Terms were not disclosed. Pennel, 33, is heading into his 12th NFL season and fifth with the Chiefs.

He played on a one-year, $1.2 million deal last season and recorded a career-high 3.0 sacks with 25 tackles in 17 games (seven starts) for Kansas City.

The two-time Super Bowl champion has 5.0 sacks, 231 tackles and three forced fumbles in 138 games (25 starts) with the Green Bay Packers (2014-16), New York Jets (2017-18), Chiefs (2019-20, 2023-24), Atlanta Falcons (2021) and Chicago Bears (2022).

Omenihu, 27, tallied one sack in six games (one start) during the 2024 regular season and added one sack and one forced fumble during the Chiefs' three-game postseason run.

He missed the first 11 games last season while rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in the AFC Championship Game victory at Baltimore on Jan. 28, 2024.

During his first season with Kansas City in 2023, Omenihu missed the first six games while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He was arrested in January 2023 on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic assault.

A fifth-round draft pick by Houston in 2019, Omenihu has 19.5 sacks, 53 quarterback hits, 101 tackles and six forced fumbles in 78 games (12 starts) with the Texans (2019-21), San Francisco 49ers (2021-22) and Chiefs.

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed for Nnadi, a key performer for the Kansas City Chiefs during the team's three Super Bowl championships over his seven NFL seasons.

The 28-year-old has started 87 of 115 games in Kansas City, with 2024 being his least productive season as a pro. Last year, Nnadi had just 11 tackles and one start.

Conversely, Nnadi started 86 games over his first six seasons, with 222 tackles (37 per season) and five sacks.

The Jets have taken a platoon approach to refortifying their defensive tackle position this offseason, signing Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele in addition to Nnadi. Those three were signed as replacements for Javon Kinlaw, who started all 17 games for the Jets in 2024 before departing in free agency for the Washington Commanders.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

On Thursday, the Chiefs signed journeyman quarterback Gardner Minshew II, recently released by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Now, Zappe and Minshew will battle for the No. 2 job in Kansas City behind Patrick Mahomes, a role filled by Carson Wentz last season.

Wentz remains a free agent.

Zappe, 25, spent the first part of the 2024 season on the Kansas City practice squad before he was claimed by the Browns on Oct. 22. He started one game with Cleveland -- a 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 4. He was 16-of-31 passing for 170 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

He previously played for the New England Patriots (2022-23), appearing in 14 games (eight starts). He had a 4-4 record and completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,053 yards with 11 TD and 12 picks for the Pats.

Minshew has played six NFL seasons, spending time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Las Vegas Raiders.

In 2023, Minshew got the opportunity to be a starter for the Colts, securing his first Pro Bowl selection in the process. Across 17 games (13 starts), he threw for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns.

As a starter, he led the Colts to a 7-6 record.

Coming off a successful campaign, he signed a two-year contract with the Raiders last offseason. However, he went 2-7 as the starter, throwing for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns and a career-high 10 interceptions. His passer rating of 81.0 marked a career low.

The Raiders elected to release him earlier this month.

Minshew is coming off an underwhelming season, but the former Pro Bowl signal-caller will be one of the most accomplished backup quarterbacks in the league. With 46 career starts under his belt, he gives the Chiefs insurance behind Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs had largely already spent that money but deals are not official until the start of the league year on Wednesday afternoon.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes revised his deal for the fourth time since 2021. His contract value of $450 million is tops in the NFL and the deal runs through the 2031 season. The 29-year-old shifted approximately $23 million of his salary, which would fit almost precisely with the franchise tag value for retaining guard Trey Smith.

Mahomes has base salaries in 2026 ($45.4 million) and 2027 ($45.8 million) that are 4.5 times higher than his $9.8 million salary last season.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones signed a five-year, $158.8 million contract in 2024 and has a restructure bonus of $27.5 million on the books for 2025.

In addition to using the franchise tag to retain top free agent Smith, the Chiefs agreed to deals with free agent offensive tackle Jaylon Moore (49ers), cornerback Kristian Fulton (Chargers) and running back Elijah Mitchell (49ers) and re-signed linebacker Nick Bolton and wide receiver Hollywood Brown.

Free agent contracts with new teams are not final until Wednesday, the official first day of the 2025 league year in the NFL.

Moore, a backup for the 49ers, heads to the Chiefs along with San Francisco backup running back Elijah Mitchell (one year, $3.5 million) as Kansas City reloads around quarterback Patrick Mahomes after losing Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Moore, 27, is expected to be the starting left tackle for the Chiefs after four seasons as the backup to Trent Williams with the 49ers. A fifth-round pick out of Western Michigan, Moore started five games in 2024 when Williams was sidelined with an ankle injury.

He has played in 55 games with 12 starts since being selected in the 2021 draft.

Mitchell agreed to a one-year deal Monday after missing the entire 2024 season with a hamstring injury. He landed on injured reserve in August.

He totaled 327 carries and 1,523 rushing yards with the 49ers, who selected Mitchell in the sixth round of the 2021 draft.

The deal includes $30 million in guaranteed money and will make Bolton the fifth-highest average paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL, per Spotrac.

Bolton, 24, was a second-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2021 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he made an immediate impact with a team-leading 112 tackles to go along with 11 tackles for loss, three passes defended, and a fumble recovery.

In 2022, the linebacker elevated his game to another level, collecting a career-high 180 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. He went on to make two fumble recoveries in the postseason, including a 36-yard fumble return touchdown during a 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

Last season, Bolton recorded 106 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six passes defended, two fumble recoveries, and one interception.

Overall, Bolton has 458 tackles and four interceptions in 57 games (53 starts).

Brown, 27, had nine catches for 91 yards in two regular-season games after sustaining a sternoclavicular joint injury in the preseason. He added five receptions for 50 yards in the playoffs.

He signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs last March after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).

Brown has 322 catches for 3,735 yards and 28 touchdowns in 74 career games (66 starts). He posted a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens in 2021.

Per jail records from Williamson County, Texas, Worthy was charged with assault against a family or household member by impeding their breathing or circulation.

The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas and is punishable with a sentence of two to 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Under Texas law, impeding breathing includes "intentionally, knowingly or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the person's throat or neck or by blocking the person's nose or mouth."

"We are aware and gathering information," the Chiefs said in a statement Saturday morning, per NFL Network.

The situation involving Worthy makes the second straight offseason that a Chiefs wide receiver has found trouble off the field. Rashee Rice was arrested in April for his involvement in a multi-car crash while racing a Lamborghini in Dallas.

Worthy, 21, bolted out of the blocks and set an NFL Scouting Combine record with a time of 4.21 in the 40-yard dash. He was selected by the Chiefs with the 28th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

He had 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for three more scores.

Worthy had three touchdown receptions in the playoffs, including two in the second half of the Chiefs' 40-22 setback to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Thuney started at left tackle late in the season for the Chiefs and manned that spot for Kansas City in the Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears agreed to a trade for Rams guard Jonah Jackson, parting with a 2025 sixth-round pick, according to multiple reports.

Terms of the deal between the Bears and Chiefs were not known. Deals cannot become official until the first day of the league year on March 12.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles previously was in the Chiefs' personnel department and worked for Kansas City when the team signed Thuney as a free agent to a five-year, $80 million contract in 2021. He has one year remaining on that deal.

The Bears are working to settle an offensive line that became a concern in front of 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams last season. New head coach Ben Johnson said last week at the combine he would have no reservations changing out three or four starting spots in the offseason, pointing out the example of the Carolina Panthers' overhaul last offseason that included two massive additions at guard: free agents Robert Hunt (Dolphins) and Damien Lewis (Seahawks).

The Athletic reported Wednesday that New England was in the bidding to reacquire Thuney via trade.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week that Thuney is a natural "center-guard" and would not be used at left tackle in 2025.

The Chiefs have a number of moving parts on the line even after securing right guard Trey Smith with the franchise tag. One piece the team is lacking entering the offseason is a certain solution at left tackle.

Thuney, 32, is a two-time All-Pro and two-team second-team All-Pro with four Super Bowl rings -- two with the Chiefs, two with the Patriots. He has played in 146 regular-season games since being drafted by New England 78th overall in 2016.

NFL teams have until Monday to use the franchise and transition tag designations to retain players scheduled to become free agents next month.

Smith, a Pro Bowl selection at right guard in 2024, would be guaranteed around $23.4 million for the 2025 season under terms of the franchise tender. The Chiefs and Smith would have until July 15 to come to a long-term contract extension to override the one-year deal.

A sixth-round pick in 2021, Smith has started 80 games -- 13 in the playoffs -- and is only 25 years old.

The tender is higher than the average salary of the NFL's current highest-paid guard -- Landon Dickerson (Eagles) makes $21 million per season. The Chiefs made Creed Humphrey the highest-paid center in the NFL last August with a four-year, $72 million deal.

Chiefs left guard Joe Thuney is entering the final year of his contract and can become a free agent after the 2025 season. Thuney kicked out to left tackle, where he started in Super Bowl LIX, in an attempt to patch the offensive line late in the year.

Head coach Andy Reid said earlier this week Thuney would be back at his natural guard position in 2025 unless the Chiefs can't find a solution at left tackle.

Kelce made his intentions known with a text to Pat McAfee, who promptly shared it on his show Thursday.

"I'm coming back for sure," Kelce wrote, per McAfee. "Gonna try and get into the best shape I've been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop. Got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and how I got the guys ready for battle. I can't go out like that!!!!"

The text is in line with what Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said on Tuesday.

Kelce, 35, said earlier this month he was weighing his future in the wake of the Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Kelce wound up with four catches for 39 yards.

"I know everybody wants to know whether I'm playing next year and right now, I'm just kicking everything down the road. I'm kicking every can I can down the road. I'm not making any crazy decisions," Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast.

A four-time first-team All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl choice through 12 NFL seasons, Kelce would carry a $19.8 million cap hit in 2025.

Kelce made 97 receptions for 823 yards in the 2024 regular season, his lowest yardage total since 2014. He posted seven consecutive 1,000-yard years from 2016-22.

"We did have a chance to talk before they left," Reid said Tuesday just before the noon hour of the status of Kelce. "That's up to Travis. At this point, it's 'Get out of town. They've played a lot of football here. So, step back, then we'll talk.'"

Kelce was reportedly given a deadline of March 14, one day before an $11.5 million roster bonus is due to trigger in the final year of his contract. But Veach said adamantly, "There is no deadline."

Veach said he expects Kelce to play after their most recent conversation.

"He was fired up about being here," Veach said. "He has one more year under contract. We left it at he'd be back and we're excited to have him back. As far as I'm concerned, there is no deadline."

Kelce, 35, said earlier this month he was weighing his future in the wake of the Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Kelce wound up with four catches for 39 yards.

"I know everybody wants to know whether I'm playing next year and right now, I'm just kicking everything down the road. I'm kicking every can I can down the road. I'm not making any crazy decisions," Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast.

A four-time first-team All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl choice through 12 NFL seasons, Kelce would carry a $19.8 million cap hit in 2025.

Kelce made 97 receptions for 823 yards in the 2024 regular season, his lowest yardage total since 2014. He posted seven consecutive 1,000-yard years from 2016-22.

The team is asking the star tight end to state his position by March 14, The Athletic reported on Thursday.

There is a significance to the date choice: Kelce would be due an $11.5 million roster bonus on March 15 if he were to play on the final year of his contract in 2025.

Kelce, 35, is weighing his future in the wake of the Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX.

Kelce wound up with four catches for 39 yards in New Orleans on Sunday.

"I know everybody wants to know whether I'm playing next year and right now, I'm just kicking everything down the road. I'm kicking every can I can down the road. I'm not making any crazy decisions," Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast released Wednesday.

A four-time first-team All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl choice through 12 NFL seasons, Kelce would carry a $19.8 million cap hit in 2025.

Kelce made 97 receptions for 823 yards in the 2024 regular season, his lowest yardage total since 2014. He posted seven consecutive 1,000-yard years from 2016-22.

"As you see yourself or not feel yourself have the success you once had, it's a tough pill to swallow," he said. "For that not to be there in the biggest moments, knowing your team's counting on you, those are all extremely hard things ... it's just a tough reality.

"That process can be grueling. It can weigh on you, it can make you better, it can drive you crazy at the same time. And right now, it's one of those things where it was driving me crazy this year. It happens as you kind of tail off towards the back nine of your career as SVP (ESPN's Scott Van Pelt) would say."

In 175 regular-season games, Kelce has 1,004 catches for 12,151 yards and 77 touchdowns. In 25 playoff games, he has 178 receptions for 2,078 yards and 20 TDs -- all playoff records among tight ends.

Kelce, 35, was a non-factor in the Chiefs' failed attempt at a historic threepeat, finishing with four catches for 39 yards on Sunday in New Orleans.

"I know everybody wants to know whether I'm playing next year and right now, I'm just kicking everything down the road. I'm kicking every can I can down the road. I'm not making any crazy decisions," Kelce said on the latest episode of his "New Heights" podcast released Wednesday.

The 10-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time first-team All-Pro carries a $19.8 million cap hit in the final season of his contract in 2025, which would be his 13th NFL campaign.

Kelce co-hosts the popular podcast with his brother Jason Kelce, the longtime Eagles center who retired before the 2024 season.

Travis Kelce said many times during the weeks leading up to fifth Super Bowl appearance that he planned to return in 2025, but acknowledged that the extra grind of yet another long postseason run takes a toll.

"I've been fortunate over the past five, six years, I've played more football than anybody," he said. "It's because of the people that are in that building. The fact that we keep going to these AFC Championships and these Super Bowls, that means I'm playing an extra three games more than everybody else in the entire league. That's a lot of wear and tear on your body and it's a lot of time spent in the building, focusing on your craft, focusing on the task at hand and every challenge that you set up for yourself."

Kelce caught 97 passes during the 2024 regular season for 823 yards, his lowest total since he had 862 in 2014. He posted seven straight 1,000-yard campaigns from 2016-22.

"As you see yourself or not feel yourself have the success you once had, it's a tough pill to swallow," he said. "For that not to be there in the biggest moments, knowing your team's counting on you, those are all extremely hard things ... it's just a tough reality.

"That process can be grueling. It can weigh on you, it can make you better, it can drive you crazy at the same time. And right now, it's one of those things where it was driving me crazy this year. It happens as you kind of tail off towards the back nine of your career as SVP [ESPN's Scott Van Pelt] would say."

Kelce, a third-round draft pick by Kansas City in 2013, has 1,004 receptions for 12,151 yards and 77 touchdowns in 175 regular season games. He has another 178 catches for 2,078 yards and 20 touchdowns -- all playoff records -- in 25 postseason starts.

The game in New Orleans aired on Fox, Fox Deportes and Telemundo and streamed on Tubi and drew a combined average household rating of 41.7 and combined household share of 83. The audience peaked at 137.7 million during the second quarter, from 8 to 8:15 p.m. ET.

Viewership was up 3.2 percent over the previous year, when a then-record 123.7 million watched the Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Las Vegas.

The Super Bowl is annually the most watched U.S. telecast of the year. In fact, 19 of the top 20 most-viewed telecasts in national history are Super Bowls, the lone exception being the final episode of the sitcom "M*A*S*H," which drew 105.9 million viewers in 1983.

The game in New Orleans was available for viewing on Fox, Telemundo, Fox Deportes, Tubi and the NFL digital's channels.

The old record of 123.7 million was set a year ago when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime on a game shown by CBS, Nickelodeon, Univision and streaming channels.

Fox projected the peak viewership for Sunday was 135.7 million in the second quarter, from 8-8:15 p.m. ET. By halftime, the Eagles led 24-0 and the competitive portion of the game was essentially over.

Tubi, which made the broadcast available for free, drew 13.6 million viewers, part of a total of 14.5 million people estimated to have streamed the game.

The official ratings for the Super Bowl, calculated by Nielsen, are due to be announced on Tuesday.

The Super Bowl is annually the most watched U.S. telecast of the year. In fact, 19 of the top 20 most-viewed telecasts in national history are Super Bowls, the lone exception being the final episode of the sitcom "M*A*S*H," which drew 105.9 million viewers in 1983.

Until this year's official numbers come out, No. 1 on the list is last year's Super Bowl, and No. 2 is the Super Bowl from February 2023, when 115 million saw the Chiefs edge the Eagles 38-35 in Glendale, Ariz.

The longtime star tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs is no sure thing to return to the club in 2025 as retirement talk has hung in the air most of this season.

Kelce's four receptions in the Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday lifted his Super Bowl total to 35, two ahead of legendary Jerry Rice. Kelce caught four passes for 39 yards against the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Kansas City star quarterback Patrick Mahomes hopes Kelce returns for a 12th full NFL season.

"I know he still has love for the game," Mahomes said. "He'll get time to spend with his family and make that decision on his own. He'll be welcomed back here with open arms."

The Chiefs brass reportedly isn't confident that Kelce will return.

Kelce didn't address his future after the stunning setback, and he was far from upbeat.

"You don't lose bad without everything going bad," Kelce said.

Kelce ranks second in Super Bowl history with 389 receiving yards and passed Lynn Swann and Rob Gronkowski (364 apiece) on Sunday. Rice holds the record of 589 yards.

A 10-time Pro Bowl selection, Kelce had career lows of 823 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 8.5 yards per receptions this season. He did catch 97 passes, narrowly missing his fourth 100-reception season.

Kelce's brother, Jason, retired after last season. He was a star center for the Eagles for 13 seasons.

Travis Kelce's level of celebrity has risen during his relationship to singer Taylor Swift. But not only did the Chiefs lose badly Sunday, Swift received many more boos than cheers when she was displayed on the Jumbotron inside the Superdome.

After the Eagles' dominant 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX, Philadelphia grabbed favorite status at BetMGM (+650) and DraftKings (+600).

But both the Chiefs and Eagles had the shortest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook at +650, while ESPN BET pegged the Baltimore Ravens as co-favorites with Kansas City at +650 to win it all.

A Kansas City victory on Sunday would have made the Chiefs the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. That result surely would have locked up their status as the team to beat in the 2025 season.

Instead, not only did the Chiefs lose, they were behind 40-6 late before a pair of touchdowns in garbage time. It was tracking to be one of the most one-sided Super Bowls on record before the late scores.

The Chiefs' loss was perhaps most reflected in their odds at BetMGM. They didn't even crack the top two, instead settling into a tie for third with the Buffalo Bills at +750, behind both Philadelphia and Baltimore (+700).

The Eagles, for their part, have been to three of the past eight Super Bowls and won two. Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts is just entering the prime of his career at age 26, and the offseason signing of star running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year contract made an immediate difference.

The Ravens have yet to win a Super Bowl in the Lamar Jackson era. Their path is made more difficult by sharing a conference with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who have won the AFC championship five of the past six years.

The Ravens, Chiefs and Bills were all tied for second on DraftKings' board at +700 as of this writing.

Instead, they became the ninth squad to come up short while attempting to score the elusive three-peat.

Kansas City was the only one of those teams that won consecutive Lombardi Trophies to return to the Super Bowl for a third straight time. But the Chiefs came up short with Sunday's 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

The Chiefs trailed by as many as 34 points before narrowing the gap late in the contest.

The Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers (twice), San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots were the other organizations to win two straight Super Bowls.

Three of those teams lost in the conference championship the following season, two others fell in the divisional round and three missed the playoffs.

Prior to this season, the Patriots were the most recent team to give it a shot, beating the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2003 season and topping the Eagles a year later before losing to the Broncos in the divisional round of the 2005 campaign.

Kansas City defeated the 49ers to win it all last season, and this year's Super Bowl was a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which the Chiefs won 38-35 over the Eagles on Feb. 12, 2023.

The Steelers' two chances for a three-peat came when the franchise won four Super Bowls in a dominating six-season span. After winning titles following the 1974 and 1975 seasons, Pittsburgh lost to the then-Oakland Raiders in the 1976 AFC Championship Game.

The Steelers later won the 1978 and 1979 season Super Bowl crowns before missing the playoffs in 1980.

--Philadelphia's Cooper DeJean is a rookie cornerback known for preventing touchdowns. Saquan Barkley, a seven-year veteran, ran for 2,005 yards, caught 33 passes for 278 yards and scored 15 touchdowns this season.

So among the Eagles' players who played in Sunday's Super Bowl LIX on their birthday, guess who found the end zone?

Midway through the second quarter, with the Eagles leading 10-0, the 22-year-old DeJean stepped in front of a pass by Patrick Mahomes near the right sideline, crossed the field and found blockers near the left sideline for a 38-yard touchdown. It was his first NFL interception and touchdown.

Barkley, 28, finished with 97 total yards from scrimmage. He rushed for 57 yards on 25 carries, and his 40 yards receiving came on six catches.

ESPN had the pair on their set for a postgame interview, where host Chris Berman awarded them with birthday cake.

--In a game nearly free from injuries, the one notable exit was that of Kansas City Chief star defensive tackle Chris Jones, who left the game in the third quarter with a knee issue and did not return.

Jones went down on a run by Barkley with about six minutes left in the period. He was ruled doubtful to return soon after.

Earlier in the game, Jones was seen receiving treatment on his neck after the Chiefs attempted and failed to stop a Philadelphia "tush push" touchdown.

Jones, who recorded one quarterback hit, is a three-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion during his tenure with Kansas City. He signed a five-year, $158.75 million free agent deal with the Chiefs in March 2024 that made him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.

Jones had one sack earlier this postseason against Houston and five in the regular season.

--With the state of NFL officiating seemingly under extra scrutiny in recent weeks, referee Ron Torbert's crew doled out penalties to the Chiefs and Eagles in similar numbers.

Kansas City was dinged seven times for 75 yards, and Philadelphia was flagged eight times for 59 yards.

Notably, on the Eagles first possession, they faced fourth-and-2 at midfield and Jalen Hurts appeared to complete a 32-yard pass to A.J. Brown. However, Brown was called for offensive pass interference amid some hand-fighting with cornerback Trent McDuffie, and the Eagles punted on fourth-and-12 instead.

Fox analyst Tom Brady expressed concern with the call.

"(Brown is) a big, physical, strong receiver. Just getting off the press on McDuffie. Aw, don't like that one bit. This is too critical of a game," Brady said.

The Eagles, who had previously won Super Bowl LII 41-33 against the New England Patriots, got after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to the tune of six sacks and a fumble as well as the two interceptions, limiting Kansas City to six points through 57 minutes.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 17 of 22 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also led the team in rushing with 72 yards and a score on 11 carries. He helped Philadelphia exact revenge on Kansas City after the Eagles lost to the Chiefs 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII two years ago.

Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy hauled in eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns for the Chiefs, who were emphatically prevented from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.

Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, celebrated his 28th birthday by setting two NFL records in the first half, becoming the single-season scrimmage yards leader (regular season plus playoffs) on his first carry before breaking the single-season rushing yards record on the final play of the first half.

Barkley finished with 57 yards rushing on 25 carries and added six catches for 40 yards. Across the regular season and postseason, Barkley finished with 2,857 yards from scrimmage and 2,504 rushing yards to break both records, previously held by the Denver Broncos' Terrell Davis (1998).

After back-to-back sacks of Mahomes during a second-quarter drive, Eagles rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean, who was also celebrating a birthday (his 22nd), broke in front of a pass and returned his interception 38 yards for a touchdown with 7:03 left in the second quarter to stake Philadelphia to a 17-0 lead.

Two drives later, edge rusher Josh Sweat, who finished with 2 1/2 sacks, pressured Mahomes into his second interception, which linebacker Zack Baun collected at the Chiefs' 14-yard line. Two plays after that, Hurts found A.J. Brown for a 12-yard touchdown, putting the Chiefs in a 24-0 hole with 1:35 left in the half.

The Eagles went up 27-0 on Jake Elliott's 29-yard field goal, and after the Chiefs failed on a fourth-down attempt, Hurts found DeVonta Smith alone behind the defense for a 46-yard scoring play and a 34-0 lead.

Mahomes, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 257 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, finally got the Chiefs on the board with a 24-yard scoring pass to Worthy with 34 seconds left in the third.

On the Eagles' first score, a pass by Hurts down the right sideline was reeled in by Jahan Dotson for 27 yards to set up a first-and-goal from 1 yard out. Hurts punched it in a play later out of the "tush push" formation to help Philadelphia go up 7-0.

Kansas City safety Bryan Cook snuffed out the Eagles' second straight scoring opportunity with an interception of Hurts at the Chiefs' 2-yard line, but a drive later, Philadelphia made it 10-0 on Elliott's 48-yarder, capping a seven-play drive.

The Eagles held a 179-23 edge in first-half yardage and outgained the Chiefs 345-275 for the game.

Elliott connected on field goals of 48 and 50 yards to conclude the Eagles' scoring. Mahomes threw two late touchdowns to DeAndre Hopkins and Worthy.

An Eagles' victory in the big game would net Barkley a $250,000 incentive bonus, which would match the total he received after Philadelphia's 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game. Barkley rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns in that game.

Barkley, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, already has earned $3 million in incentives, per ESPN. That's quite the boost for Barkley, who signed a three-year contract worth $37.75 million last March -- complete with an $11.625 million signing bonus.

Barkley also could make NFL history on Sunday. His 2,447 rushing yards accumulated over the regular season (2,005) and the playoffs (442) are just 29 shy of the NFL record held by Terrell Davis, set in 1998 with the Denver Broncos.

Barkley joined the Eagles in the offseason after a six-year run with the New York Giants, with whom he totaled 5,211 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. This season, his yards gained and his 15 rushing touchdowns spearheaded the Eagles' potent ground game during their push to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl LIX appearance.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Barkley was named first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2024. He also earned several Rookie of the Year awards in 2018 before winning the Bert Bell Award (top NFL player) in 2024.

Murals have sprung up all over downtown, along with big, bold placards and advertisements, signaling that the city with a reputation for throwing a great party is once again hosting the biggest sports party of them this week.

This year's Super Bowl logo and art style feature a colorful beadwork design, inspired by the local Black Masking tradition. That unique form of expression was created by Black Americans who were excluded from mainstream Mardi Gras celebrations for much of the city's history and continues today.

The commissioned art, designed by local artist Tahj "Queen Tahj" Williams, incorporates bright red, green and yellow colors, and that theme is on display on the streets surrounding the Caesars Superdome, the site of this year's game.

"I wanted the rest of the world to see what I saw when I saw this culture for the first time here in New Orleans," Williams told Reuters.

Megan Braden-Perry, a local entertainment and culture reporter, sees the ramp up in accompanying events being typical for such a huge occasion. From drag brunches and celebrity-centered events to more typical tailgates and fan fests, New Orleans is hosting a buffet of entertainment options for hungry visitors.

According to Braden-Perry, the city prides itself on being "built to host," and that comes directly from the people within the community who are experienced through decades of hosting big celebrations.

"We are raised from little to grow up and work in the service industry or retail, with a lot of jobs being concentrated downtown," Braden-Perry said. "If we are still here working, we are absolutely still here hosting."

Kevin Pedeaux, owner of CR Coffee Shop and operator of the St. Roch Market, agrees that the community is ready for the influx of tourists that some estimates put in the neighborhood of over 100,000 visitors.

"There has never been a better time to come to New Orleans since I've been alive," Pedeaux said. "We are so excited to host this huge event and have visitors in our beloved city again. We want to share New Orleans with the world."

That spirit to host has yet to be dampened, despite some recent challenges.

Most seriously, the city endured a terror attack on January 1, in which a man drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 14 and injuring dozens of others.

That incident called security for Super Bowl LIX into greater question. Cathy Lanier, chief security officer for the NFL, revealed Wednesday in a call with reporters that security has been ramped up in the wake of that tragedy, though she declined to get into too many specifics, emphasizing the importance of flexibility.

Still, she acknowledged that thousands of federal, state and local law enforcement officials are on hand while noting that "this team is ready" following almost two years of planning. She added that the league has received "no specific or credible threats."

"I think the most important thing is, very clear and unequivocal, saying without hesitation that we are really confident in our security plan going into the Super Bowl," Lanier said.

Anecdotally, Pedeaux saw business slow in the wake of that attack, though a more recent snowstorm, in which New Orleans saw 10 inches of snow in a single day -- the biggest snowfall since at least 1895 -- had a much greater impact on business and Super Bowl preparations.

"It was looking like we were finally picking up again, and then the snowstorm pulled the rug out from us again," Pedeaux said.

But with snow melted, security in place, and Mardi Gras right around the corner, the community is excited to once again put its best foot forward.

"We New Orleanians are happy to show both teams and their fans a fun and safe time, and we hope they make lifelong memories here," Braden-Perry said.

Pedeaux echoed the sentiment.

"We're ready ... Come be a part of the excitement!"

Graham, 36, is listed as questionable (elbow) on the injury report for Sunday's game in New Orleans, which he has said could be his final game before retirement.

He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday before practicing in full on Friday.

The Eagles made room on the roster by placing offensive lineman Nick Gates (groin) on injured reserve.

Philadelphia's game-day elevations, announced Saturday, are fullback Khari Blasingame and linebacker Nicholas Morrow.

Kansas City has elevated linebacker Swayze Bozeman and cornerback Steven Nelson from the practice squad.

Graham, a team captain in his 15th season with the Eagles, was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 26 after tearing a triceps muscle in a Week 12 win against the Los Angeles Rams.

He is the Eagles' all-time leader with 206 games played and ranks third in franchise history with 76.5 sacks. Graham tallied 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits and 20 tackles in 11 games (one start) this season.

Graham was one of the heroes of Philadelphia's 41-33 win against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, recording a strip-sack of Tom Brady late in the fourth quarter to help clinch the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy.

Graham (elbow) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday before practicing in full on Friday.

Graham, 36, hinted earlier in the week that he is considering retirement after the Super Bowl.

"I don't know what the future holds," he said, "but if this is my last game, I'm going to give it everything I have."

Graham, a team captain in his 15th season with the Eagles, was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 26 after tearing a triceps muscle in a Week 12 win against the Los Angeles Rams.

Graham is the Eagles' all-time leader with 206 games played and ranks third in franchise history with 76.5 sacks. He tallied 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits and 20 tackles in 11 games (one start) this season. He was one of the heroes of Philadelphia's 41-33 win against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, recording a strip-sack of Tom Brady late in the fourth quarter to help clinch the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy.

The Eagles also listed tight end C.J. Uzomah (abdomen) and reserve offensive lineman Nick Gates (groin) as questionable. Philadelphia ruled out receiver/return specialist Britain Covey (neck), who remains on injured reserve.

No other Eagles player carries a game designation into the weekend. Receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was limited Wednesday through Friday but will play.

As for Kansas City, Moore hasn't played since Week 7 and was placed on IR in October with a core muscle injury. He practiced in a limited capacity each day this week but is now deemed doubtful to play.

Moore is in his third NFL season, all with Kansas City, and did not record a reception in 2024 before his injury. He has 43 career receptions for 494 yards and one touchdown, plus a 4-yard touchdown catch against the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

He's the only Chiefs player with any designation. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a high ankle sprain Dec. 15 vs. Cleveland, was a full participant all week. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) and punter Matt Araiza (illness) are also good to go.

StubHub reported on Friday morning that it had seen a 14 percent increase in tickets sold to Kansas and Missouri over the previous 24 hours. That put the combination on par with the percent of tickets sold to Louisiana residents.

It also helps that the "get in" price has continued its sharp downward trend throughout the week. The cheapest available ticket on the site Wednesday was $3,229, down 43 percent from last year's game in Las Vegas. By Friday, it had fallen to $2,640, down 42 percent compared to Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, the platform's average ticket price sold was $6,942 -- down three percent from Thursday and down 19 percent from last year, while remaining on par with 2023.

With the late surge in total ticket sales, StubHub has now surpassed sales for Kansas City's victory over Philadelphia in Arizona in 2023 by more than 10 percent. Two years later, the rematch sees the Chiefs attempting to become the first team since the merger to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Buyers from Pennsylvania have accounted for 15 percent of all tickets sold.

"Sunday's rematch continues to drive incredible demand, substantially higher than the last time these two teams met in a Super Bowl with a total of 63 percent more tickets sold on StubHub 48 hours ahead of the game compared to when they met in 2023," StubHub spokesman Adam Budelli said.

More than 4,000 tickets remained available on StubHub as of Friday morning.

Carter popped up on the injury report earlier in the week with an illness that is reportedly going through the Eagles' locker room. The Pro Bowler had 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in the regular season and added two sacks in the Eagles' divisional round win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Presuming he plays, this will be the 23-year-old's first Super Bowl. He was selected ninth overall in the 2023 draft, months after the Eagles fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII.

Gainwell, 25, had 75 carries for 290 yards and one touchdown in a backup role behind Saquon Barkley this season. He's had seven carries for 32 yards through three playoff games, as well as three receptions for 26 yards.

Defensive end Brandon Graham (elbow) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) remained limited Thursday. Reserve offensive lineman Nick Gates, who's yet to be active for a playoff game, was also limited by a groin issue.

The only change on the Chiefs' side of the report was the addition of punter Matt Araiza (illness), but Araiza was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Receiver Skyy Moore (abdomen), who could be activated from injured reserve before the game, was limited for a second straight day. Three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes was a full participant again as he nurses an ankle that he sprained on Dec. 15 against Cleveland. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) also practiced in full.

The final practice report, which comes with game designations for players as applicable, is due out Friday afternoon.

Swift, one of the world's biggest music stars, is famous for putting on an entertaining show during her lengthy tour schedule.

When asked Thursday if he could take anything from Swift's work ethic, the Kansas City Chiefs star tight end said he had plenty to admire.

"What I saw on that (Eras Tour) last year was pretty remarkable," Kelce said. "To see the week in, week out, traveling from one country to the next, how excruciating it is on her body and on her mind, and it's not just her, it was her entire tour. It was the dancers, it was the band, the singers, it was everybody involved.

"It was an absolute machine, and it was something I could admire watching, and I think about it all the time."

The noise of fame surrounding Swift, as well as Kelce's dabblings in entertainment (such as his podcast with brother Jason as well as some acting) are things that Kelce has managed well, as pointed out by his teammates and coaches.

What is his secret?

"My balance is you've got to take yourself out of the media world, and it's a reality whenever you're not doing media," Kelce said. "What's real is the people around you, your loved ones, your family, your support system. Who are you to them, and how is that affecting your life?"

--Safety Justin Reid is one of the few Chiefs with connections to the New Orleans area, having gone to school down the road at Dutchtown High in Geismar, La.

"It's a cool feeling, because you grew up (in the area) talking about two things: playing in the Superdome and playing in the Super Bowl," he said, "and I get to do both of them right now."

Reid's older brother Eric, an LSU product, never played in the Super Bowl but did play in the Superdome as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

The younger Reid, who joined the Chiefs for the start of their current Super Bowl run at the start of the 2022 season, vividly remembers coming to the Superdome to support his older brother.

"We grew up as Saints fans, but we never actually got to make it to any Saints games," Reid said. "My first time actually going to the Superdome was when Eric was already in the league playing for the 49ers. So, I was in the Superdome wearing red, same as I am this coming Sunday.

"But I do remember when New Orleans won the Super Bowl (in February 2010), Drew Brees, and how the whole city just exploded in that moment. That's a core memory for me."

--Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins joined the Chiefs in a midseason trade from the Tennessee Titans, and he spoke Thursday about his appreciation for his first Super Bowl opportunity and the Chiefs' commitment toward involving multiple offensive players.

"It's beautiful. That's why we win," Hopkins said. "I've been on offenses before where there is a No. 1 receiver, and I've been that No. 1 receiver, and not having won, and it's funny, because my grandfather and I would always watch football, and we're like, ‘Most Super Bowl teams don't have just one guy that they get the ball to, but they spread it around,' and that's a reason these guys are here."

The Chiefs' offensive ability to spread the ball around might call to mind memories of one of Hopkins' favorite Super Bowl memories, that of the high-flying St. Louis Rams and their "greatest show on turf."

"My first Super Bowl memory is of the Rams, when the Rams had the greatest show on turf," Hopkins said. "I watched that game, and I was like, ‘Man, these dudes are pretty good.'"

It's not that far-fetched an idea.

In a Week 5 win over the New Orleans Saints, Kelce caught a pass over the middle well short of the yardage to gain on third-and-22. Instead of settling for a short gain, Kelce found teammate Samaje Perine running a few yards behind the play and pitched it to him, and Perine, with the better angle, bolted for the sticks, setting up a fourth-and-short.

It sounds simple in practice. It looked anything but in real time.

That play wasn't scripted, but it was practiced, in that the players around Kelce have learned how to approach those situations and be ready for the ball.

"I'm very aware," Perine said. "You've always got to be prepared for it. If you're behind him, then look for the pitch. If you're in front of him, then block."

It's that level of offensive creativity that permeates the entire Kansas City offense, and it will be something the Philadelphia Eagles will have to contend with in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday.

"It's great to have Patrick Mahomes," head coach Andy Reid quipped. "He'll be one of the greats, if not the greatest to have done it.

"I don't want to slight the coaches or his teammates. He has some good players he's able to deal the ball to, big offensive linemen that are helping them out ... it takes a group."

Part of what makes that group particularly lethal is its ability to put defenses in bad positions quickly and efficiently.

On another play perhaps more painful for Eagles supporters, the Chiefs ran a version of "Corn Dog" to score a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII. On that play, wide receiver Kadarius Toney moved quickly in motion toward the line as if to run a sweep, a crossing route, or perhaps even to block, before spinning back 180 degrees to run a route toward the pylon instead just as Mahomes took the snap.

Toney popped free and Mahomes threw him the ball quickly for the score, showing off his propensity for creativity and his embrace of the quick game at the same time.

According to Next Gen Stats, Mahomes led the league in both completion percentage (83.6 percent) and success rate (60.9 percent) on quick passes this season. Over his last four games, he's been even quicker than normal, averaging 2.5 seconds to throw (versus 2.87 seconds to throw in Weeks 1-15).

The Eagles' defense has been strong against short passes this season, but Chiefs defenders, having had to go against Reid and co.'s machinations all season in practice, caution against getting overconfident about what you're seeing.

To wit, the Chiefs' commitment to offensive creativity is so ingrained that their head coach has been known to draw up plays on the fly in practice to put his defense on its heels.

"They try things a lot, they experiment to see if things stick," Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. "All through training camp, they're playing around with formations, routes and just seeing what can work. I think that creativity is fun for the guys, it keeps it engaging, and every once in a while you actually find a good play out of it."

"Training camp is honestly one of the hardest months of the whole season," cornerback Trent McDuffie bemoaned. "One, you've got to battle Patrick Mahomes, you've got to play our fast receivers, and then Coach Reid will literally go draw a play in the dirt and they'll run it against us. The things you see in training camp, you probably won't see during the whole year, so it definitely makes it a challenge."

The Chiefs' defenders don't envy the Eagles' task this week, and much of it stems from their offense's chemistry.

"Peanut butter and jelly," Justin Reid said in describing the connection between Mahomes and Kelce. "These guys, the connection they have is real. The understanding of the game ... but also their own connection and awareness that Travis will run routes, and if it's not open they both understand what's happening and he'll be able to create something like backyard football and go out and make a play happen."

"Their connection is unreal."

StubHub reported that as of Wednesday night, the "Get In" price was $3,229. That was down 5 percent from the previous day and down a whopping 43 percent compared to this time last year.

There were more than 4,700 tickets available on StubHub on Wednesday night, down 1 percent from the previous day and 15 percent year-over-year.

A number of contributing factors are at play.

While Kansas City is attempting an historic title three-peat, StubHub reported that only 7 percent of all tickets sold have been buyers from Kansas or Missouri. That's compared to 15 percent being from Philadelphia.

The Caesars Superdome also has a capacity of more than 76,000 on game day, while last year's venue -- Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas -- had the smallest capacity crowd in Super Bowl history at a little over 60,000 seats.

StubHub pointed to the 2023 Super Bowl won by the Chiefs over the Eagles in Glendale, Ariz. for additional comparable data.

The company said that the most recent ticket demand on the site is outpacing sales from two years ago. It also said that buyers from Kansas and Missouri are outpacing the number of tickets sold by the same point in 2023 by 85 percent, while Pennsylvania buyers are up nearly 35 percent.

The average price of Super Bowl tickets sold on StubHub as of Wednesday was $7,392 -- down 15 percent from this point last year in Las Vegas but "on par" with Super Bowl LVII in 2023.

"Sunday's highly-anticipated Super Bowl rematch is expected to exceed the final sales of the 2023 game in Arizona (Wednesday), though prices remain in line with that year," StubHub spokesman Adam Budelli said. "We're also seeing a higher concentration of buyers from the Chiefs' and Eagles' home states compared to 2023."

Two-time defending champion Kansas City draws the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday at Caesars Superdome, the ninth overall rematch and the second in a three-year span in Super Bowl history.

The Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII 38-35 over the Eagles, overcoming a 10-point deficit early in their run of dominance. The Chiefs are 49-11 -- 9-0 in the playoffs -- since the start of the 2022 regular season.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes team up for their 21st postseason game boasting a record of 17-3, four previous Super Bowl appearances and three rings.

All that winning has led to a sentiment among fans and media that maybe someone else should get a turn now.

"I get it," Kansas City defensive end Chris Jones said. "If I was on the outside looking in, I would be saying the same thing, 'I'm sick of the Chiefs.'"

To add a fourth ring and become the first team to accomplish a three-peat in Super Bowl history, the Chiefs have to contend with Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Philadelphia's top-ranked defense.

Mahomes, 3-1 in the Super Bowl, was MVP of Super Bowls LIV, LVII and LVIII. He has seven touchdowns and five interceptions in his four Super Bowl appearances. A fourth Lombardi Trophy would pull Mahomes even with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for second on the all-time QB Super Bowl wins list. Tom Brady is at the top with seven and played in 10 Super Bowls during his 23 NFL seasons.

Mahomes (43 postseason TD passes) could also pass Montana -- and Aaron Rodgers, both of whom have 45 -- for second in all-time playoff TDs thrown. Brady is the leader with 88.

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is 0-8 against Mahomes since he was head coach of the Denver Broncos, losing twice as coordinator of the Miami Dolphins. But this Fangio defense led the NFL in passing defense at 174.2 yards per game.

"Every time I've played Coach Fangio, there's been different changeups and different things that he's thrown at us," Mahomes said. "I think that's what makes him so great is he's not going to just do exactly what you saw the last time. I'm sure there will be blitzes during the game, I'm sure there will be times where they play coverage. It's going to be a chess match."

Reid doesn't mind a good game of chess.

No NFL head coach has more playoff games than Reid. He'll hit No. 45 on Sunday, and he has 28 career postseason victories, trailing only former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick (31).

Barkley is not among the 27 holdover starters between the two teams from their Super Bowl shootout two years ago.

Barkley has 2,447 rushing yards this season, including 442 in the postseason, on the verge of the all-time single-season record held by Terrell Davis. The former Broncos running back gained 2,476 rushing yards in 1998.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had three TD runs and passed for 304 yards and a TD in the loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII. He logged a career-high 387 passing yards in a 42-30 defeat to Kansas City in the 2021 regular season.

"It's had a great driving force," Hurts said of the Eagles' runner-up finish in 2023. "It lit a flame, lit a fire in me, and to have this opportunity again is exactly what you work for."

In Philadelphia's 21-17 win over the Chiefs in the 2023 regular season, Hurts was sacked five times, intercepted once and completed 14 of 22 passes for 150 yards but rushed for two touchdowns.

Philadelphia has leaned heavily on a large, athletic offensive line to help break Barkley for huge plays. The Eagles attempted 536 passes, 544 runs in the 2022 regular season en route to the Super Bowl. The imbalance skewed toward Barkley and Hurts running the ball in the 2024 regular season, as Philadelphia logged 448 pass attempts to 621 rushing plays.

Barkley averaged 2.64 yards before contact this season and led the NFL with 46 carries for gains of 10 yards or more and seven of 40 or more.

"He's just a total running back," Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill said. "He can make you miss in tight spaces. He can also run you over. He's got a good stiff-arm. He's got a good spin move. He's got a good jump cut. And he can go the distance. He's got the speed to take it."

All Chiefs players were full participants at practice on Wednesday, with Mahomes' passing performance being described as "sharp."

Philadelphia defensive end Brandon Graham (elbow) and tight end C.J. Uzomah (abdomen) were designated to return from injured reserve last week. Uzomah was a full Wednesday practice participant, while Graham was limited. Also limited for the Eagles were defensive tackle Jalen Carter (illness), running back Kenneth Gainwell (concussion, knee) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring).

"They're doing everything they can to get themselves ready to go," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.

It was a light but spirited session for the Chiefs, who had perfect practice attendance. The starting offense and defense each ran 30 plays against the scout team units, with 10-minute special teams segments mixed in.

The quarterbacks, specialists and linebacker Nick Bolton -- who wears the "green dot" to communicate play calls to the defense -- were the only players wearing helmets Wednesday. The rest of the Chiefs practiced without pads or helmets. Coach Andy Reid likened the practice to a normal Wednesday session during the regular season.

The focus for Wednesday's practice was "assignments," Reid said, with the intention being to ramp up practice as the week progresses.

"It's just getting one more rep at it, make sure you've got all the bases covered," Reid said. "You kind of start from scratch when you get out here and go back through everything. And if you've got little tweaks, you've got to make here or there, or additions, you get them done."

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sharp, with only four of his pass attempts during full team periods hitting the ground -- two of which were dropped. Tight end Payton Hendershot made the most impressive catch of the session with a leaping, twisting grab over the middle of the field.

But the most notable play of the day may have belonged to punter Matt Araiza, who kicked what appeared to be an 80-yard punt with the wind at his back. The kick caught some of his teammates off guard, with quarterbacks and receivers scrambling to get out of the way as they were working drills at the far end of the field.

Wide receiver Skyy Moore (abdomen) was the only Kansas City player limited in practice on Wednesday. Mahommes (ankle) and offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) was full participants.

Reid admired the practice setup on Tulane's campus in Uptown New Orleans. Yulman Stadium features a natural grass turf, which Reid said had some cushion that he appreciated.

"They did a phenomenal job with this," Reid said. "We appreciate that. And the people here at Tulane have been great, they rolled out the red carpets for us. It's a good facility, all good there."

An eclectic mix of music played as the team practiced. The first song on the practice playlist was "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar, who will perform during the halftime break Sunday. That was immediately followed by "Wipe Me Down" by Louisiana rappers Foxx, Webbie and Lil Boosie.

Quarterbacked by a generational talent in Patrick Mahomes with a head coach in Andy Reid so committed to innovation that by at least one account he literally still draws up plays in the dirt on the fly, it's easy to understand why.

But if the Chiefs are to emerge with a record third straight Super Bowl championship against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX, they'll need a total team performance.

Enter the Kansas City defense, which despite being less flashy and heralded than its offensive counterpart, still brings talent as well as a clear identity to the proceedings.

That's a reflection partly on Reid and the culture he has built in Kansas City. But on Wednesday, Reid and several players pointed to longtime defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and his aggressive vision as being integral to their team's success.

"Spags was able to come in (in 2019) and has done a great job with the guys," Reid said. "I think the thing I appreciate most is watching the trust that the players have in him. That means that you're doing a whole lot of things right.

"They trust his scheme, he's a good teacher, they trust him as a person, knowing that he's going to try his best to put you in the best position for your skill that he possibly can to try to highlight that."

Star defensive end Chris Jones spoke about how their relationship has evolved, with the 65-year-old Spagnuolo moving him around more to get to the quarterback, which he loves.

"That's my guy. He's a spiritual muse for this team," said Jones, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro. "I have so much love and respect for Coach Spags and also his wife. They play a huge part in the defense and the team's success."

Jones emphasized the family-like environment that Spagnuolo has created, wherein his wife, Maria, will regularly cook for the players.

"She's bringing us the meatballs this week," Jones said. "That's pivotal to the success of the team."

Still, beyond good vibes and meatballs, an effective coordinator also has to call the plays that allow his players to succeed. And in that realm, Spagnuolo has been pushing a lot of the right buttons of late.

His play-calling instincts came shining through in the biggest moment of the season late in the AFC Championship Game, when Spagnuolo dialed up Trent McDuffie's number on a cornerback blitz that hurried Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen into an incompletion on fourth down.

"I love how aggressive coach Spags is. To play in a defense like that has been a lot of fun, because he's going to utilize you in multiple ways," McDuffie said. "It takes a little bit more discipline to really know your plays, studying to make sure you know certain situations, what we can call, knowing that he will call certain plays, and just knowing at the end of the day, he's going to trust us to go out there and make plays.

"That gives you a lot of confidence and makes you excited to go out there and make plays for him."

Jones, who is seeking his fourth Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs, echoed McDuffie's appreciation for the scheme: "It keeps you on your toes as an offensive coordinator. You never know who's dropping and who's coming on defense."

That creative freedom comes from not only having talented players but also having leaders in the defensive unit who can keep everyone on target.

"There's a lot of good leadership in that locker room," Reid said, noting that "they all bring their own personality to it."

He listed Jones, linebacker Nick Bolton and free safety Justin Reid among the leaders who have helped to build a culture of accountability on defense and singled out Reid for his role in calling plays on the field.

"(Reid) has a good name," Reid quipped to a round of laughs in the media room. "Justin is a smart kid and a heck of a football player. Very tough -- he'll come up and introduce himself to you aggressively. He has the aptitude to take all the stuff in that Spags throws at him and be able to make the calls back there and get people going in the right direction."

Reid has confidence in his defensive group should the Chiefs find themselves in another close game.

"The guys, they obviously don't give up," Reid said. "They play four quarters."

But what has changed in terms of betting since the Chiefs and Eagles booked their tickets? A lot actually. And it continues to change.

Super Bowl LIX: The Odds

The opening betting line for Super Bowl:

Point spread: Chiefs -1.5; Eagles +1.5

Moneyline: Chiefs -120; Eagles +100

TOTAL: O/U 49.5

The line briefly moved to +/-2 after the opening odds were posted, but the line settled back down at +/-1.5 by the next morning, where it remained for the next week. But on Monday of this week, after sharp bettors got behind the Eagles, the spread dipped down to +/-1 at a couple of sportsbooks.

Sharps also got behind the under, causing it to dip down to 48.5 at some sportsbooks.

As of Wednesday morning, the moneyline stood at Chiefs -115, Eagles +110.

John Murray, executive director at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, told ESPN the Eagles could end up being the betting favorite by kickoff.

"The consensus opinion in our risk room is that Philly will go off favored. Call it an educated guess," he said. "We have been wrong about that before and could be wrong this time, but we think the Eagles will get there over the course of this week."

We'll see come Sunday if he's right.

Super Bowl LIX: How's the Public Betting?

"Fade the public."

"Follow the money."

If you bet long enough, you are bound to get advice that both strategies are the way to go. Without advising one strategy over the other, we can say information is key.

Here's how the public was betting as of Wednesday morning, according to data aggregator Sports Betting Dime:

--Moneyline tickets: Chiefs, 52 percent; Eagles, 48 percent

--Moneyline handle: Chiefs, 32 percent; Eagles, 68 percent

--Spread (percentage of tickets): Chiefs, 31 percent; Eagles, 69 percent

--Spread (handle): Chiefs, 19 percent; Eagles, 81 percent

--Total (tickets): Chiefs, 76 percent; Eagles, 24 percent

--Total (handle): Chiefs, 71 percent; Eagles, 29 percent

At Fanatics, 50 percent of moneyline tickets and 67 percent of the money are on the Chiefs at -125. As for the spread, 54 percent of the tickets and money is on the Chiefs at -1.5.

Caesars has seen 52 percent of spread and 53 percent of moneyline tickets on the Eagles, but more money has come in on the Chiefs (51 percent and 54 percent, respectively).

DraftKings has experienced similar splits, with 54 percent of the money and 57 percent of the spread bets on the Chiefs. Bettors have hammered the over (83 percent of the money and 80 percent of bets). As for the moneyline split, the Eagles have seen more support, with 53 percent of the money and 54 percent of the bets.

Super Bowl LIX: The Player Props

Suppose you feel a little overwhelmed looking at the vast menu of player props. In that case, this may help: the players people are betting the most on are Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts and Dallas Goedert, as well as Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

The most popular same-game parlay legs include the anytime TD props for Barkley, Hurts, Kelce and Kansas City's Kareem Hunt. Barkley's Anytime TD Scorer prop is the most popular TD prop at ESPN Bet (bets and money).

Super Bowl LIX: Notable Bets

As we get closer to kickoff and the volume of wagers continues to grow, we are bound to hear about some pretty big bets. Betting at legal sportsbooks is expected to top $1.7 billion.

Here are some of the bigger bets that have come in so far:

--$800K on the Eagles moneyline at +110 (BetMGM)

--$750K on the Eagles moneyline at +110 (BetMGM)

--$150K on the Eagles moneyline (DraftKings)

--$50K on the Eagles moneyline at +110 (Caesars)

--$30K on Eagles +3 at -141 (BetRivers)

--$300K on Eagles +0.5 at -120 (BetMGM)

--$326K on the Chiefs moneyline at -130 (BetMGM)

--$63,370 on the Chiefs moneyline at -135 (BetRivers)

--$55K on the Chiefs moneyline at -132 (BetRivers)

--$150K and $138.6K on under 49.5 (BetMGM)

--$110K on under 49.5 (Caesars)

Big money has come in on a few prop bets as well:

--$51K that an octopus would not be scored at -3335 (to win $1,530; BetRivers). An octopus occurs when the player who scored the touchdown also scores the 2-point conversion.

--$83.5K on "No player to score a rushing and receiving touchdown" at -835 (BetRivers)

--$25K on Kelce to win MVP at +1500 (BetMGM)

--$20K on Mahomes to win MVP at +110 (Caesars)

The answer, for those with short attention spans, is former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who played in an astonishing 10 Super Bowls.

You might be unsurprised to learn that one of Brady's former teammates is tied for second place with six appearances. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski participated in six of the nine Super Bowls Brady piloted in New England.

The player tied with Gostkowski is a slightly deeper pull, former Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos defensive lineman Mike Lodish. Lodish played in and lost four straight Super Bowls to begin his career with the Bills before breaking through with wins with the Broncos in 1997-98.

Those are the top three, but they're set to welcome another member to the six-timers club Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

Chiefs offensive lineman Joe Thuney, who began his career with three straight Super Bowl appearances in New England playing with Brady, has now appeared in five, thanks to another two with Kansas City the last two years.

Sunday will make six.

"I feel very fortunate being on the teams I've been on, and playing with the players I've played with," Thuney said. "I've just tried to do my part in those situations on those teams."

Thuney, 32, is listed as a guard, but he has seen significant time at left tackle of late, sliding into the spot in Week 15 to solidify an area that had become a trouble spot for the Chiefs.

Rookie Kingsley Suamataia and second-year tackle Wanya Morris were charged with manning the role during the offseason, but neither distinguished themselves through a combined 13 starts.

Enter the three-time Pro Bowler, who despite the switch has surrendered just a single sack (regular season and playoffs) in 2024-25.

"I think all O-linemen want to be able to play wherever," he said. "It's different. It's just a different position, and there are different players you're dealing with, trying to block. I'm trying to make the most of it."

As for the personal achievement he's set to reach on Sunday? He's in pursuit of something even bigger: a win.

"You definitely want to enjoy it, but at the same time keep your priorities straight," he said. "Sunday is the reason we're here. It's great to enjoy it, soak all this in, but still try to keep that focus on Sunday."

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes prepares to take his fifth crack at winning the Lombardi Trophy -- which would be his fourth -- and it's not a stretch to label him the most consequential player Sunday.

To his teammates, that is an enormously comforting thought.

"There are a lot of things he does behind the scenes that people probably don't appreciate," offensive lineman Joe Thuney said. "When I came in (2021), I always thought he was really mature. He always handled himself so well.

"He's a great player. An elite player."

This season, Mahomes improved his passer rating to 93.5. He also tossed three fewer interceptions (11 vs. 14) while leading the Chiefs to a 15-2 record and the AFC's top seed.

As a starter, Mahomes, 29, has never thrown for fewer than 3,900 yards or 26 touchdowns, while never posting a passer rating lower than 92.6.

It's that consistency and his championship pedigree that are reminiscent of another future Hall of Famer, Tom Brady.

In winning seven Super Bowls, Brady never dipped below 3,500 yards passing or 23 touchdowns in a season in which he played every game, a career that also left him as the NFL's career leader in completions, yards and touchdowns.

The comparison is not lost on Thuney. He was drafted by the Patriots and played with Brady for four seasons in New England.

"The time they put in at the facility, day in and day out, all the extra games, all the extra film they go through, and just that attitude that everyday they're trying to get better," Thuney listed when providing similarities between the two. "The leadership, the example they set ... I just feel very fortunate and lucky that I've been around it my whole career."

Mahomes prides himself on a consistent approach. But he credits the entire locker room for the franchise's success.

"I don't take it for granted," Mahomes said. "The guys we have in our locker room have such an appreciation for the process and how hard it is to get to the Super Bowl. (Every offseason) we really go back to ground zero, and we work our tail off to be the best that we can be."

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a familiar face from his time coaching the division rival Denver Broncos (2019-21), and he brings an approach that can often dictate to an offense.

"The way he's able to scheme things, the way he's able to read tendencies, get you out of your best plays, and force you to do things you don't want to do, he's one of the best at that stuff," Mahomes said.

Mahomes was 6-0 against the Broncos during Fangio's tenure there, but none of those games came on this big a stage. If there's a glimmer of hope for Eagles supporters that Mahomes may not be at his best Sunday, they might find it there.

The two worst playoff performances of Mahomes' career have come in the Super Bowl, when he posted a 78.1 rating in Super Bowl LIV (a 31-20 win vs. San Francisco) and a dismal 52.3 rating in the Chiefs' 31-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.

"Every game has its own challenges in it. You don't want to get too high or get too low," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. "If something bad happens, you want to learn from it and move on."

Mahomes took that sort of advice to heart. He has since posted ratings of 131.8 and 99.3 in back-to-back Super Bowl victories over Philadelphia and San Francisco.

That kind of improvement shows growth in Mahomes' game. Kansas City relies less on him to put up big numbers every week. Reid credits at least some of that growth to Mahomes getting to sit his first year and learn from incumbent Alex Smith.

"I'm not saying he couldn't have been as great as he is now if he didn't sit, but having (the experience observing) Alex Smith was something that you can't buy," Reid said. "I think that's helped him."

Mahomes agrees.

"It was extremely important for me," he said. "Coming into the NFL, you just don't know what to expect. Instead of being thrown into the fire, and having to figure it out on the fly, I got to learn behind one of the smartest quarterbacks of all time."

That's 400 feet -- 40 more than a football field -- for those of us who don't easily process metric conversions.

The Kismet was purchased last year by Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shan Khan for a reported $360 million, and costs $36 million per year to maintain.

Khan, 74, has a net worth of more than $13 billion -- a fortune that originates from the car parts supplier Flex-N-Gate that he purchased in 1980. He purchased the Jaguars in 2012 for $770 million, and also owns Premier League club Fulham.

The yacht features nine cabins and can host up to 12 people, not including the captain and 36 crew members. It also includes four fireplaces, three pools, a helipad basketball court, cryotherapy chamber and Turkish bath, among other amenities.

The top of the six-deck Kismet towers above Woldenberg Park, where it is docked this week just blocks from the French Quarter. And it dwarfs that of Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, whose 90-meter yacht has also made its way to New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIV on Sunday.

The Marshall Islands flag that the superyacht flies under waves from the stern, and the vessel can be chartered for a cool $3 million per week -- plus expenses.