Thursday, May 21, 2026

Will Chiefs-Eagles Set Another Super Bowl TV Ratings Record?

Fox set a then-record for Super Bowl viewers when the Chiefs and Eagles faced off two years ago. Will this year’s matchup deliver as big of an audience? 

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

A Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl has already set a TV ratings record. Can the same matchup do it again?

It’s Super Bowl LIX week in New Orleans, and Fox Sports is preparing to broadcast the NFL’s championship tilt that delivered a seismic audience for the network just two years ago. Kansas City’s 38–35 win over Philadelphia in Super Bowl LVII drew 115.1 million viewers, at the time a record for the NFL title game.

That record was short-lived, as the Chiefs’ 25–22 overtime victory against the 49ers in Super Bow LVIII last February garnered 123.7 million viewers, primarily on CBS.

So, what will the appetite for this season’s finale be?

The AFC and NFC championship games were a mixed bag. Bills-Chiefs drew a staggering 57.7 million viewers, while Commanders-Eagles garnered an audience of 44.2 million. 

Fox has a few unique happenings that could help attract even more viewers than usual. 

On Super Sunday, the Chiefs will be vying for the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era. Meanwhile, Tom Brady will be in the booth calling his first Super Bowl to conclude the inaugural season of his 10-year, $375 million broadcasting deal with Fox Sports.

Additionally, Fox has cut a deal with NBCUniversal to produce two separate Spanish-language broadcasts that will air on Fox Deportes and Telemundo for the first time in Super Bowl history.

And despite the NFL’s overall TV ratings slipping this season, Fox in recent weeks has still been able to sell roughly a dozen 30-second Super Bowl LIX commercial units for at least $8 million each, topping previous sales numbers around $7 million for 30 seconds of airtime.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Fox Banking on Expanded World Cup Being Its ‘Biggest’ Event Ever

The network has loaded up with outside talent from NBC and CBS.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; A view of the CFP logo and SEC logo before the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Playoff First Round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

SEC Holds Cards to 24-Team College Football Playoff

CFP expansion will be a major topic at the SEC spring meetings.
exclusive

World Cup Will Block Notorious Dallas Glare for At Least One Game

FIFA will use the curtains for a 6 p.m. kickoff match this summer.

Political Sparring Intensifies Over Bears’ $5B Stadium Future

The stadium saga is the center of a growing political fight.

Featured Today

NFL Rivalries Are Made on the Field, Mocked in Schedule Release Videos

Every year, teams find new ways to one-up themselves (and their rivals).
Bart Swings/Falyn Fonoimoana/Avery Poppinga
May 14, 2026

OnlyFans Is Paying Pro Athletes What Their Sports Won’t

The adult-content platform is a reliable income source for niche athletes.
May 13, 2026

How Sports Graphic Designers Are Grappling With the Rise of AI Art

The release of ChatGPT 2.0 Images sparked a conversation among sports designers.
May 12, 2026

Collectible Cups Are Sending Sports Fans Into a Frenzy

The drink is secondary to the wild vessel it comes in.
May 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Ronda Rousey (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Gina Carano (red gloves) after a women's featherweight bout at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

How Jake Paul’s MVP Plans to Build on Netflix MMA Debut

Saturday’s debut averaged 12.4 million viewers on Netflix.
May 20, 2026

NHL Playoffs Deliver Record Second-Round Ratings for ESPN, TNT

The Canadiens-Sabres series brought additional audience milestones.
May 21, 2026

CBS, TNT Sports Parents Face New Merger Scrutiny by Lawmakers

A group of six U.S. senators raises concerns about the proposed megadeal.
Sponsored

Mark Cuban Peels Back the Curtain

Mark Cuban discusses sports ownership, the rise of NIL, and the evolving media landscape.
The University of Alabama showed off renovations to Bryant Denny Stadium Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Sports Illustrated covers decorate the walls inside the new press box. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]
May 20, 2026

Sports Illustrated Defends Its Standards After Plagiarism Incident

SI removed its prediction-markets affiliate following accusations of plagiarism.
Racin' With The Boys
exclusive
May 20, 2026

‘Bussin’ With the Boys’ Launching New NASCAR Show

Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions will produce the show.
May 19, 2026

NFL Pushes Back on Criticism Over TV and Streaming Deals

The league remains steadfast in its overall media approach.
May 19, 2026

Is Sports Coverage the Solution to ‘Google Zero’?

The glossy mag is betting sports coverage can arrest a traffic decline.