The annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the Super Bowl, is played in early February and crowns the American Football League (AFL) and NFL champion. Originally called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, the name “Super Bowl” became official later, with the first two games being retroactively named Super Bowls I and II. However, it is not just a football game; it is also a cultural event that features an exciting halftime show and unique television commercials that are worked on months before the game. For weeks, this game is anticipated worldwide.
On Jan. 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers from Wisconsin went up against the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This marked the first Super Bowl game to ever take place. Ultimately, the Green Bay Packers won 35-10. This game established the championship as a major event in football, featuring marching bands and a simultaneous broadcast on two networks, CBS and NBC.
The tradition of bands performing solo continued until 1970, when singer Carol Channing sang “When the Saints Go Marching In” as part of the Mardi-Gras themed championship game. Still, she was not the main headliner of the halftime show.
The Super Bowl halftime shows became bigger and more popular in the early 1990s as they shifted from college bands to pop stars like New Kids On the Block in 1991. In 1993, Michael Jackson had his performance, which was later named legendary as it set the blueprint for future halftime shows. Before this, halftime was seen as a good time to order food, walk around or use the restroom. However, this legendary act transformed it into something so important. Major singers like Prince, Beyoncé, Usher, Bruno Mars and so many more began to participate during this show in the following decades.
As for the 2026 Super Bowl, the anticipation for this upcoming game is high. Teams in the U.S. began to fight for a spot as soon as the regular season ended. As week one of the playoffs concluded the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Houston Rockets, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears survived. Many 49ers fans were surprised with this win as a large portion of the team’s starting players like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and George Kittle had been injured. Since the Super Bowl takes place in the 49ers’ home stadium, fans hoped that they would make it to the end.
“I think the 49ers [will make it to the Super Bowl],” FHS junior Terran Tran said.
However, by the time they played the Seattle Seahawks, these hopes and dreams of them reaching the Super Bowl were ultimately crushed, leaving fans devastated but proud of how far they had gone this year. As two weeks passed in the playoffs, four teams remained. The Patriots against the Broncos and the Rams against the Seahawks. By the end of the final game, we knew the two Super Bowl teams: the Patriots and the Seahawks. As the number one seed in the NFC, the Seahawks are widely favored to win the Super Bowl with a 70% chance overall compared to the Patriots, who have roughly a 30% chance, according to Fox Sports.
While the anticipation for the game is high, three-time Grammy winner Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, also known as Bad Bunny, is set to perform for this Super Bowl. On Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, a trailer was released for the upcoming performance. The film serves as an open invitation to people around the world to join in for the cultural richness, rhythm and unity this performance will promote.
“I like getting together with my friends and family to just watch [the Super Bowl]. It’s like another great opportunity to have really great food and just watch something all together. It’s always like a great halftime show,” FHS Physics Honors and Engineering Essentials teacher Christian Royer said.
After Bad Bunny was selected as the main performer, some conservatives criticized the choice, calling out the Puerto Rican native’s Spanish songs, performances and his vocal support of immigrants in the United States. Because of this, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended the selection of Bad Bunny, who is expected to sing in Spanish at the halftime show.
As the NFL season concludes the Super Bowl LX will kick off on Sunday, Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California with the New England Patriots going head to head against the Seattle Seahawks.
