Super Bowl
Matthew Slater, a Super Bowl champ with his eye on higher things, retires from football
By Bob Smietana — February 22, 2024
(RNS) — The player’s longtime coach, Bill Belichick, once referred to him as a ‘perfect player.’ Teammates and opponents alike praised Slater for his leadership skills, which he says were built on his faith.
Super Bowl religion ads are a blast from the past
By Mark Silk — February 13, 2024
(RNS) — The ads from three sectors of American faith harked back to when faith played a peacemaking role.
Super Bowl viewers can meet Jesus, boost their prayer life and confront antisemitism
By Bob Smietana — February 9, 2024
(RNS) — Ads for the He Gets Us campaign, the Hallow prayer app and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism will be among the groups running faith-related ads at the Super Bowl.
Andra Day prays through nervousness ahead of Super Bowl performance
By Jonathan Landrum Jr. — February 9, 2024
LAS VEGAS (AP) — She's set to perform “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ” ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium.
These Catholic nuns are raised up on Eagles’ wings
By Elizabeth E. Evans — February 10, 2023
(RNS) — Catholic nuns in the Philadelphia area are preparing for Sunday's Super Bowl between their beloved Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs with prayer (and a few small wagers).
‘He Gets Us’ organizers hope to spend $1 billion to promote Jesus. Will anyone care?
By Bob Smietana — January 26, 2023
(RNS)—This year’s Super Bowl will feature a $20 million pair of pro-Jesus ads promoting the idea that Jesus ‘gets us,’ part of the larger ‘He Gets Us’ campaign. Organizers hope to spend a billion dollars in the next three years to redeem Jesus’ brand.
Should religious people watch the Super Bowl?
By Jeffrey Salkin — February 18, 2022
Is boycotting this week's sports events a religious imperative? Maybe.
Rams or Bengals? The annual divining of the Super Bowl victor through sacred texts.
By Joshua Hammerman — February 11, 2022
(RNS) — My record is impeccable.
Julian Edelman, the first Jewish football player named Super Bowl MVP, retires
By Bob Smietana — April 12, 2021
(RNS) — Edelman, whose parents didn’t practice any religion when he was growing up, embraced his Jewish identity during his NFL career.
A religious analysis of that Super Bowl Jeep commercial
By Jeffrey Salkin — February 9, 2021
(RNS) — That Jeep commercial with the Boss? It was a sermon.
Robert Saleh is the NFL’s first Muslim head coach
By Joseph Hammond — February 5, 2021
(RNS) — For Saleh, who went to a majority-Muslim public high school in Dearborn, Michigan, the Islamic faith and American football have always had a unique synergy.
Tom Brady’s leap of faith
By Bob Smietana — March 22, 2020
(RNS) — Once a devoted acolyte of Bill Belichick, the Pats' Hall of Famer has put himself in the hands of a trainer/spiritual guide once labeled a ‘snake oil salesman.’
The four loves (of New York Life)
By Tim Schenck — February 4, 2020
(RNS) — A New York Life Super Bowl ad about agape love misses the point about unconditional love.
Making sense of Mr. Peanut’s senseless death
By Tara Isabella Burton — January 28, 2020
(RNS) — Greater love has no man than this, Jesus once said, than a man lay down his life for his friends. In 2020, it’s Mr. Peanut who makes this a thing.
How Julian Edelman became a Jewish hero
By Jeffrey Salkin — February 4, 2019
Julian Edelman is a touchdown for Jewish identity.
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