Sights, sounds from Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night

The week of the Super Bowl is upon us, and it kicked off with the revelry of Opening Night.

Players and coaches from the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers arrived to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to answer questions about everything from Super Bowl LVIII, the week ahead and beyond.

And there could be no better entertainer to announce the team’s entrance in Sin City than Bruce Buffer, who introduced the Chiefs as the first team to take on the Super Bowl media.

He returned a couple hours later to bring the hype for San Francisco’s grand entrance, as well.

Defending champs take field

NFC champions have their turn

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Power couple is keeping score

The couple that took the football and music worlds by storm, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, is still going strong, but Swift had a Super Bowl-type event of her own on Sunday one week before Kelce and Co. attempt to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Swift took home her fourth Grammy for Album of the Year, becoming the first artist to ever win the category that many times.

Kelce won’t be able to catch her with a victory on Feb. 11, but he would add a third ring and even the score to 1-1 during the span of their relationship — something he’s intent on doing.

“She’s unbelievable,” he said. “She’s rewriting the history books herself. I told her I’ll have to hold up my end of the bargain and come home with some hardware, too.”

Pacheco recruited to Blue Man Group

There are few players going into the final game of the 2023 season hotter than Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, who has scored a touchdown in each of Kansas City’s three playoffs contests and run for 254 postseason yards.

The Blue Man Group, a Las Vegas staple, has taken notice, which is perhaps why they paid a visit to Pacheco’s podium for a photo op.

Before that, the second-year back also tried on a wrestling mask, something his opponent 49ers tight end George Kittle is wont to do.

Pacheco said ahead of the AFC Championship Game that he isn’t a zombie, a response to hearing that he runs like he bites people. That doesn’t rule out becoming a Blue Man in the future — or perhaps a wrestler.

Mahomes = three-point king?

Patrick Mahomes‘ accuracy is nearly unmatched on the football field, but what if he took to the hard court?

The two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player was asked Monday how his skills would translate as a basketball player, and he chose to compare himself to the NBA’s most dangerous deep shooter in history. 

“If I played basketball I would be just like Steph Curry,” he said. “I mean I got the shot. I just got to get a couple extra reps, a couple shots up and I’d be shooting just like him. That’s who I’d be.”

In just six days time, he’ll hope to vanquish Curry’s northern California neighbors.

Kelce welcomes boos in joint session

The Chiefs and 49ers met on stage in a show of sportsmanship between media sessions, which allowed Travis Kelce and George Kittle to take some questions together as two of the league’s best at tight end.

San Francisco fans made themselves heard while Kelce spoke, but it only fired him up more, which he made clear by informing the crowd he loves the boos more than he loves the cheers:

Grudge-free Purdy

Some players are fueled by committing to memory every player at their position drafted before them.

Can 2022’s Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, name all the quarterbacks who went earlier than he did at pick No. 262? According to him, not a chance.

“Honestly, I’m not the kind of guy,” he told NFL Network’s Michael Robinson. “I know a couple of the guys that got drafted before me but I’ve never held a grudge for it or anything. … I fell last for a reason. I haven’t held any grudges against other teams. It all happened how it needed to. I’m blessed to be part of the 49ers.”

And just like he’s unburdened himself from the details of the 2022 draft, Purdy has elected to leave choosing centerpieces for his upcoming wedding to his bride-to-be.

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Jeremiah Fennell shines with a mic

11-year-old Jeremiah Fennell, a Sports4Free Youth Media member, appeared with great questions for a number of stars on Monday night, showing media savvy far beyond his years. 

His best highlights came with George Kittle, though, who he asked to compare himself to Travis Kelce given categories ranging from best beard to fashion sense. The two ended tied, 3-3, an impossible result come Super Bowl Sunday.

Before Jeremiah left, Kittle made sure he wouldn’t walk away without an autographed hat — although the Pro Bowler needed to badger reporters for a pen to do so.

Selfie season

There will be no octobox needed to take in Super Bowl LVIII, but NFL Network’s Scott Hanson was still at Opening Night, and he couldn’t say no to the reigning MVP when he requested a selfie. 

Hanson’s talent-packed picture with Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Chris Jones and Fred Warner is one of the last images of the Chiefs and 49ers superstars being cordial together before they battle it out for a Lombardi Trophy.

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS.