11 February 2024 , 23:30
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Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes was seen warming up roughly three hours before kickoff at LVIII. He was the only one on the field, with his offensive partner Travis Kelce nowhere in sight.
Kelce arrived at the stadium at 12:45pm local time, stepping off the team bus in a sparkly suit. Despite expressing his desire to win this Super Bowl "more than any other", he seemed more relaxed than Mahomes.
Mahomes, a two-time Super Bowl champion, was focused on getting comfortable on the Allegiant Stadium field before any other player. This is a familiar setting for the Chiefs, having already won at this venue earlier in the season.
The Chiefs are playing in a Super Bowl at the home of one of their arch-rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders, who moved to Allegiant Stadium after refranchising from Oakland in 2020.
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The Chiefs won against the Raiders with a score of 31-17 on November 26, but the Niners had lost at the same place in August. It was just a warm-up game, but it might make them think twice as they get ready for the big match.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan was the first to arrive at the stadium, really wanting to win his first Super Bowl after nearly getting there before. They last made it to the big game in 2019 when they were beaten by the Chiefs.
Kelce arrived in his sparkly jacket just under three hours before kickoff (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Jimmy Garoppolo, who used to be the Niners' quarterback, watched Mahomes turn the game around for the Chiefs back then. Now with the Raiders, he's got tips for Purdy: "Keep it simple, man. Just be yourself. He's played a hell of a year," he told reporters. He said Purdy should stick to what worked before.
"Do what got you there and let the chips fall as they may in Vegas." After the Super Bowl, the winners might be lucky in Vegas, especially now that the NFL lets players have a flutter together once the game's done.