NEW ORLEANS — In a thrilling conclusion to Super Bowl 59, Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni led the Philadelphia Eagles to their second-ever Super Bowl victory, triumphing over the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. This win adds to the legacy of the Eagles, which began seven years earlier when Doug Pederson and Nick Foles secured the franchise’s first title.
While it’s common for the NFL to see teams clinch multiple titles due to remarkable coach-quarterback duos, achieving this feat with a completely different set of players in both roles is a rarity. Only two teams have managed to win multiple Super Bowls within an eight-season span without the same head coach or quarterback. The Oakland Raiders, under coach John Madden and quarterback Ken Stabler, captured their initial title during the 1976 season, followed by another victory four years later with the duo of Tom Flores and Jim Plunkett. Similarly, the San Francisco 49ers experienced success during the 1981-88 seasons with coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana, then continued their triumphs with coach George Seifert guiding the team to victories in 1989 with Montana and again in 1994 with QB Steve Young.
For the Raiders, 11 players participated in both Super Bowl victories, while the 49ers had six representatives, including legendary Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. In contrast, the Eagles saw a larger turnover in their roster, with only four players – right tackle Lane Johnson, defensive end Brandon Graham, kicker Jake Elliott, and long snapper Jake Lovato – taking part in both championship games. A consistent figure behind Philadelphia’s two titles has been general manager Howie Roseman, who has successfully constructed two championship-caliber rosters.
The Super Bowl also showcased historic firsts for college football powerhouses Alabama and Texas. Notably, DeVonta Smith’s 46-yard touchdown reception marked the first time a former Alabama player scored points in the Super Bowl. Despite contributions from players from numerous other colleges, Alabama was yet to have a scoring player in the big game until now. Smith’s achievement likewise placed him among an elite group of players who have won championships in both college and the NFL, a club that includes notable names such as Tony Dorsett and Charles Woodson.
In addition to Alabama, Texas made its mark with Xavier Worthy scoring two touchdowns, highlighting the Longhorns’ historic legacy. Another accomplishment was Justin Watson’s 2-point conversion catch, marking the first time a Penn player scored in a Super Bowl, representing just the second instance of an Ivy League player scoring in the game’s history.
In an intriguing twist, Hurts leveled the score with Patrick Mahomes in their Super Bowl encounters. This matchup marked the fourth time quarterbacks faced off again in a Super Bowl, with Mahomes previously emerging victorious in Super Bowl 57. Hurts became the fourth player to lose a Super Bowl as a starter and then return to win one, joining Hall of Famers such as John Elway and Bob Griese.
Despite the focus on explosive running back play this season, it was the quarterbacks who led both teams in rushing yards. Hurts achieved 72 rushing yards, breaking his own record for the most by a quarterback in Super Bowl history. Mahomes followed with 25 rushing yards, making it the first time in Super Bowl history where the leading rushers from both competing teams were quarterbacks. Kansas City’s running backs managed only 24 rushing yards, marking one of the lowest totals ever.
Even star running back Saquon Barkley faced challenges, amassing just 57 yards on 25 attempts, leading to a disappointing average. Nevertheless, Barkley set a record for most rushing yards in a season, totaling 2,504 yards across regular season and playoff games, exceeding Terrell Davis’s previous record.
With Philadelphia’s second Super Bowl win, the NFC East has become the only division in the league where each team has won at least two Super Bowl titles. The division boasts a combined total of 14 titles, including five from the Dallas Cowboys, four from the New York Giants, and three from the Washington Commanders, far surpassing any other division’s combined achievements. The AFC West comes closest with a total of 10 Super Bowl titles currently.
As NFL statistics, trends, and milestones continue to evolve, Super Bowl 59 has indeed left an indelible mark on the league’s history, weaving new narratives into the rich tapestry of football lore.
