Yardbarker
x
Ranking who has most at stake in Super Bowl LIX
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (left) and quarterback Jalen Hurts | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Ranking who has most at stake in Super Bowl LIX

By Eric Smithling  |  Last updated Feb 3, 2025 11:26 AM ET

A worldwide audience of more than 100 million people will tune into Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox).

The following 10 players or coaches have more at stake in the game than any others do. 

Here's our ranking in inverse order:

10. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs could lose by 55 points to the Eagles and Mahomes could retire immediately afterward, but he'd still be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. His legacy is set.

That diminishes the stakes for the three-time Super Bowl MVP, who will still be regarded as the league's best quarterback no matter Sunday's outcome. A third consecutive Lombardi Trophy would inch him closer to displacing retired quarterback Tom Brady, who will call the game on Fox, as the greatest of all time. 

Still, considering Mahomes' history, chances are he'll have more than enough opportunities to surpass Brady's seven Super Bowl rings, even with a loss to Philly.

9. Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown

One of the league's best wide receivers, Brown's resume only lacks a Super Bowl win. He broke out after a quiet first two games of the playoffs with six receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game, an identical stat line to the one he produced in the Super Bowl LVII loss to the Chiefs.

In eight seasons of data (2017-24) compiled by ESPN, Brown has three of the eight highest-graded seasons by a wide receiver.

Philadelphia's passing offense takes a back seat to its wildly efficient rushing attack, but Brown will have a say in whether the Eagles leave New Orleans with their second Lombardi Trophy in eight seasons. A big game would be a statement that he belongs in the conversation for the league's best wideout.

8. Eagles linebacker Zack Baun

Baun toiled on Saints special teams during his first four NFL seasons before leaving in 2024 free agency. The decision was life-changing for Baun, who earned first-team All-Pro honors on a one-year prove-it deal with the Eagles and set himself up for a massive payday this offseason. 

Baun, 28, could fetch even more on the open market with one more outstanding performance. This postseason, the former Wisconsin Badger has 26 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defended, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

7. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce

Kelce likely needs one more postseason to break Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice's record for the most playoff receiving yards in NFL history. He's 207 yards shy, so unless he has his first 200-yard game as a pro, that record will stand for another year.

Kelce is more likely to set the record for most career Super Bowl receptions. Kelce, who enters Super Bowl LIX with 31 receptions in the four previous appearances, only needs three to surpass Rice (33) for the most all time.

The 10-time Pro Bowler can also add to his case to be called the best tight end in NFL history with another Super Bowl win, which would put him in a tie with Rob Gronkowski and two others for the most rings (four) by a tight end in the Super Bowl era (h/t Stathead).

6. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton

The fourth-year linebacker is set to enter free agency for the first time this offseason, and he could command a sizable raise with a standout performance against the high-scoring Eagles offense.

He made one of the biggest plays of Super Bowl LVII when he recovered a second-quarter Jalen Hurts fumble and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 14.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the play doubled Kansas City's win probability from 27 percent to 54 percent.

Bolton is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract, making $2.991M. Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen signed the most lucrative contract by an inside linebacker during 2024 free agency, moving from the Ravens on a three-year, $41M deal. Bolton might command more with another memorable game. 

5. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni

Sirianni is seeking to become the sixth active coach (Reid, Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin, Denver's Sean Payton, Baltimore's John Harbaugh, Los Angeles Rams Sean McVay) to win a Super Bowl. Winning a Lombardi Trophy often cements a coach's legacy, but Philadelphia is one of the few places where it doesn't come with job security.

Former head coach Doug Pederson was fired three years after winning the first Super Bowl in franchise history in 2017, and we'd expect Sirianni to have a similarly short leash if things go south after a win Sunday. However, Sirianni could easily find another job if his resume includes "Super Bowl LIX champion."

4. Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore

Moore is considered the favorite to be named head coach of the Saints, who have QB issues. But could that change based on Sunday's result?

Last offseason, former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson bowed out of consideration for head-coaching openings to pursue a championship with Detroit this season. Considering New Orleans' uncertain QB situation and that the Eagles are set to be a contender for the near future, he should reconsider.

3. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley

Barkley is having one of the greatest seasons by an offensive skill- position player in NFL history. Including the playoffs, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Giants has 2,447 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He is arguably the best player of the postseason, and he set the tone for Philadelphia's impressive 55-23 NFC Championship Game win over Washington with a 60-yard touchdown run on the Eagles' first play from scrimmage.

Barkley could become the first regular-season rushing leader to win a Super Bowl since Pro Football Hall of Fame former Broncos running back Terrell Davis, who rushed for 2,008 yards and was named league MVP during Denver's 1998 Super Bowl season.

2. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid

The 12th-year Kansas City coach will add to his growing case as arguably the best coach in league history if he becomes the first to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Not even greats Bill Walsh (San Francisco 49ers), Chuck Noll (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Bill Belichick (New England Patriots) did that.

The Lombardi Trophy's namesake, Vince Lombardi, is the last professional football coach to win three consecutive league titles, winning the last NFL championship and the first two championships of the Super Bowl era (1966-67).

Reid, 66, might be coaching on his final contract, which expires following the 2028 season, when he will be 70. Reid might not get another chance to threepeat. 

1. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts

The five-year veteran can join a short list of quarterbacks to beat Mahomes in the playoffs. 

Brady and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow are the only two to accomplish that feat, but Hurts certainly has a talented enough team around him to become No. 3.

The incredible Eagles roster adds to Hurts' stakes for Super Bowl LIX. Philadelphia enters the game with a talent advantage at most positions, with quarterback being one of the lone exceptions.

If Hurts can't win a Super Bowl with this Eagles squad, he might never.

Eric Smithling
Twitter/X Muck Rack

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.