Wait, say again? The NFL has known the teams for Super Bowl 59 all along?

After a brief pause, the Super Bowl logo debate has resurfaced as the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles prepare to face off in this year’s game scheduled for February 9 in New Orleans.

Some conspiracy theorists argue that the NFL strategically selects which teams play on Super Sunday well ahead of time to maximize profits or, similar to last year’s Super Bowl, to advance a particular political agenda.

For proof, they point to the colors used in the Super Bowl logo.

What is the Super Bowl Logo Conspiracy Theory?

The core of the alleged conspiracy suggests that the colors featured in the NFL’s official Super Bowl logo align with the teams designated to participate in that season’s championship match.

Indeed, the Super Bowl 59 logo, unveiled leading up to last year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas, just happens to feature red (the Chiefs’ main color) and green (the Eagles’ primary color).

Is it merely a coincidence? We think otherwise!

How Did the Super Bowl Logo Conspiracy Begin?

It’s difficult to pinpoint the start, but the Twitter account @NFL_Memes shared a post right before last year’s AFC and NFC championship matches, illustrating the connection between Super Bowl logos and the teams that were playing.

Unsurprisingly, momentum for this idea faded last year when the Chiefs beat the Ravens in the AFC championship and went on to win their second straight title against the San Francisco 49ers.

However, as conspiracy theorists would argue, this took place before the NFL was aware that pop superstar Taylor Swift would be in a relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and the influence of this high-profile couple could necessitate a change in the NFL’s plans.

NFL Super Bowl Logo History

The inaugural Super Bowl did not feature a logo, but every game since then has had one.

• From Super Bowl 2 in 1968 to Super Bowl 44 in 2010, logos typically referenced the host city. For example, Super Bowl 31 in New Orleans showcased Mardi Gras elements in its design, while Super Bowl 38 in Houston highlighted the city’s NASA history.
• Logos for Super Bowl 45 to 49 used silver designs, featuring Roman numerals and outlines of the stadium hosting the event.
• Super Bowl 50 celebrated 50 years of the championship game with a distinctive golden logo.
• From Super Bowl 51 to 55, the designs focused solely on Roman numerals alongside a Lombardi Trophy.

The latest logos since Super Bowl 56 have returned to incorporating symbolic elements of the host city: palm trees for Super Bowl 56, desert rock formations for Super Bowl 57, the Las Vegas Strip for Super Bowl 58, and a fleur de lis pattern for this season’s game in New Orleans.

Contributing: Ayrton Ostly