ESPN's Super Bowl LXI Countdown
ESPN will televise the Super Bowl for the first time on Feb. 14, 2027, when Super Bowl LXI kicks off. To mark the occasion, the network is rolling out a series of stories every other Sunday until February, featuring all-time Super Bowl lists, predictions and memorable moments. The coverage includes rankings of the top 10 Super Bowl upsets, trick plays and halftime performances, along with projections for which teams could reach future Super Bowls and which are going all-in for a Lombardi Trophy this season.[S1][S2]
The countdown series has already delivered several installments. On Oct. 4, Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques ranked the most improbable Super Bowl wins, including victories by the Patriots, Jets, Giants, Eagles and Seahawks. On Sept. 20, Saints reporter Katherine Terrell highlighted the best players in NFL history to retire without a Super Bowl ring. On Oct. 3, NFL Nation reporters built 13-player all-time rosters for the 23 teams that have appeared in multiple Super Bowls. On Sept. 25, NFL analyst Ben Solak predicted the Super Bowl champions for the 2026 through 2030 seasons.[S1]
Other entries in the series include a Sept. 6 piece by NFL analyst Aaron Schatz ranking the top five teams most invested in the 2026 season due to aging rosters, contracts or future draft capital. On Aug. 18, Schatz used DVOA to rank the best teams that fell short of the Super Bowl, including the 2023 Ravens. On July 30, NFL Nation reporters looked back at the eight previous Super Bowls held in the Los Angeles market ahead of the 2027 return to Southern California. On July 5, Cowboys reporter Todd Archer spoke with Emmitt Smith about his Super Bowl performances, which featured a record five rushing touchdowns across two wins.[S1]
