In Super Bowl 2023, Two Black Players Lead the Action
2023-02-11
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1February 12 is not a holiday in the United States,
2but it may seem like one to many Americans because of one big game.
3Tens of millions of Americans will gather for parties at restaurants and homes around the nation.
4They will enjoy food and drink together.
5Then, these families and friends, in groups of all sizes, will settle around televisions.
6It is Super Bowl Sunday in America.
7The Super Bowl is the yearly championship game of the National Football League, or NFL.
8The game is many things.
9It is usually the most-watched television program of the year.
10It is the biggest event for television advertisers.
11And halfway through the game, play stops for a performance from some of the biggest names in the music industry.
12This year it is Rihanna.
13Sunday will be the 57th Super Bowl.
14The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs are to face each other in Glendale, Arizona.
15The NFL's 32 member teams played a 17-game season and then top teams competed in playoff games to earn a chance at the championship.
16Both teams have long histories and loyal fans.
17The Chiefs have appeared in the Super Bowl four other times and came away champions in 1970 and 2020.
18The Eagles have won the Super Bowl once, in 2018.
19Sunday will be the team's fourth appearance in the championship.
20This year's Super Bowl is getting attention for a special reason.
21For the first time, Black quarterbacks will lead both teams on the field.
22Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is happy about that.
23"I'm really excited for both quarterbacks, what they can represent to a ton of kids," Sirianni said at a media event this week.
24"They both play at the highest level," he added.
25Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback of the Chiefs.
26He led the team to its most recent Super Bowl championship.
27The 27-year-old football player told reporters that this game was important for Black people.
28"I think about it a lot," he said.
29"The quarterbacks that came before me - Shack Harris, Doug Williams - that laid the foundation for me to be in this position."
30He is also looking to the future.
31"How can we motivate kids who are younger, who want to follow their dreams to be a quarterback?" Mahomes asked.
32His opponent, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, also spoke to reporters this week about how special this Super Bowl is.
33"So many African American quarterbacks have played this game, and for the first time for two to go head-to-head, that's uplifting for the next generations of quarterbacks," said the 24-year-old.
34"Texas, Louisiana, wherever across the world, regardless of what someone might say or have an opinion about you, you can do it, too."
35I'm Caty Weaver.