If you’re asking who is playing in the 2025 Super Bowl, you're probably either a very confused time traveler or someone who just realized they slept through the most chaotic football season in recent memory. See, there's a bit of a trick to the question. The "2025 Super Bowl" refers to Super Bowl LIX, which happened on February 9, 2025.
It was the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Yeah, I know. A rematch. Again. But before you roll your eyes and say, "Oh, Mahomes won another one," hold your horses. This game didn't go the way the scripts usually do. It took place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans—the "Big Easy"—and it was anything but easy for the guys in red.
Who Played in the 2025 Super Bowl?
The matchup was a heavyweight bout between the Kansas City Chiefs (representing the AFC) and the Philadelphia Eagles (representing the NFC).
The Chiefs were trying to do something literally no one in the history of the NFL had ever done: the three-peat. They wanted three rings in three years. They had the MVP, they had Travis Kelce (and the inevitable Taylor Swift camera cuts), and they had that "we can't lose" aura.
Then they ran into the Birds.
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The Eagles, led by Jalen Hurts and a revitalized Saquon Barkley, weren't just happy to be there. They had absolutely demolished the Washington Commanders 55–23 in the NFC Championship to get there. They were humming. On the other side, the Chiefs had barely escaped a 32–29 nail-biter against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
What Actually Happened in New Orleans
The final score was Philadelphia Eagles 40, Kansas City Chiefs 22.
It wasn't even as close as the score looks. Jalen Hurts was a man possessed, winning the MVP award after accounting for multiple touchdowns. Saquon Barkley, who many people thought was "past his prime" when he left the Giants, looked like he was shot out of a cannon.
The Chiefs' defense, which had been their backbone all year, just couldn't handle the sheer physicality of the Philly offensive line. Patrick Mahomes threw for 22 points, but 16 of those came in the fourth quarter when the game was basically already decided. The three-peat dream died in the Louisiana humidity.
Why People Get Confused About the 2025 Matchup
Here is where things get wonky. We are currently in the 2025-2026 NFL season.
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If you are looking for the next big game—the one happening in February 2026—that is technically the Super Bowl for the 2025 season, but it's played in 2026. This is Super Bowl LX.
Right now, as of mid-January 2026, the playoffs are in full swing. We don't know the winner yet, but the bracket is wild. The Chiefs? They’re out. They finished 6–11. Total collapse. Instead, we have teams like the Denver Broncos, the New England Patriots, and the Seattle Seahawks fighting for a spot in Santa Clara.
The Road to Super Bowl LIX (The 2025 Game)
To understand who is playing in the 2025 Super Bowl, you have to look at how they got there.
- The AFC Side: The Chiefs were the #1 seed. They beat the Texans in the Divisional round and then survived that Buffalo game I mentioned earlier.
- The NFC Side: The Eagles were the #2 seed. They took out the Rams in a thriller (where Saquon ran for 205 yards!) before crushing the Commanders.
Kendrick Lamar performed the halftime show. It was a massive cultural moment, especially given the year he had in 2024. Jon Batiste sang the national anthem. New Orleans really leaned into the local flavor, with the official logo even featuring beadwork from a local Mardi Gras Indian artist, Tahj Williams.
What to Watch for Next
Since the 2025 Super Bowl is officially in the history books with the Eagles as the reigning champs, the focus has shifted entirely to who will represent the conferences in 2026 at Levi's Stadium.
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If you're betting or just following along, keep an eye on the Divisional round matchups happening right now:
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
The era of Chiefs dominance took a massive hit this past year, and the NFL feels "open" in a way it hasn't in a decade.
Actionable Insight: If you're trying to keep these dates straight, always remember the Super Bowl is named for the year the season started, but the game is played the following February. The "2025 Super Bowl" (LIX) is over. The "2025 Season Super Bowl" (LX) happens in February 2026.
Check your local listings for the AFC and NFC Championship games on January 25, 2026, to see who will finally succeed the Eagles as world champions.