Super Bowl LVII Opening Night Quotebook
AP Photo
Glendale, Arizona (PSF) - Super Bowl Media Day, now known as Super Bowl Opening Night, is always a fun exercise on the first day of Super Bowl week for the last two teams playing for the Lombardi trophy.
Between Donna Kelce giving her two sons cookies on stage, Darius Slay not knowing what state Kansas City is in, and JuJu Smith-Schuster saying the best Philly Cheesesteaks are not in Philly, this year was no different and certainly lived up to expectations. The two quarterbacks in this year’s Super Bowl obviously got the most attention by the media and deservedly so. Here are some of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ best quotes from the podium:
Mahomes is so locked in, that he forgot Valentine’s Day is right around the corner:
“I didn’t even notice it was coming up, so don’t tell her that I said that. I’ll make sure I’ll have some plans now,” said Mahomes.
Mahomes obviously got sprinkled with questions about his right ankle, to which he responded:
“Travis Kelce hurts my feelings like every single day and I still play. People hurt my feelings, that probably would hurt the most, but I still will play through it and try to get a win.”
Mahomes credited his father for his leadership, to which he said:
“There were so many people that I was around in my life that set that example for me. I was able to be in a lot of locker rooms and learn a ton about being a leader, being a man, and being a ballplayer. That’s what I try to fall back on, don’t be satisfied with where you’re at, just keep leading by example and being that person that everybody wants to go to work with and go compete with.”
Mahomes on Rhianna performing during halftime:
“I mean Rhianna’s going to be great, so I’m perfect with Rhianna doing it. I’m not going to be able to watch it, but a lot of my family members are super excited for Rhianna to go out there. I think they were more excited for that than the Super Bowl for a couple of ‘em, so it will be a great show.” Mahomes also added that “Umbrella” by Rhianna is his favorite song of all time.
A young reporter asked Mahomes about goals, to which he replied:
“You always gotta focus on your goals and that’s in whatever you do in life. Trying to be a doctor, lawyer, or on the football field. You focus on going and achieving those goals, and everything usually works out. It’s about how you finish, how you work every single day, and the people you have around you supporting you.”
Mahomes on this year’s Super Bowl being the first one between two black quarterbacks:
“To be lucky enough to be in this position and to play against another great guy like Jalen, it’s going to be a special moment, and I’m glad that we’re here today. But how can we keep moving forward and how can me motivate kids that are younger that are gonna follow their dreams to be a quarterback? It’s going to be a special special day, and a great football game.”
Christian Peterson/Getty Images
Shifting to the Philly side of things, Mahomes said that, “Dreams and Nightmares” will not be on his playlist this week as he said, “I’m a big Meek Mill fan, but I’m gonna have to throw that music down for at least this week.”
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on this year’s Super Bowl being the first one between two black quarterbacks:
“Now, the first time for two to go head-to-head," Hurts said. "That's uplifting the next generation of quarterbacks. That 4-year-old, 5-year-old kid back in Houston, back in Philly, back in Texas, Louisiana, wherever across the world that regardless of what someone may say or have an opinion about you, you can do it. You can do it, too. There's a platform here. I value the platform I have, I'm sure like Pat does, as well. So, we just want to inspire the next people."
Hurts on adversity and doubt:
“I feel like I was going through a really tough time in college, going through things that nobody else was really going through. And I knew I was going through it for a reason, I really believe that, so that’s what I did with doubt, I believe faith without work is dead. So, while you have faith, you can’t not be doing anything, so I had a lot of faith, and I put a lot of work in, and I never stopped believing in myself and believing what could be. I had limitless possibilities.”
A reporter even apologized to Hurts for not believing that the Eagles could get to the Super Bowl with him as their quarterback, to which Hurts interrupted him and said:
“You’re not the only one” and “Cool” with a bright smile.
Hurts on his own haters and doubters:
“That’s something that I embraced, that’s something that I embraced. I embraced all of the opinions, I embraced all the hate, the doubt, and I didn’t let it define me. And I won’t start letting it define me now.”
David J. Philip / Associated Press
Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni on the famous Philly movie, “Rocky”:
“I like all the Rocky soundtracks, and all the sounds there. The Fly Eagles Fly thing’s pretty awesome too. I mean, I got a two-year-old, he just turned three. And before he even really could talk, he still knew that song.”
Sirianni was also asked if the Super Bowl was a must win game for his team, to which he adamantly replied:
“Yeah” while somehow not breaking a straight face.
Sirianni had this to say about the sports town of Philadelphia:
"We want to be able to put our talents on display. And we're able to do that in the greatest sports town in America."
Travis Kelce on possibly talking to any other mayors after what he said about Cincinnati’s mayor:
“I don’t know, I’m outta here, I’m not talking to anymore mayors from this point on man.”
Marca
Mahomes on who does the best impression of his unique voice:
“Andy Reid has the best impression of my voice. He doesn’t do it in front of a lot of people, thankfully, but Andy Reid for sure has the best impression of my voice.”
Reid said this about Mahomes’ voice:
“You’ve gotta let the voice crack just a little bit, but that’s a unique voice he has.”
While wearing a Spanish cowboy like hat, Jason Kelce tried to speak Spanish in which he miserably failed to do so. Afterwards he said:
“My Spanish teachers are all cringing at how bad I’m doing right now.”
Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox had this to say about cheesesteaks and barbecue:
“I’m a fat boy, I love barbecue. Cheesesteaks are really good though, so don’t quote me on that.”
Staying on the topic of food, Andy Reid had this to say about several fast-food burger joints:
“I grew up on In-N-Out, but I’ve had a few Five Guys. And the Shake Shack, I don’t turn any of them away.”
Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata even has Jason Kelce as his screen saver:
"Jason is an inspiration. Jason Kelce is an epitome of a leader," Mailata said. "I got him as my screensaver, as fat Batman. That's how much of an inspiration he is to me. It's an honor playing with Jason Kelce, the player and the person that he is. You couldn't ask for a better teammate and a leader. He leads by example. You see it by his play on the field. More importantly, we see how he attacks every week in the classroom. Man, he walks the walk, talks the talk. He's the epitome of a leader."
Football games are won on the field, as both teams look to save their best trash talk for the big game on the world’s biggest stage this Sunday in Glendale, Arizona.
