Super Bowl LIX is this Sunday, but it’s not the matchup most of the country was rooting for. The Kansas City Chiefs will match up against the Philadelphia Eagles, a repeat of the 2023 Super Bowl, and both teams are universally disliked. Their fan bases are some of the most hated in the league.
The Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl for the fifth time in the last six years. They have won it three times since 2020, and are looking to make history on Sunday and become the first team in NFL history to win three in a row. However, most of the country is not on their side. The Chiefs have gone from a Cinderella story to a villain in just a few short years.
What makes the Chiefs so hated? Some people claim it’s their quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who “sounds like Kermit the Frog” when he speaks, according to the internet. Others dislike the fact that Travis Kelce, Chiefs tight end, is in a relationship with Taylor Swift. Swift makes an appearance at nearly every home game for the Chiefs, and has been present for most of their postseason run. Some people have openly complained about seeing her too much on their screens, claiming it takes away from the actual game.
The simplest explanation, however, is just that people hate greatness. The Chiefs have turned into a dynasty, and like so many sports dynasties before them, the country went from in their corner to scoffing at every win. The New England Patriots, the Dodgers, and the New York Yankees are some examples of teams that were despised for their greatness. The Chiefs have an astounding 49-11 record since 2022, including playoffs, and have won the Super Bowl twice in that span.
This year, the Chiefs have won many of their games on a last second call, fumble, missed field goal, or some other fluke accident. This has led to a constant public outcry after each win, with many people claiming that the refs have rigged the games for the Chiefs to win. Admittedly, some of their games have been won on seemingly miraculous plays in the last five seconds of the game. However, refs are human, and human errors are bound to be made in every game. Many games that don’t involve the Chiefs have the same refs and the same questionable calls, but no one cares to complain about it.
The other team competing this year is the Eagles. Their team itself is more liked than the Chiefs, but their fanbase makes them an unlikeable group. Eagles fans have long been called obnoxious for their die-hard support and unsportsmanlike behavior. The team is led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was drafted by the Eagles in 2020 and has led them back to greatness. This will be the team’s third appearance in the Super Bowl in the last 10 years, with their last win coming in 2018 in a 41-33 win over the Patriots.
Two years ago, they lost the title to the Chiefs after a dominant fourth quarter from Kansas City. Now, both teams are back, with the Chiefs attempting to make history, while the Eagles try and get their revenge.
According to a survey published by the technology and data company Numerator, 46% of people who plan to watch Sunday’s game are rooting for the Eagles, with only 39% rooting for the Chiefs. However, 1 in 4 of Eagles supporters said they were only cheering for the Eagles because they don’t want the Chiefs to win.
Regardless of what team you are rooting for, or even if you hate both, it’s bound to be a good show.
“Hate us or love us, you watched.” – Pete Weber
