Super Bowl LIV: Interesting Facts and Tidbits

The NFL’s biggest game of the year is fascinating on many levels

Super Bowl LIV (that’s number 54 for you non-Romans) will be kicking off in a little over the week. The matchup of the Kansas City Chiefs versus the San Francisco 49ers is one that is highly anticipated, as both teams are led by exciting young quarterbacks. As fans make preparation to watch the biggest game of the year in all of sports, here are some interesting notes and tidbits.

San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo just turned 28 and has only 26 regular-season starts to his name thus far in his career. However, if the 49ers win it will be his third Super Bowl ring. He won two with the New England Patriots (2015 and 2017) while backing up the legendary Tom Brady.

Neither Garoppolo or Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes have done much losing since reaching the NFL. Including the playoffs, their records as starters stand at 28–8 for Mahomes and 23–5 for Garoppolo.

Veteran San Francisco place kicker Robbie Gould is in his 15th NFL season and is participating in his fifth postseason. Typically a steady performer during the regular season, he is stone-cold in the playoffs, connecting on all 27 extra points and 13 field goals he has attempted over the years.

Super Bowl I, which took place in 1967 between the Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers had ticket prices that ranged between $6 and $12. The high price of the tickets contributed to the game not selling out, as the Packers thumped the Chiefs 35–10. In comparison, the Wall Street Journal reports that 2020 ticket prices are expected to reach $2,600 — and that’s before the raised prices of scalpers and ticket brokers.

The half-time show is one of the most anticipated elements of the Super Bowl, with some of the biggest names in the musical industry frequently performing. In 1985, the half-time show featured a musical pirate ship, circus performers and a man flying around the field with a jet pack strapped to his back to demonstrate the anticipated technological strides the United States was making in the future.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan is adding to his family legacy. His father Mike won a Super Bowl when he was the offensive coordinator of the 49ers in 1994 and then won two more as the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 1997–1998.

In their first 3,804 combined snaps, Mahomes and Garoppolo have totaled 39 interceptions between them. Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ signal caller Jameis Winston tossed 30 picks in 1,128 snaps in 2019 and already has 88 through the first 4,815 of his career.

Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid has loved football his entire life. In 1971, when he was just 13 years old, he participated in the national Punt, Pass and Kick Competition. Looking more like a large frumpy middle-aged man (footage below) than a teenager, he put out an impressive effort.

Mahomes is one of the most dangerous passers in the NFL. In addition to his powerful arm, he drives defenses nuts with his ability to make seemingly impossible throws on the run and from different angles. He clearly learned well from his father, Pat Mahomes, who was 42–49 as a right-handed pitcher during an 11-year Major League Baseball career spent with six teams, including the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.

The Chiefs and the 49ers are the only two teams in the NFL whose primary colors are red and gold — albeit different shades.

Although half-time performers are some of the biggest names in entertainment, aside from the NFL paying for production costs, no additional pay is distributed. However, those who have made these “free” appearances typically see an immediate massive jump in the sales of their records, concerts and in other related areas.

Punter Dustin Colquitt has spent his entire 15-year career with the Chiefs and will be making his first Super Bowl appearance. He has been remarkably consistent, averaging between 44.3 and 46.8 yards per punt every year except his rookie season.