The energy in New Orleans was basically electric on February 9, 2025. People were talking about a "three-peat" like it was a done deal. You've got the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, looking to do something no team in NFL history had ever done. It felt like destiny. But then the game actually started at the Caesars Superdome, and honestly, the Philadelphia Eagles had a completely different script in mind.
If you’re wondering who played in the Super Bowl in 2025, it was a heavyweight rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Most experts and bettors had the Chiefs as slight favorites. They were the dynasty. The Eagles were the challengers. But by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the scoreboard looked like a glitch in the matrix. Philadelphia didn't just win; they dismantled the defending champs in a 40–22 blowout that wasn't even as close as the final score suggests.
The Matchup: Chiefs vs. Eagles (Super Bowl LIX)
This wasn't just any game. It was Super Bowl LIX, the 59th edition of the biggest spectacle in sports. The backstory was juicy because it was a rematch of Super Bowl LVII from two years prior. Back then, the Chiefs edged out the Eagles in a high-scoring thriller. This time, the narrative was all about whether Mahomes could solidify his "G.O.A.T." status with a third consecutive ring.
The Eagles, coached by Nick Sirianni, came in with a chip on their shoulder the size of a cheesesteak. They finished the regular season 14–3, while the Chiefs were a dominant 15–2. On paper, it was the best of the AFC against the best of the NFC.
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A Defensive Masterclass Nobody Saw Coming
The game turned on its head almost immediately. Everyone expects Mahomes to work magic, but the Eagles' defensive line, led by guys like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, turned the pocket into a furnace.
They sacked Mahomes six times.
Six.
That's a lot for a guy who usually dances away from trouble.
One of the wildest moments happened in the second quarter. It was rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean’s 22nd birthday. Talk about a gift—he jumped a route, snagged a Mahomes pass, and took it 38 yards to the house for a pick-six. That play put the Eagles up 17–0, and you could literally hear the air leave the Chiefs' sideline.
How the Game Played Out
The first half was a total nightmare for Kansas City. They couldn't move the ball, they couldn't protect Mahomes, and their defense couldn't stop the "Tush Push" (or "Brotherly Shove," depending on who you ask). Jalen Hurts was playing with a level of calm that was almost eerie. He wasn't just throwing; he was dissecting them.
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By halftime, it was 24–0.
- 1st Quarter: Jalen Hurts 1-yard TD run (7–0)
- 2nd Quarter: Jake Elliott 48-yard Field Goal (10–0)
- 2nd Quarter: Cooper DeJean 38-yard Interception Return (17–0)
- 2nd Quarter: A.J. Brown 12-yard TD catch from Hurts (24–0)
Kendrick Lamar took the stage for the halftime show, and while he was performing "Not Like Us" with SZA and Serena Williams, the world was trying to figure out if the Chiefs had any miracle left in them. Spoiler: they didn't.
The MVP Performance
Jalen Hurts ended up winning the Super Bowl MVP. He was a beast. He put up over 300 yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns. What was really impressive was his rushing. He broke the Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 72 yards. He wasn't just playing quarterback; he was playing "catch me if you can."
The Chiefs finally got on the board late in the third quarter with a Xavier Worthy touchdown, but the Eagles just kept piling on field goals. Jake Elliott was a machine, hitting four field goals, including two from 48 and 50 yards. The Eagles actually led 40–6 at one point. The Chiefs scored two "garbage time" touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to make the final score 40–22, but the game had been over for an hour by then.
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Why This Super Bowl Mattered
For Philadelphia, this was their second Lombardi Trophy in eight years. It proved that the "Philly Special" era wasn't a fluke. For the NFL, it was a reminder that even the greatest dynasties can get punched in the mouth.
There were some weird stats from this game that people still talk about:
- The Eagles had a 38% pressure rate without blitzing a single time.
- The Chiefs were held scoreless on their first nine drives.
- Travis Kelce was basically a non-factor for the first three quarters.
Key Players in Super Bowl LIX
- Jalen Hurts (PHI): 17/22 passing, 221 yards, 2 TDs; 72 rushing yards, 1 TD.
- Patrick Mahomes (KC): 21/32, 257 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs (most of the production came late).
- Xavier Worthy (KC): The only real bright spot for KC with 157 receiving yards and 2 TDs.
- Cooper DeJean (PHI): The birthday pick-six that broke the game open.
What to Take Away From 2025
If you're looking at the history books, who played in the Super Bowl in 2025 will be remembered as the night the Eagles' "trenches" strategy won out. General Manager Howie Roseman built that team from the inside out, and it showed.
Kansas City’s offensive line just couldn't handle the speed. It's a lesson for every team: you can have the best quarterback in the world, but if he's running for his life, it's hard to win.
For fans, the next steps are looking at the 2026 season. Can the Eagles repeat? Can Mahomes bounce back? If you want to dive deeper, check out the full replay of the defensive snaps—it's a clinic on how to stop a modern NFL offense. You should also look into the 2025 NFL Draft results to see how teams tried to replicate the Eagles' dominant defensive front. The "New Orleans Massacre," as some fans call it, changed the blueprint for the league.