The Philadelphia Eagles have claimed victory in Super Bowl LIX, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The game was a showcase of talent, including several players hailing from the Los Angeles area who played key roles.
As part of the pre-game ceremony, Grammy-winning artist Ledisi performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, affectionately known as the “Black National Anthem,” written by James Weldon Johnson. This powerful anthem has been performed at the Super Bowl since 2021, bringing an essential cultural and historical moment to the big game. Another New Orleans native, Grammy-winning artist Jon Batiste, took the stage to deliver a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
Excitement for the game also built around the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, where Compton-born recording artist Kendrick Lamar delivered a dynamic performance. He was joined by Samuel L. Jackson, who provided a colorful narration while cosplaying as “Uncle Sam,” and SZA, who performed “Luther” and “All the Stars” alongside Lamar. Dorsey alum Mustard closed the performance with “TV Off”, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. Fellow Compton native Serena Williams also joined the show as one of the halftime performance dancers.
On the Philadelphia Eagles roster is cornerback Eli Ricks, who is originally from Rancho Cucamonga. Ricks, who is a product of Mater Dei High School and IMG Academy, played in seven games. However, he was one of the inactives for the Super Bowl. Wide receiver Johnny Wilson, a proud product of Pacoima and a graduate of Calabasas High School, was one of the many wide receivers who competed on Sunday.
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On the opposing side, the Kansas City Chiefs featured several Los Angeles-area standouts. Cornerback Trent McDuffie, from Westminster, played a pivotal role in the Chiefs’ secondary with four solo tackles.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, a Long Beach native, fought to keep the Chiefs in contention with two catches for 16 yards. Orange native Nikko Remigio, Christian Roland-Wallace of Palmdale, and cornerback Keith Taylor of Anaheim, made contributions that aided the Chiefs on their journey to Super Bowl LIX.
The Eagles dominated early, leading 24-0 at halftime, powered by a lockdown defense and a balanced offensive attack. Kansas City fought back in the second half, with McDuffie showcased his defensive prowess and Smith-Schuster added to the Chiefs’ offensive effort. However, the Philadelphia defense remained resilient, securing the 40-22 victory and the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
With this victory, Jalen Hurts becomes the fourth Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, cementing his legacy in the NFL. Alongside Patrick Mahomes, who has now appeared in four Super Bowls, both quarterbacks represent the growing prominence of Black quarterbacks at the highest level of the sport.
Festivities before the big game also celebrated LA natives such as the NFL Honors in which the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award went to Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders. Daniels, a native of Fontana who attended Cajon High School in San Bernardino, also won the Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year powered by AWS and was named the 2024 Pepsi® Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year. Additionally, the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year presented by TCL was awarded to Jared Verse of the Los Angeles Rams.
These athletes who started their journeys in local high schools, youth leagues, and training camps before reaching the pinnacle of professional football exemplify the strength and impact of L.A.-bred athletes on the national stage.
On Monday morning, the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee conducted the official Super Bowl Handoff Ceremony, formally passing the responsibility of hosting Super Bowl LX to the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl Host Committee. The ceremony marked the conclusion of a week filled with festivities and set the stage for the next chapter in Super Bowl history.
