What’s that you say? The NFL knew all along who would be playing in Super Bowl 59?
After a one-year blip, the Super Bowl logo controversy has raised its head once again with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles heading to this year’s game in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
Some conspiracy theorists have suggested the NFL plans out in advance who it wants to play on Super Sunday in order to maximize revenue or – in the case of last year’s Super Bowl – promote a certain political point of view.
For proof, look no further than the colors it chooses for the Super Bowl logo.
What is the Super Bowl logo conspiracy theory?
The premise of the alleged conspiracy is that the colors in the NFL’s official Super Bowl logo correspond to the teams the league has chosen to play in that season’s championship game.
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Sure enough, the Super Bowl 59 logo – which was revealed during the runup to last year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas – just happens to be red (the Chiefs’ primary color) and green (for the Eagles).
Coincidence? We think not!
How did the Super Bowl logo conspiracy start?
It’s hard to determine but the X account @NFL_Memes shared a graphic just before last year’s AFC and NFC championship games showing the connection between Super Bowl logos and the teams involved.
Of course, the meme lost steam last year when the Chiefs upended the Ravens in the AFC championship game and went on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers for their second consecutive title.
But, as conspiracists will tell you, that was before the NFL knew pop superstar Taylor Swift would be dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. And that the power couple’s impact would force the NFL to alter its plans.
NFL Super Bowl logo history
The first Super Bowl didn’t have a logo but each championship game since then has.
Super Bowl 2 in 1968 through Super Bowl 44 in 2010 had a logo that often included a nod to the host city. Examples include Super Bowl 31 in New Orleans, which had mardi gras-themes in its logo, and Super Bowl 38 in Houston, which included references to the city’s history with NASA.
Super Bowl 45 through 49 used silver logos with Roman numerals and the outlines of the host stadium.
Super Bowl 50 had a special golden logo to commemorate 50 years of the title game.
Super Bowl 51 through 55 went solely with Roman numerals and a Lombardi Trophy.
The newest logos since 56 return to giving nods to 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 the fleur de lis pattern for this season’s return to New Orleans.