On the menu today…

New York Times

10-02-2025

Led by a stifling defense that forced Patrick Mahomes into three turnovers, the Eagles captured their second Super Bowl title Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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5,000-plus alligator sausages are expected to be sold today, as well as… $6,500-plus pounds of shrimp just for po boys
50,000-plus legally sourced baguettes
150,000 nacho chips to be eaten
Half a ton of soft shell crabs will be cooked up
12,000-plus local oysters were purchased
50,000-plus cocktails will be stirred and served
1.3 tons of short ribs prepped
700,000-plus ounces of beer will be served
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There is nothing quite like the cuisine in New Orleans — for my money, it's the best food city in the NFL. If I lived here (and I almost did a few years ago), I would need to buy looser jeans.
The first time I came to New Orleans while I was in college, my roommate and I went to a restaurant owned by Archie Manning and tried turtle soup and alligator sliders for the first time. I love po' boys and etouffee and king cake and beignets and red beans and rice and and pralines and muffalettas and charbroiled oysters. If the last meal I ever had was at a crawfish boil, I would die a happy man.
(One New Orleans staple I don't recommend: Hand Grenades on Bourbon Street.)
With that in mind, it was an easy choice to take part in the NFL's food and beverage preview ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl at the Superdome. The line to get into the stadium for this event was long, but it was worth the wait. Most of the reporters in attendance seemed to work in television — I am but a lowly writer, with a face for radio, who just wanted to eat some alligator. I waited for all of the TV people to get their B-roll from the sideline, and then we were escorted up to the private suite area where all of the food was on display. We were instructed to wait until every reporter — there were hundreds in attendance, I gather — had a chance to get photos and videos of the food on display.
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Ranking the Super Bowl food options in New Orleans: Alligator, crawfish, po' boys and more
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The Superdome is the seventh-biggest NFL venue, with a capacity of 73,208, and is the biggest stadium to host a Super Bowl in 14 years. Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium is the fourth smallest of the 30 NFL stadiums, holding a capacity of 65,000 people.
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StubHub spokesman Adam Budelli told The Athletic multiple factors are behind dropping ticket prices — including that the Chiefs played in the Super Bowl last year.
💬 'First and foremost, the good news for fans is that the Superdome does have more seats than we saw last year in Las Vegas (at Allegiant Stadium),' Budelli said. 'There is probably a little bit of Chiefs fatigue. That was also seen in some of the pricing in the AFC Championship Game compared to what we saw in Philadelphia for the NFC game.
'When you look at ticket price what also comes into play is how expensive it is to get to that location. New Orleans is a great city and great host and they are putting so much flair around the game itself, but from a hotel standpoint as well as some of the airlines, it is a little bit more expensive to get here than we saw last year in Las Vegas. That's especially because a lot of the demand was driven by 49ers fans — an hour, hour-and-a-half flight makes it much easier to get there.'
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A year after tickets for Super Bowl LVIII were the most expensive on record, tickets for Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have gone in the opposite direction.
The 'get-in' price on StubHub for Sunday's game at the Caesars Superdome is down 62 percent from this time last year. As of Thursday afternoon, the get-in cost of one ticket was $2,612 (before including a fulfillment and service fee of around $900). At this time last year, the 'get-in' price on StubHub was $6,900 (before fees) for the game between the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.
That trend tracks across the industry, with TickPick's cheapest single ticket as of Thursday afternoon for this year's game at an all-in price of $3,347. Last year, it was around $8,000 — down nearly 58 percent from last year. SeatGeek's lowest price was $2,692 (excluding fees and taxes of over $1,200), while Vivid Seats had a single ticket for $2,487 (excluding fees, which include fees and taxes of over $1,000).
The first block of Bourbon Street is, normally, the start of a party. It is flanked on four sides by a Kilwins ice cream shop, a Walgreens, Larry Flynt's Hustler Club and a Krystal burger restaurant: The four horsemen of debauchery and recovery waiting for you before and after a night of revelry.
Now, nestled between those institutions rests a memorial. Heartfelt messages dot the walls on either side of the street. Murals of the 14 people murdered in the New Year's terrorist attack sit under them.
I visited Bourbon Street last Sunday for the first time since the attack. Most passing through didn't know what to do with the memorial. Some stopped to take pictures and pay a nominal tribute. One woman leaned into her partner, quietly crying at the scene. Steps away, a teenager filmed a TikTok video, dancing down Bourbon Street.
A city that celebrates better than most, New Orleans will today welcome the Kansas City Chiefs, the Philadelphia Eagles and hundreds of thousands of people for Super Bowl LIX, intent on throwing the party people in and out of the city expect — all while plenty, understandably, still grapple with a terrorist attack that took the lives of so many.
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The Super Bowl is near, and New Orleans 'moves through,' but Jan. 1 isn't forgotten
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There is a huge security operation in place today after the tragic events of January 1, when a deadly ramming attack on the city's famous Bourbon Street left 14 people dead and dozens wounded.
That street is now part of an 'enhanced security zone' — with law enforcement officers able to search the bags of people entering the area. New steel barriers have also been erected.
About 2,000 law enforcement officers have been employed to keep fans safe this weekend.
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Today's game marks the 11th time — equaling Miami for the most — that New Orleans has hosted the Super Bowl.
It is also the first time in 12 years that the game has been played at the Superdome.
Getty Images The opening kickoff has been returned for a touchdown only once, by Devin Hester for the Bears against the Colts in 2007.
for the Bears against the Colts in 2007. ... and yet that play, which took 14 seconds, doesn't hold the record for the quickest score. A botched snap by the Broncos gave the Seahawks a safety just 12 seconds into the game in 2014.
There has never been a punt returned for a touchdown.
There have only been two Super Bowls to go to overtime: Patriots vs. Falcons in 2017 and Chiefs vs. 49ers last year.
No team has ever been shut out. Washington came the closest in 1973, failing to score until there was just 2:07 left in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots hold the record for the biggest comeback, rallying from 25 points down against the Falcons in 2017.
There have been nine safeties, but never more than one in a single game.
There has never been a Super Bowl between two wild-card teams.
Nor has there been a Super Bowl between two teams from the same metropolitan area.
Getty Images Fewest total yards allowed: 119 – Steelers vs. Vikings, 1975
– Steelers vs. Vikings, 1975 Fewest rushing yards allowed: 7 – Bears vs. Patriots, 1986
– Bears vs. Patriots, 1986 Fewest net passing yards allowed: 35 – Cowboys vs. Broncos, 1978
– Cowboys vs. Broncos, 1978 Most takeaways: 9 – Cowboys vs. Bills, 1993
– Cowboys vs. Bills, 1993 Most interceptions: 5 – Buccaneers vs. Raiders, 2003
– Buccaneers vs. Raiders, 2003 Most opponent fumbles recovered: 5 – Cowboys vs. Bills, 1993
– Cowboys vs. Bills, 1993 Most sacks: 7 – four instances, most recently by Rams vs. Bengals, 2022
Getty Images Most total yards: 613 – Patriots vs. Eagles, 2018
– Patriots vs. Eagles, 2018 Most rushing yards: 280 – Washington vs. Broncos, 1988
– Washington vs. Broncos, 1988 Most passing yards: 500 – Patriots vs. Eagles, 2018
– Patriots vs. Eagles, 2018 Most touchdowns: 8 – 49ers vs. Broncos, 1990
– 49ers vs. Broncos, 1990 Most first downs: 37 – Patriots vs. Falcons, 2017
Getty Images Most points: 55 – 49ers vs. Broncos, 1990
– 49ers vs. Broncos, 1990 Fewest points allowed: 3 – Cowboys vs. Dolphins, 1972; 3 – Patriots vs. Rams, 2019
– Cowboys vs. Dolphins, 1972; 3 – Patriots vs. Rams, 2019 Most points by losing team: 35 – Eagles vs. Chiefs, 2023
– Eagles vs. Chiefs, 2023 Fewest points by winning team: 13 – Patriots vs. Rams, 2019
– Patriots vs. Rams, 2019 Largest margin of victory: 45 points – 49ers vs. Broncos, 1990
– 49ers vs. Broncos, 1990 Smallest margin of victory: 1 point – Giants vs. Bills, 1991
Getty Images Most appearances as head coach: 9 – Bill Belichick , Patriots
, Patriots Most wins as head coach: 6 – Bill Belichick , Patriots
, Patriots Most losses as head coach: 4 – Bud Grant , Vikings; Don Shula , Colts and Dolphins (3x); Marv Levy , Bills; Dan Reeves , Broncos (3x) and Falcons
, Vikings; , Colts and Dolphins (3x); , Bills; , Broncos (3x) and Falcons Won as a player and as a coach: Tom Flores: Chiefs (1970), Raiders (1981, 1984); Mike Ditka: Cowboys (1972), Bears (1986); Tony Dungy: Steelers (1979), Colts (2007); Doug Pederson: Packers (1997), Eagles (2018)
Five coaches have led two different teams to the Super Bowl, but none have ever won a title with two teams. Most notable on this list is Andy Reid, who led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2005 before winning three titles (thus far) with the Chiefs. The other four coaches to do so are Don Shula, Bill Parcells, Mike Holmgren and Dick Vermeil.
Getty Images Longest kickoff return touchdown: Jacoby Jones , 108 yards – Ravens vs. 49ers, 2013
, 108 yards – Ravens vs. 49ers, 2013 Longest punt return: Kadarius Toney , 65 yards – Chiefs vs. Eagles, 2023
, 65 yards – Chiefs vs. Eagles, 2023 Longest field goal: Harrison Butker , 57 yards – Chiefs vs. 49ers, 2024
, 57 yards – Chiefs vs. 49ers, 2024 Longest punt: Johnny Hekker, 65 yards – Rams vs. Patriots, 2019
Getty Images Most interceptions: Rod Martin , 3 – Raiders vs. Eagles, 1981
, 3 – Raiders vs. Eagles, 1981 Longest pick six: James Harrison , 100 yards – Steelers vs. Cardinals, 2009
, 100 yards – Steelers vs. Cardinals, 2009 Most forced fumbles: Von Miller , 2 – Broncos vs. Panthers, 2016; Chris Clemons , 2 – Seahawks vs. Broncos, 2014
, 2 – Broncos vs. Panthers, 2016; , 2 – Seahawks vs. Broncos, 2014 Most sacks: L. C. Greenwood, 4 – Steelers vs. Cowboys, 1976
4 – Steelers vs. Cowboys, 1976 Most tackles: Dan Morgan, 18 – Panthers vs. Patriots, 2004
Getty Images Most passing yards: Tom Brady , 505 – Patriots vs. Eagles, 2018
, 505 – Patriots vs. Eagles, 2018 Most touchdown passes: Steve Young , 6 - 49ers vs. Chargers, 1995
, 6 - 49ers vs. Chargers, 1995 Most rushing yards: Timmy Smith , 204 – Washington vs. Broncos, 1988
, 204 – Washington vs. Broncos, 1988 Most rushing touchdowns: Jalen Hurts , 3 - Eagles vs. Chiefs, 2023; Terrell Davis, 3 – Broncos vs. Packers, 1998
, 3 - Eagles vs. Chiefs, 2023; Terrell Davis, 3 – Broncos vs. Packers, 1998 Most receiving yards: Jerry Rice , 215 – 49ers vs. Bengals, 1989
, 215 – 49ers vs. Bengals, 1989 Most receiving touchdowns: Jerry Rice, 3 – 49ers vs. Broncos, 1990; Jerry Rice, 3 – 49ers vs. Chargers, 1995
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There are four players on the Eagles roster who were also playing for the team when Philadelphia won its lone Super Bowl title in 2018: Offensive tackle Lane Johnson (pictured)
(pictured) Defensive end Brandon Graham
Kicker Jake Elliott
Long snapper Rick Lovato
Several more were of course on the team two years ago when the Eagles lost to the Chiefs, including Jalen Hurts.
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There are five players who are making their fifth Super Bowl appearance each with the Chiefs. Knowledgeable fans will be able to list four of them, but the fifth name is a tricky one... Quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Tight end Travis Kelce
Defensive tackle Chris Jones
Kicker Harrison Butker
Long snapper James Winchester (pictured)
Three players jointly hold the ignominious distinction of having suffered the most Super Bowl defeats in NFL history, and what's worse, none of them ever tasted victory.
Longtime backup quarterback Gale Gilbert (pictured), linebacker Cornelius Bennett and offensive lineman Glenn Parker each suffered five Super Bowl defeats. All three players were on the Bills' roster for the team's four straight losses in the early 90s.
Gilbert moved to the Chargers and suffered a fifth straight loss, while Bennett and Parker had later defeats with the Falcons and Giants, respectively.
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Led by a stifling defense that forced Patrick Mahomes into three turnovers, the Eagles captured their second Super Bowl title Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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NEW ORLEANS — Nick Sirianni stood in his private locker room, taking temporary refuge from the revelry around him. About 20 feet away, in a much larger locker room, rap music blasted, champagne spilled and cigar smoke wafted through the air.
Nearly two hours after crushing the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, the Philadelphia Eagles were still awash in a full-throttle celebration. Sirianni, their polarizing head coach — a man known for being in the middle of passionate displays, and sometimes for pushing the extremes of his emotions — was strangely serene.
He wanted a cigar. He wanted a drink. At this point, still, he had neither.
What Sirianni did have was the deep satisfaction of knowing that he was now football's version of a made man. For all the talk about his conspicuous outbursts, for all the speculation that he's perpetually a bad loss away from losing his job, this 40-22 victory over Andy Reid — Andy Reid! — and the Chiefs validated his methods and vaulted him into a different realm.
Say what you must about the NFL's most flagrant hothead-in-a-headset, but understand that he will now be called 'Super Bowl champion Nick Sirianni' forevermore.
Read more on Sirianni's ultimate vindication below.
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Eagles, Nick Sirianni stayed true to themselves in becoming Super Bowl champions
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NEW ORLEANS — When asked how much he was taken aback by the extent of his team's Super Bowl LIX loss, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins provided a fairly harmless response: 'A loss is a loss. It's a 'W' or an 'L' at the end of the day.'
Then, Hopkins branched off within the same answer, obviously wanting to get something off his chest following Sunday night's 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
'I saw a lot of things in the media about the refs but, obviously, (expletive), what y'all gonna say now about the refs and us when there was a lot of touchy calls?' Hopkins said. 'Are y'all gonna report that? Are y'all gonna talk about the refs now?'
It wasn't officiating that doomed the Chiefs, though. For all the blame that will land on Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs' failed attempt at a three-peat (and any blame Hopkins wanted to drop on the officials), the makeshift pieces surrounding Kansas City's superstar quarterback along the offensive line and wide receiver room didn't help matters against an Eagles squad that owned the Chiefs in every phase.
Read more below on how the Chiefs' offensive line and wide receivers crumbled around Mahomes.
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Chiefs' shoddy O-line, WR corps prove too much for Patrick Mahomes to overcome
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There's not much left to be said about Saquon Barkley. Him winning a ring in Philly after an all-time season put a bow on this disastrous year for the Giants.
But more consequential, the Eagles don't look like they're going anywhere for a while. They seamlessly replaced (or have replacements in line) for some of the core veterans from the Super Bowl loss two years ago. And the quarterback everyone picks apart just flat-out wins, and has elevated his game in both Super Bowls.
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Saquon Barkley's Super Bowl run caps agonizing year for Giants and their fans
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Happy Valentine's Day, Eagles fans.
The Eagles' second-ever Super Bowl parade will be held Friday, the City of Philadelphia announced. The city said more details would be announced in conjunction with the Eagles "soon."
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One final piece of business to take care of in New Orleans. On little (or no) sleep, Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts joined Roger Goodell for the annual Super Bowl day-after press conference featuring the winning coach and MVP.
Goodell called the Eagles' win in Super Bowl LIX a "dominant victory, extraordinary on all levels."
With some more time to reflect, Sirianni returned to the theme of embracing adversity when talking about his team.
"I look back at how last year ended, and I'm grateful because it shaped us into who we are today," Sirianni said.
Hurts, meanwhile, is already looking forward to the celebration back home.
"To bring a championship back to Philadelphia means everything," the Super Bowl LIX MVP said.
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NEW ORLEANS — On Sunday night, Jalen Hurts carried the weight of the world. He held it in his right hand as he walked to a spot in the locker room where he could lean against the wall, slide to the floor, stretch out his legs and place the Lombardi Trophy between them. He let out a puff of smoke as he stared at his reflection in the trophy. Slowly, reporters, Eagles staffers and teammates noticed him. They took photos and videos on their phones, but Hurts was unbothered. He bobbed his head to 'Happy Feelin's,' an R&B song by Maze playing in the other room, all while his teammates were shotgunning beers, ripping off their shirts and dancing.
'Put some respect on his name,' a shirtless Saquon Barkley shouted, making sure a group of reporters could hear him over the deafening music and the excited screams of teammates.
Sometimes, Hurts simply prefers the calm away from the storm; he's earned that after spending so much time in the middle of it.
Read more about Hurts' long, doubter-filled journey to becoming Super Bowl LIX MVP below.
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Jalen Hurts earned his Super Bowl MVP moment — and the quiet that comes in its wake
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NEW ORLEANS — There Howie Roseman danced, a cigar between his fingers, surrounded by the team that dismantled a dynasty. Players urged their general manager on. Others showered him with champagne. More stood atop their lockers, hollering over speakers that pulsated lyrics that partly defined their franchise within Future's 'Lil Demon.'
Go platinum, f— a budget.
On how Roseman, Jeffrey Lurie and the Eagles did just that to get their Super Bowl revenge on Kansas City:
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The Eagles defense couldn't stop Mahomes in 2022. In Super Bowl 59 they got their revenge
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Speaking on NFL Network after the Eagles' Super Bowl win, Saquon Barkley did not hold back on what he hoped his 2024 season communicated about running backs in the modern NFL.
💬 "It's not gonna change. You're gonna have some GMs that believe that you can go get a back anywhere, you have some GMs like Howie that believe the back could be the final piece. I just hate the narrative only with the running backs — we give too much credit to quarterbacks, we give too much credit to wide receivers, it's a team sport. Hopefully, it's not just that I showed the position is back. Just change the whole narrative (to) if you surround a great player with other great players and put them in a great environment, he's gonna thrive. It takes a team."
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I caught up with open and reflective Nick Sirianni as he walked off the field in New Orleans as a Super Bowl champion:
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Eagles general manager Howie Roseman can now say he's the architect of the only two Super Bowl champion teams in franchise history, but deferred the credit when asked:
💬 "Really proud of the players and coaches. They had the adversity early in the year, they fought threw it, now they're world champs. ... Coach (Sirianni) has this sign, 'You can't be great without the greatness of others,' and I can't be great because I don't play. Very special group that we have,"
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Rookie Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean will always remember his 22nd birthday as the day he got a pick six to help his team win the Super Bowl.
💬 "We're world champs! ... I'm just happy to be part of it. We stuck together the whole year and we earned it. ... It's the best birthday present ever."
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Veteran Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson confirmed to me he's definitely not retiring after winning his second Super Bowl (he's one of the few holdovers from the Philadelphia team that won it all seven years ago).
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I got to talk to several Eagles players and coaches as they walked off the field following Super Bowl LIX. The first one I talked to was wide receiver A.J. Brown, who said the Eagles' defense played "unbelievable."
💬 "They played lights out. That's a good team, that's a good quarterback — probably the best quarterback in the game, and we just made him look average. And we know he's not average."
Brown also heaped praise on his own quarterback, Jalen Hurts.
💬 "Hell of a game. Poised all game. In control, (throwing) dimes. Man, he played his butt off."
Patrick Mahomes took responsibility for the Chiefs' Super Bowl loss in a message to fans on his X account, saying, "I let y'all down today."
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Respect to Jalen Hurts. They could make a movie out of that man's career. His perseverance is admirable.
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