NEW ORLEANS – For more than 100 million Americans one Sunday evening every February, the Super Bowl halftime show (this year performed by rapper Kendrick Lamar) is a chance to observe a made-for-television musical performance.
For the players of the two teams involved in the big game, it’s a waiting game, as the roughly 30-minute hiatus is unlike any other halftime to that point in the season.
At least Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson found one benefit of the extended break.
“Well, we have more time to use the restroom – let’s get that out of the way,” Johnson told USA TODAY Sports. “Regular games, we don’t. It’s like, you get out, you get seven minutes, coach tells you, ‘You got this?’ and then we’re back on the field. They need to make regular halftimes longer.”
Like the game itself, preparation is essential. Both staffs of the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have plans in place to deal with the downtime.
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“They usually have a schedule for us at halftime,” Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna said.
That includes four or five minutes designated for eating (a snack). Then players review the coaching points they’ve been drilled on for two weeks. Coaches will conduct reviews from the first half, followed by a break. There’s more eating and hydrating. Then adjustments are made for the second half.
“Getting off your feet, eating, rehydrating – all that stuff is just as important as the game,” Danna said.
Both the Eagles and Chiefs are familiar with the challenge a Super Bowl halftime presents. The Chiefs have been here the previous two years and are back for the fifth time in six seasons. The Eagles lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57 two years ago.
Johnson said wasn’t he sure if the Eagles became too complacent during that game, in which they entered the locker room with a 10-point lead.
“To your point, we do have more time for coaching and we do have more to hydrate – and use the restroom,” Johnson said.
Halftime at the Super Bowl doesn’t feel the same for every player. Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat said “last Super Bowl was a blur.”
“They’ll have stuff for us to do, warming up. We’ll have stuff to stay fresh,” Sweat told USA TODAY Sports. “We’ll manage the time well. I don’t know how it’s going to look, because I ain’t going to lie, I forgot how it looked last time.”
Going into halftime with a calm frame of mind and knowing that conserving energy is a priority is essential, Chiefs safety Justin Reid said.
“Sometimes, guys come (into) halftime like ‘Rah, rah,’” Reid told USA TODAY Sports. “The halftime is so long that you just got to have a plan for it. The first little bit is just decompressing. “And then from there, you do another mini warmup to get out there and play again.”
Having to warm up again is the “weirdest thing” about halftime at the Super Bowl, according to former NFL offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth, who played in two Super Bowls with the Los Angeles Rams.
“There’s almost a period of, like, you truly need to shut it down for a second and then ramp it back up,” Whitworth told USA TODAY Sports. “Whereas in like halftime normally, I would never even sit down usually. I’d just kind of walk around the locker room and sip some water, get ready to go back out there.”
The players with more wear on their tires, such as Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Johnson, have more work cut out for them in terms of ramping it up, and their warmups will have to be more intense (Whitworth would know; he played in his Super Bowls at age 37 and 41).
“If I got to sit back down, I’m gonna have to get myself back up again pretty good,” Whitworth remembered. “You really got to take advantage of that window.
“And the Super Bowl is the craziest week for all that type (of) stuff. That’s why it’s a huge advantage for guys that have played in it a bunch.”
The break reminds Chiefs right guard Trey Smith of college, when bands take the field and halftimes are generally longer. The shortness of NFL halftime was actually a transition for him, he said.
In the Super Bowl, Smith said, it’s important to understand the priorities: refocus, regroup, “don’t freak out about anything.”
And don’t forget the Uncrustables.
“Get a nice PB&J sandwich, kick back a little bit and listen to your coaching points,” Smith told USA TODAY Sports. “Also, don’t rev yourself up too much. You understand it’s going to be a longer period. I think it’s more so just a focus, staying in tune, and understanding that … you’re going to have quite a while.”
Former Chiefs offensive lineman Nick Allegretti, now with the Washington Commanders, said guys will throw their legs up and lay down on the ground if they choose.
“Actually getting a chance to turn it off and getting a good full snack in, if not a meal, for some guys,” Allegretti said. “Hitting an actual warmup in the locker room. Just having an understanding that it is a full 30 minutes. You hear the halftime show going on. It’s just weird having that like, every game’s the same, then Super Bowl, it’s a double halftime.”
Smith doesn’t like to eat before games, so putting something together is necessary, although he and most other players keep it light.
“Just a little snack,” Smith said. “PB&J, a water, maybe a Gatorade. Just refuel a little bit.”
Reid likes to wear two jerseys – one for each half – during games and uses the extra time to change at a slower pace. His snacks of choice are an Uncrustable and applesauce. Danna likes orange slices, same as he did in high school.
During normal halftimes, coaches – especially those who are in coaching booths stories above the locker room – barely have time to speak to players. That changes at the Super Bowl.
“It definitely helps the coaches get an extra while to digest that information and then get it to us,” Washington Commanders right tackle Andrew Wylie, also a former Chiefs lineman, told USA TODAY Sports.
Nonetheless, the amount of adjustments aren’t much more than a typical regular-season or playoff game. Those are typically made on the sideline in between series anyway, Johnson said, thanks to the help of tablets.
“It’s about the same amount of plays as a regular game,” Reid said. “It’s just stretched out over four or five hours instead of three hours. It’s the same volume of adjustments that we normally do.”
Hearing the halftime performance is something the players have to deal with. Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson watched the Super Bowl 56 halftime show (which also included Lamar, as part of an ensemble act) from the bench, which drew the ire of his special teams coordinator.
Danna said he is a fan of the three most recent performers, which included Rihanna (2023), Usher (2024) and Lamar this year.
“I watch it after,” Danna said. “It’s always a better feeling when you watch it after.”
Especially if you touched the Lombardi Trophy as a Super Bowl champion beforehand.
This post appeared first on USA TODAY
