Super Bowl

Image source, BBC Sport

There's a big round of applause from the huge number of reporters and cameras at the news conference for the Apple Music Super Bowl half-time show as headliner Kendrick Lamar takes to the stage.

He's started by talking about his history as an artist and going through his favourite tracks from his career so far.

He's looking relaxed but not yet giving away any hints about what tracks will be in his hugely-anticipated set at the Superdome on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

As the designated home team, the Philadelphia Eagles chose to wear their home green jerseys for the Super Bowl - so the Kansas City Chiefs will be in their white away shirts

That will not be an issue for Patrick Mahomes and company though, as he has a perfect record in play-off games wearing white, winning all three contests - including the previous Super Bowl victory over the Eagles...

Mahomes has played 20 play-off games now but worn home red in 17 due to usually playing at Arrowhead with the Chiefs so dominant.

The Eagles were also the 'home' side last time and picked their green colours, while the Chiefs were also the away side when losing the Super Bowl to Tampa Bay, when the Bucs opted to wear white.

Mahomes has big play-off wins over the Bills, Ravens and Eagles wearing white, averaging a 76.4% completion rate, 212.7 yards and two touchdowns a game. He also had a QB rating over 100 in all three.

And he's not the only one who enjoys wearing white - as teams in white jerseys have gone 16-4 over the last 20 Super Bowls.

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Fans of 31 other NFL teams are a bit sick and tired of the Kansas City Chiefs winning all the time - but Patrick Mahomes is more than happy being the villain.

"If winning football games makes you a villain, we're going to keep going out there and doing it," said Mahomes.

"We embrace who we are. We believe we play the game the right way, with a lot of heart and passion for the game."

It was a similar story with Tom Brady's New England Patriots when they dominated - something Mahomes knows only too well from his younger days as a Dallas Cowboys fan.

"It's all fun because I was that guy," Mahomes added. "I was a Cowboys fan growing up, and I used to hate the Patriots.

"But I think, more than anything, I appreciate the greatness of the Patriots now when I see how hard it was to do what they did.

"Hopefully we're just giving people a great product to watch, and they can see the love for the game that we have. All the other stuff is kind of outside noise."

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The Philadelphia Eagles practiced for two hours in New Orleans on Wednesday, with four players participating on a limited basis - defensive tackle Jalen Carter (illness), running back Kenneth Gainwell (concussion, knee), wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and defensive end Brandon Graham (elbow).

Speaking to the media, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said several times that the main theme was to "focus and refocus".

"It's not a normal week," he said. "You want to keep it as normal as possible, but the times are different, the obligations are different. The game's not normal either, so just focus and refocus. It's a good prep for the game."

As with the Chiefs, the practice structure was similar to a normal Wednesday during the regular season.

"For a lot of guys, this isn't their first time here, which I think is really important," said Sirianni. "I feel like our guys are locked in to what they need to do and are enjoying some time together."

He added: "It's just constantly coming back to controlling what you can control, which is what we've talked about all year, staying focused on your job."

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After kicking off Super Bowl week with two days of media commitments, both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles got back on the practice field in New Orleans on Wednesday.

The Chiefs went through a near 90-minute session, which head coach Andy Reid likened to a normal Wednesday session, and had a perfect practice attendance.

Reid said the focus was "assignments", with the players going over their roles for Sunday's game plan.

"You kind of start from scratch when you get out here and go back through everything," said Reid. "And if you've got little tweaks you've got to make here or there, you get them done."

The first song on the practice playlist was Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar, which has been played across the NFL's promo content all week as the American rapper will perform the Super Bowl half-time show.

Drake has filed a defamation lawsuit over the song and Lamar is sure to be asked whether he'll perform the song when he holds his pre-game news conference on Thursday morning in New Orleans.

Image source, Reuters

Harrison Butker's field goal proved decisive in Super Bowl 57 two years ago, giving the Kansas City Chiefs a 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Donald Trump confirmed as a guest for the rematch this Sunday, BBC Sport asked the Chiefs kicker what it will be like playing in front of the US president knowing that the game could again come down to one of his kicks.

"It's exciting," said Butker. "I remember the first Super Bowl I played in, I saw all these celebrities - Jay Z and Beyonce on the sideline, David Beckham up in the stands.

"You know all of these celebrities watch the game on TV but - at least to my knowledge - they're not at Arrowhead Stadium watching our game. To see them in person is pretty cool, and to know that President Trump is going to be there is an honour, and I'm looking forward to playing in front of him.

"I try to make practice as pressure-packed as possible. I think that gives me a lot of confidence going into the game, knowing that I've practiced it over and over.

"Even though President Trump and different celebrities will physically be at the game, I know they're watching on TV normally so once the game starts for the Super Bowl, you have to forget about that and focus on what you can control.

"You can't worry about the people that are watching because that's not going to help you have success on the field."

Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist in New Orleans

Image source, Reuters

The Super Bowl is arguably the world's biggest annual sports event, and it just got even bigger.

It attracts some of the biggest stars in sport and showbusiness and, now, for the very first time, the US president will be joining the party.

It's been confirmed that Donald Trump will be coming to town at the weekend, becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl.

Media and players were still digesting that news in New Orleans on Wednesday morning, pondering how that will affect Sunday's game.

The first thought is security. That had already been bolstered after the New Year's terror attack on Bourbon Street. Now it will be taken to another level.

There's also the impact on the players. Trump's presence is bound to bring more attention on the game but will that put more pressure on the players or actually take some off?

And what about Taylor Swift? She was hoping to cheer her boyfriend Travis Kelce on to an historic Super Bowl win but having been critical of Trump and backed his election rival, will his presence sour the occasion for her at all? If the Kansas City Chiefs do clinch an unprecedented three-peat, will Trump try to join the celebrations?

It's an added element that makes Super Bowl 59 even more enthralling.

Image source, Reuters

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata has said it would be "pretty special" for an NFL game to be staged in his native Australia.

The NFL has rapidly been expanding its global reach in recent years, with the Eagles kicking off this season by playing in the league's first game in South America - in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The first regular-season game in Spain has been confirmed for next season, while Berlin will also host its first game, taking the total of international games up to five for 2025.

The NFL has been investigating other potential hosts such as Australia, carrying out site visits to Melbourne and Sydney, and an announcement is expected this week from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell while he is in New Orleans for Super Bowl 59.

Mailata, whose team face the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's big game, said: "I would love that. But my father always said 'show me, don't tell me'. So until then, Uncle Roger, make it happen.

"It would feel amazing to bring the game Down Under for the growth of the sport but also for the opportunity to play in front of my friends and my family," he added. "To play at home would be pretty special to me."

Mailata, who is from Sydney, said he may have to ask 'Uncle Roger' to help get him tickets for all his family and friends as he would need "maybe half the stadium".

The former rugby league player, 27, also said "it feels great" that so many people will be watching back home in Australia on Sunday.

"To know that we're growing the fan base Down Under is pretty cool," he added. "I'm honoured, I really am."

Image source, Reuters

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says it will be "cool" to play in front of US president Donald Trump in Super Bowl 59.

Trump will become the first sitting president of the US to attend a Super Bowl as the Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday.

Mahomes and the Chiefs will aim to win the NFL's championship game for a third straight year, an unprecedented feat in the Super Bowl era.

Speaking earlier this week, Trump declined to pick a winner, saying: "I don't want to say, but there's a certain quarterback that seems to be a pretty good winner."

In response, Mahomes said on Wednesday: "It's always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting President, someone that is in the top position in our country.

"I didn't see that clip but it's cool to hear that he's seen me play football and respects the game that I play."

The referees have been in the news this week - and here's who the officiating crew are who will work on Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. Including a former Super Bowl winner no less.

In case you're interested, the referees are an all-star team and are chosen on the basis of their performances throughout the season.

A group of former officials and coaches evaluate the referees on every call they make on every play throughout the season and give them a grade.

The highest graded official in each different position is then chosen for the play-offs and the Super Bowl.

So even though there is a lot of noise about them, the team for Sunday has been the best performing and made the most correct calls during the season. So surely nobody will complain about them, right?

Image source, Getty Images

The executive director of the NFL Referees Association is the latest to release a statement to rubbish the continued conspiracy theory about bias towards the Kansas City Chiefs.

Roger Goodell called it a "ridiculous theory" and three-time Super Bowl winner Julian Edelman labelled it as "baloney" and now the head of the refereeing union has also rejected the claims.

"It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team," Green said in a statement.

"NFL officials are graded every week, on every single play of each game. These grades are the determining factor as to who receives post-season assignments.

"There are many things that fans can worry about over a 17-game season, such as coaching decisions, player injuries, the weather and, yes, even close calls on incredible plays made by incredible athletes.

"But you can rest assured that on every single down, NFL officials, both on the field and in the replay booth, are doing everything humanly possible to officiate every play correctly."