NEW ORLEANS — Clark Hunt recalls his early memories as a young child, just shy of 5 years old, settled between his parents in Tulane Stadium watching the Kansas City Chiefs, the team founded by his father during the early American Football League era, compete against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. While he doesn’t have a clear recollection of the game, he cherishes the occasional photographs that surface from that time.
“I have a photograph of me with my parents in the stands, which I believe were benches. It seemed like we were in a corner of the stadium,” expressed Hunt, now 59 years old. He took over as the leader of the Chiefs following the passing of his father, the influential Lamar Hunt, in December 2006.
Hunt humorously reflected on the evolution of the sport, saying, “I guess that highlights how much things have changed.” As the Chiefs prepare to face the Eagles at the Superdome, it is certain that Hunt and his family will enjoy the luxury and comfort of a suite—quite the shift from the days of bench seating.
Having an impressive lineup with stars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and supported by a celebrity following that includes Taylor Swift, the Chiefs are striving to secure an unrivaled third consecutive Lombardi Trophy. Hunt is particularly aware of the historical context, as they aim to make history in the same city where they first achieved Super Bowl glory with a decisive 23-7 win over the Vikings on January 11, 1970.
Seeing this correlation, Hunt seems to view it as a serendipitous moment, reinforced by the fact that the team has been practicing at Tulane University this week. “It’s special to train just a stone’s throw away from where we celebrated our victory in Super Bowl IV,” said Hunt, expressing gratitude for the proximity and sentiment tied to the location.
Reflecting on previous Super Bowl weeks, Hunt mentioned, “I always remember my parents during this time. There’s no way to avoid those thoughts, but this week feels particularly meaningful.”
There is a strong case to be made that no individual had a more significant impact on professional football than Lamar Hunt. As a member of the “Foolish Club” that helped establish the AFL, he played a pivotal role in the merger with the NFL that integrated the two leagues. In fact, Lamar Hunt famously coined the term “Super Bowl” in a light-hearted letter to NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, inspired by a popular toy known as the Super Ball that his wife had gifted to their children one Christmas.
Lamar Hunt was a regular attendee at the Super Bowl but unfortunately never saw his Chiefs return to the grand event until the arrival of coach Andy Reid and the dynamic duo of Mahomes and Kelce led the team to victory over the 49ers in February 2020—exactly fifty years after their triumph over the Vikings.
His wife, Norma Hunt, was a constant figure at the Super Bowl until her passing in June 2023. At that time, she was one of the few individuals who had attended every game since the inaugural matchup, which featured the Chiefs against the Packers on January 15, 1967.
As the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl for the fifth time in six years, they face the Eagles once again after their previous victory over them in Glendale, Arizona, where they won their back-to-back championships. “We’ve been so spoiled as Chiefs fans over the last five or six years,” Hunt remarked to local reporters this week. “We understand this feeling, especially given the long wait of five decades before returning to the Super Bowl.”
New Orleans is hosting the Super Bowl for the 11th time, tying with Miami for the most times any city has done so. The vibrant French Quarter has been filled with excitement this week, where fans decked in Chiefs red and Eagles green mingle, enlivening the streets from Jackson Square to Canal Street and energizing the atmosphere around the Superdome.
As the Saints’ home stadium, the Superdome has served as a replacement for Tulane Stadium, hosting the event for the eighth time. “I don’t think any of us could have imagined this level of success,” Hunt concluded. “My dad, being a true fan at heart, would be thrilled. This was always about the fans for him, and he would love what we’ve accomplished together.”
