A face-to-face never seen
In a sport not spared from racial bias, athletically-minded black people have often heard their coaches suggest they play anywhere but king. It took 57 Super Bowls to see two African-American quarterbacks face to face.
Patrick Mahomes, the best player in the world, Kansas City side, and Jalen Hurts, holder for only two seasons with the Eagles. Only three African-American QBs (Doug Williams in 1988, Russell Wilson in 2014 and Mahomes in 2020) have won the “Big Game” of a league that is nearly 60% black.
A fraternal duel
“Neither of them is a good loser”, confides to the Fox 8 channel Donna Kelce. It’s a concern because one of the Kelce sons is bound to end up beaten on February 12. Never before have two brothers met in the most important game of the season. Jason, the oldest, is on a mission to protect his quarterback, Hurts. Travis, tight-end, is there to catch the balls of Mahomes (13 TD in play-offs). Both have already won a Super Bowl (the 52e for Jason, the 54e for Travis).
Jalen Hurts, the Eagles quarterback, a complete player who knows how to pass and run. (Cal Sport Media/Alamy Stock Photo)
A record to improve
Jalen Hurts is one of those spectacular quarterbacks who know how to pass and run, like his contemporary superstar Lamar Jackson (Baltimore) or Michael Vick (Atlanta Falcons) and Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers) before him. The Texan has just registered 15 touchdowns himself in a season, beating Newton’s record (14) for a QB. At only 24 years old, he has the opportunity to do better in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, and offer a second Super Bowl (in four appearances) to rambunctious Philadelphia fans.
Andy Reid hopes to become the first coach to win the Super Bowl with two different franchises. (ZUMA Press Inc./ Alamy Stock Photo)
Andy Reid, presque unique
The mustachioed Chiefs coach, in place since 2013, led Kansas City to a third Super Bowl in four seasons. Before coaching in the Midwest, he had a long career with the Philadelphia Eagles, losing the title in 2005 to Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. Only one other coach – Dan Reeves – has played in a Super Bowl against a team he himself took to the Big Game. No coach has ever won the Vince-Lombardi trophy with two different franchises. This premiere will wait at least one more season.
Rihanna will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, five years after her last performance at the Grammy Awards. (Image Press Agency/Alamy Stock Photo)
Rihanna back
The 100 million Americans in front of their televisions don’t just watch the Super Bowl for the love of their football. The $7 million for 30 second commercials and the halftime concert are just as much part of the show. Event this year, Rihanna goes back on stage for the first time since her performance at the Grammy Awards in 2018. In 2019, the popstar had refused the invitation of the NFL, because she was unhappy with the treatment inflicted on Colin Kaepernick, unofficially boycotted by the franchises. .
