The Best Moments From the 2025 Super Bowl

Super Bowl LIX in One Sentence (Okay, Two): A Rematch With a Plot Twist

Super Bowl LIX was a sequel to the Chiefs–Eagles showdown from two seasons earlier, but this time the ending
was written in Philadelphia green. The Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in New Orleans,
powered by a relentless defense, a poised Jalen Hurts, and a collection of moments that felt like they were
designed to become GIFs.

The scoreboard says 40–22. The vibe said “this was over before you finished arguing about whether to order wings
or make nachos.” And yet, the night still managed to pack in everything we love about the Super Bowl:
iconic plays, celebrity cameos, halftime spectacle, and commercials that tried very hard to be your personality.

The Best On-Field Moments From the 2025 Super Bowl

1) The “Tush Push” Starts the Party Early

The Eagles opened the scoring with the most Eagles thing imaginable: a short-yardage quarterback sneak that’s
basically a civic tradition at this point. Jalen Hurts punched it in from a yard out, and the message was clear:
Philadelphia wasn’t here to workshop ideasthey were here to move the pile and move the scoreboard.

It mattered not just because it put points up first, but because it set the tone: the Eagles were going to play
their gamephysical, efficient, and perfectly happy to win ugly in the trenches.

2) The Eagles’ Front Four Turns the Pocket Into a Panic Room

The headline on defense wasn’t exotic blitzes or trickery. It was pressureconstant, suffocating, and delivered
like a subscription you forgot you signed up for. Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times and forced into turnovers,
and the Eagles did it largely by letting their defensive line hunt.

The real highlight here was how repeatable it looked: edge rushers winning quickly, interior push collapsing the
launch point, and Mahomes having to improvise on plays where improvisation usually feels like a cheat code.
In Super Bowl LIX, that cheat code got patched.

3) Cooper DeJean’s Birthday Pick-Six: The Ultimate “Treat Yourself”

You know how some people celebrate birthdays with cake? Cooper DeJean celebrated his with a
38-yard pick-six off Patrick Mahomes. In the second quarter, DeJean jumped the throw, took it to the house,
and turned the Super Bowl into a highlight reel with candles on top.

Beyond the fun trivia (yes, it was on his birthday), the play was a gut punch. It stretched the lead, lit up the
pro-Eagles crowd, and forced Kansas City into the kind of game script they hate: chasing points against a defense
that’s already warmed up and smiling.

4) A.J. Brown Scores on a Drive So Fast It Barely Existed

Late in the second quarter, the Eagles struck again with a quick touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. The timing made it
especially brutal: Kansas City needed somethinganythingto steady the game, and Philadelphia answered with points
before you could even finish the sentence, “Okay, maybe the Chiefs can…”

Great Super Bowl moments aren’t always circus catches. Sometimes they’re emotional damage delivered in under
15 seconds.

5) DeVonta Smith’s 46-Yard Lightning Bolt Feels Like the Dagger

If DeJean’s pick-six was the turning point, DeVonta Smith’s 46-yard touchdown in the third quarter felt like
the door locking behind you. Hurts dropped it in, Smith ran under it, and suddenly the Eagles had the kind of lead
that makes the fourth quarter feel like a formality.

Big plays in the Super Bowl matter more because they don’t just add pointsthey change psychology. That touchdown
told everyone watching (including the Chiefs) that Philadelphia could beat you with power and with speed.

6) Jake Elliott’s Field Goals: Quietly, a Huge Part of the Story

The Super Bowl loves its stars, but specialists have a way of sneaking into the script. Jake Elliott drilled long
field goals (including from 48 and 50 yards) that kept widening the gap and made every Chiefs possession feel
increasingly urgent.

Those kicks mattered because they punished stalled drives. In a game where Kansas City needed hope, the Eagles
kept responding with pointssometimes touchdowns, sometimes Elliott calmly reminding everyone that three points
still count the same in February.

7) Kansas City’s Late Surge: Too Much, Too Late (But Still Worth Noting)

The Chiefs finally put real numbers on the board late, with Mahomes connecting for touchdowns including a pair to
Xavier Worthy and one to DeAndre Hopkins. It added some late fireworks, but the timing told the truth:
most of the damage was done after the outcome was basically decided.

Still, it was a reminder of why Kansas City is never fully boring. Even on a rough night, they can manufacture
highlights. They just couldn’t manufacture time.

The Storyline Moments That Made Super Bowl 2025 Feel Like a Cultural Event

Hurts’ MVP Calm: The Anti-Chaos Superpower

Jalen Hurts took home Super Bowl MVP after accounting for three touchdownstwo through the air and one on the
groundwhile completing an efficient passing day. But the defining “moment” wasn’t one throw; it was his tone.

While the stadium bounced between noise and disbelief, Hurts played like someone who had already seen the movie,
read the script, and filed the paperwork. In a game where the Chiefs needed a shootout, Hurts delivered balance:
take what’s there, hit the big one when it shows up, and never give the opponent oxygen.

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, and the Internet Doing What It Does

The Super Bowl exists on two fields: the turf and the timeline. With Taylor Swift in the building and Travis Kelce
having a quiet night early, the internet did what it doesturning camera cuts into commentary and commentary into
memes.

It didn’t decide the game, but it absolutely shaped the viewing experience. Super Bowl LIX wasn’t just Eagles vs.
Chiefs; it was also America vs. its own group chat.

The Gatorade Bath: A Colorful, Classic Exclamation Point

Winning the Super Bowl comes with rituals: confetti, Lombardi hugs, and the sacred Gatorade bath. When Eagles coach
Nick Sirianni got the splash, it wasn’t just celebrationit was punctuation. Philadelphia didn’t squeak by. They
stamped the night.

Halftime Show Highlights: Kendrick Lamar (and SZA) Own the Middle of the Night

The 2025 halftime show didn’t try to be background entertainment. It was the kind of performance that makes you
pause your wings mid-bite and say, “Okay… they really came to work.”

Samuel L. Jackson as “Uncle Sam” and a Stage That Meant Something

Kendrick Lamar’s set opened with a theatrical intro featuring Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, immediately
signaling that this wasn’t just a medleyit was a concept. The visuals leaned into Americana, performance art,
and the kind of symbolism that guarantees a thousand think-pieces before the fourth quarter ends.

The Setlist: Hits, Heat, and a Crowd That Knew the Words

Lamar ran through a punchy lineup that included “Squabble Up,” “HUMBLE.,” “DNA.,” and more, then brought out SZA
for “luther” and “All the Stars.” And yesafter teasing it, he ultimately performed “Not Like Us,” the track that
had already become a pop-culture lightning rod.

The best halftime shows do two things: entertain casual viewers and reward fans. This one did both. It was
high-energy, tightly paced, and staged like it knew it was being watched by basically everyone you’ve ever met.

The Best Super Bowl Commercial Moments: Winners, Crowd-Pleasers, and One Big “Yikes”

Budweiser Wins Ad Meter With “First Delivery”

When it comes to Super Bowl ads, America is a simple creature: give us heart, give us craftsmanship, and if
possible, give us a Clydesdale. Budweiser’s “First Delivery” topped USA TODAY’s Ad Meter rankings, edging out
close contenders in a night packed with big-budget storytelling.

The top of the Ad Meter leaderboard also featured Lay’s, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, and an NFL spotproof that
the winning formula in 2025 was a mix of emotion, humor, and brand familiarity that feels like comfort food.

Which Ads Drove the Most Buzz? The “Engagement” Winners

Not every “best commercial” is the one people rate highest. Some spots win by driving searches, conversations,
and immediate curiosity. Engagement-based rankings highlighted how certain brands cut through the noise with
clear offers and memorable hooksespecially in telecom, automotive, and health-related categories.

The takeaway: in 2025, a great Super Bowl commercial wasn’t just funnyit was actionable. If viewers grabbed their
phones after your ad, you basically scored a touchdown without pads.

The Controversy That Became a Story of Its Own

Every Super Bowl seems to produce at least one off-field headline, and 2025 had a particularly ugly one:
a Kanye West-related ad that aired in some local markets and reportedly directed viewers to merchandise featuring
Nazi imagery. The backlash was swift, and Fox Television Stations leadership later expressed regret and condemnation
of antisemitism. It was a stark reminder that “going viral” and “going well” are not the same thing.

In a night built around mass attention, the moment landed like a record scratchproof that the Super Bowl’s ad
ecosystem is powerful enough to amplify both creativity and harm.

Pregame, New Orleans, and the Big-Game Atmosphere

The setting mattered. New Orleans doesn’t just host eventsit throws them a parade and then teaches them how to
dance. The broadcast leaned into the city’s energy, and the pregame performances doubled down on Louisiana roots.

National Anthem and Pregame Performers

Jon Batiste, a Louisiana native, performed the national anthem, giving the opening ceremony a local heartbeat.
The pregame also featured Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle for “America the Beautiful,” and Ledisi for “Lift Every
Voice and Sing.” It felt less like a generic pregame and more like a love letter to the host city.

Why These Super Bowl 2025 Moments Will Stick

The best Super Bowl moments last because they’re more than highlightsthey’re snapshots of identity.
Super Bowl LIX will be remembered for:

• A defense that turned the league’s most feared quarterback into a mortal for a night.
• A quarterback (Hurts) who mixed efficiency with timely aggression and earned MVP.
• A rookie (DeJean) who authored the kind of play you tell your grandkids abouton his birthday.
• A halftime show that felt like a cultural headline, not filler.
• Commercials that ranged from tearjerkers to talk-starters (for better and worse).

And maybe most of all, it’ll stick because it was a complete story. The Eagles didn’t win on a coin-flip moment or
a lucky bounce. They won because they controlled the night.

Conclusion: The Night the Eagles Turned a Three-Peat Into a Footnote

The best moments from the 2025 Super Bowl weren’t confined to one playthey were a chain reaction.
The tush-push opener set the tone, the defensive line kept turning the screws, DeJean’s pick-six broke the game open,
and Hurts delivered the steady, high-level performance that wins championships.

Add Kendrick Lamar and SZA owning halftime, Budweiser winning the ad race, and New Orleans doing New Orleans things,
and you’ve got a Super Bowl that felt huge even before confetti hit the turf. Super Bowl LIX wasn’t just a win
it was a statement: defense still travels, trenches still matter, and sometimes the best birthday present is a touchdown
that comes with 70,000 people screaming.

Fan Experiences: How to Relive “The Best Moments From the 2025 Super Bowl” (500+ Words of Real-Life Joy)

The Super Bowl is weirdly personal for something watched by millions. You can remember the score and still mostly
remember your friend spilling queso on the rug during the pick-six. So if you want to re-experience Super Bowl 2025
like it’s happening againwithout having to emotionally negotiate every third downhere are a few fun, practical ways
to bring the best moments back to life.

Start with a “highlights-and-reactions” rewatch. Don’t just watch the condensed game; pair it with a
reaction format. Put the highlights on the TV and keep your phone handy (yes, the same phone that probably hosted
your group chat meltdown). The DeJean pick-six hits differently when you follow it immediately with the collective
shock of everyone realizing, “Oh… this might be a long night for Kansas City.”

Rebuild the halftime show as a playlist moment. Kendrick’s set worked because it had pace and purpose.
Make a playlist that mirrors the nightstart with the early adrenaline tracks, slide into the SZA features, and end
with the closer that had people talking the next day. Then do the most Super Bowl thing possible: pretend you’re
“just putting on music,” and suddenly everyone’s performing the hook in your living room like they’re on a stadium
stage. (No judgment. We’ve all been there. Some of us just have neighbors who are very patient.)

Host a “Commercial Draft” party. The easiest way to recreate Super Bowl commercials without the actual
game is to draft them. Each person picks a few brands before watching a compilation, then you score them on categories
like “Most Likely to Make My Dad Laugh,” “Best Use of Celebrity,” “Most Suspiciously Emotional,” and “The One That
Will Be a Meme by Morning.” It’s chaotic, it’s hilarious, and it captures the spirit of why we treat ads like an
awards show one day a year.

Lean into the food nostalgiastrategically. Make one “signature” snack that’s tied to a moment.
Wings for the opening tush push. Pretzel bites for the DeVonta Smith bomb. Something sweet at halftime. And if you
really want to honor the Eagles’ defense, serve something that looks innocent but is secretly intenselike jalapeño
poppers. They’re calm at first, then they hit you, and suddenly you’re scrambling for water. It’s basically what
the Eagles did to Mahomes, but edible.

Turn the game into a mini film study session (even if you’re not “a film person”). Pull up a breakdown
of how the Eagles generated pressure without living on blitzes, or how the offense balanced patience with the occasional
haymaker. You don’t need to become a scheme wizard. Just noticing one or two strategic details makes the highlights
feel smarter and more satisfyinglike you’re in on the secret.

If you ever wanted to visit a Super Bowl city, use New Orleans as your template. Super Bowl host cities
are at their best when they feel like themselves, and New Orleans brought music, culture, and pure atmosphere. Even
if you’re not traveling for the game, you can borrow the vibe: put on a New Orleans jazz set before kickoff, serve
a Cajun-inspired dish, and let the night feel like an event instead of “just another Sunday.”

Finally, the best way to relive Super Bowl LIX is the simplest: text the people you watched it with and say,
“Okay, be honestwhat was your loudest moment?” You’ll get ten different answers, and that’s kind of the point.
The 2025 Super Bowl was a collection of momentson the field, on the stage, and in everyone’s living rooms.
Rewatching it is fun. Remembering how it felt is even better.