(Analysis) As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, the focus is fixed on the game between the New England Patriot and Seattle Seahawks.
Beyond the game, the Super Bowl is an American cultural touchpoint. Watched by millions, it remains the most-viewed event on American television.
While football, commercials and the halftime show are all big draws, faith once again plays a part in the biggest football game of the year. Super Bowl LX, scheduled to be contested at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., has plenty of storylines tied to religion and faith.
Fans can often be seen praying, warding off evil, consulting mediums and even wondering if angels are silently shaping the fate of their favorite teams, a study released last year revealed.
The survey, conducted by Free Bets, surveyed over 2,000 fans across all 32 NFL teams to uncovered a deep belief in ghosts and demons, angels and aliens, in sacred signs and unholy forces — all potentially influencing the final outcome.
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Here are two storylines to watch for this coming Sunday:
TPUSA’s halftime counter-programming
This year, an event promoted by Turning Point USA has injected a political and religious dimension into the buildup to which team will lift the Vince Lombardi trophy. Turning Point USA, known for its outspoken role in conservative youth activism, has been advertising for months what it calls an alternative “All-American Halftime Show.”
TPUSA, founded by activist Charlie Kirk in 2012, made the decision last year to hold its own event after the NFL announced Bad Bunny would headline its halftime show.
While Kirk was assassinated last September during an event at Utah Valley University, the organization has continued to grow. It framed the planned show as a response to what it says is the NFL’s increasingly progressive cultural messaging.
In promotional posts, TPUSA said the event will celebrate “traditional American values” such as faith and family. TPUSA has not made public who will perform at its event.
‘He Gets Us’ … again
Another year, another round of faith-inspired commercials to watch.
“He Gets Us,” the much-talked-about ad campaign focused on the life and teachings of Jesus, will be back at the Super Bowl with a planned a 60-second spot in the second half. It marks the campaign’s fourth year in a row. Unlike most Super Bowl ads packed with celebrities or punchlines, “He Gets Us” has taken a different route.
The campaign, which also plans to have new ads run throughout the year, leans into the moment to invite reflection and conversation. In addition, you can check out this year’s other commercials here.
The ads also show that the Super Bowl is more than just selling stuff. It’s about creating conversation around faith and society that can endure even after the game ends.
This commentary, which was originally published by Religion Unplugged, does not necessarily reflect the views of The Roys Report.
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and longtime reporter at The New York Post.
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According to other sources, Kid Rock is scheduled as the headliner for the TPUSA event to be televised on TBN.
Somehow my 2026 Bingo card didn’t have “Kid Rock on TBN”…
Super Bowl is probably the highlight of some folk’s religious calendar.
As Mad Magazine once put it, “ONLY 364 SHOPPING DAYS UNTIL SUPER BOWL SUNDAY”.
Our church participates in “The Souper Bowl” that benefits a local rescue mission. We make it fun by wrapping two large barrels with paper in colors corresponding to each team. Show support for your favored football club by placing non-perishable food in the container of your choice. Sometimes one barrel overflows while the other is half filled, leading to plenty of laughs.
No spiritual forces at work to influence the game and no dreaded wardrobe malfunctions! lt’s an enjoyable way to involve adults and children in helping our community, and all donations go to the same charity.
I was a die hard sports fan for many a year when sports brought people together. Once they decided to put down America and point fingers at the faults of fellow citizens, I was done. The world is filled with many more worthwhile things other than devoting my attention to young, athletic, ignorant millionaires who play a game for a living.
TPUSA is embarrassing. “All American”? As a Puerto Rican, Bad Bunny is an American. PLEASE take a civics class and learn about American territories.
Where was this cry for “All American” SuperBowl entertainment, when Rihanna (Barbados), The Rolling Stones/The Who/Sting/Paul McCartney/Phil Collins/Coldplay (UK), U2 (Ireland), Shania Twain/The Weeknd (Canada), and Shakira (Colombia) took the stage?
Is this like how MAGA is against illegal immigration and wants celebs to “shut up”, but embraces the likes of Nicki Minaj (a celeb who admitted for years she’s here illegally) because of her politics? Or how athletes are “heroes” with work ethic and character worthy of emulation and “based on a true story” films (Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Rudy) until we find out we don’t like their politics – and then they’re “young ignorant millionaires who play a game for a living”?
Much like the World Cup, the SuperBowl is a global event. I love seeing one of our national pastimes on the global stage. I also love the personal stories of the athletes, as they are at the pinnacle of their career, living out their dreams. I don’t get surprised or offended when politics is involved, because 1. sports and politics have ALWAYS been intertwined, 2. everyone has a right to use their platform as they see fit, and 3. they represent themselves, not me.
(BTW, one of the biggest displays of faith will happen before the game, when Lift Every Voice and Sing – which started off as a CHURCH HYMN before being adopted as the Black National Anthem (before we had a national anthem) – will be performed by Coco Jones.)
Enjoy the game for what it is…or don’t.