news need to know - and a little of what you don't - over the coming days to get you in the mood for the big game.
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is our host on Sunday 11 February as Super Bowl LVIII looms.