Why is there a week off before the Super Bowl?
The Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, with a two-week gap after the conference championship games.
The Seattle Seahawks will take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara in the showpiece game of the 2025 NFL season on Feb. 8. However, Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just about the game itself.
Whether it is public practices, travel arrangements, media days, or sponsor obligations, both teams must navigate a packed itinerary in the lead-up to kickoff. All of that takes valuable time away from game preparation.
Since Super Bowl I, the NFL has scheduled a two-week window between the conference championship games and the final contest. The original idea was to give the promotion of the game time to build. As the Super Bowl grew into a global event, its organizational demands grew with it.
A Super Bowl rematch over a decade in the making. #SBLX pic.twitter.com/xrE8WtIGx5
— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2026
The logistical frenzy
Getting tickets from the league to the teams and then to fans and sponsors, securing hotel blocks, painting end zones, installing team graphics throughout the stadium, and coordinating security are just some of the endless tasks that must be completed within those two weeks.
Fans also begin their Super Bowl plans the moment both teams are decided. That often means thousands of people traveling to the host city, including team staff and family members. Trying to manage that volume of people on a compressed timeline would be all but impossible.
If the league allowed only one week before the Super Bowl, the four teams playing in the conference title games would not even know whether they were flying home after a loss or heading straight to the host city for the biggest game of the year.
The Super Bowl hype
As the Super Bowl’s popularity has grown, so has the importance of the buildup. A huge part of the excitement comes from the weeks leading up to the game, not just the kickoff itself.
For two straight weeks, media outlets focus almost exclusively on the Super Bowl. The saturation is so intense that even non-football fans are often tempted to tune in just to see what all the fuss is about.
The extra week also benefits celebrities, advertisers, and brands. It gives them more time to sell products, promote events, and create buzz around the game. That extended runway allows for days of parties, sponsor activations, business meetings, fan zones, and the entire entertainment ecosystem that now surrounds Super Bowl week.
The Pro Bowl move
Another key factor in the two-week window is the Pro Bowl’s move from after the Super Bowl to the week before it, a change that took place in 2010.
The league has leaned heavily into promoting flag football in recent years and would not have wanted the Pro Bowl platform squeezed out or canceled because of a rushed playoff schedule.
Teams need to rest
Beyond logistics and marketing, there is also a football reason for the break. Giving both teams time to rest and recover before chasing the Vince Lombardi Trophy is crucial.
After a non-stop season that begins in September, that extra week can make a real difference, especially for players dealing with injuries and teams trying to put together one final game plan for the biggest stage in sports.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment