In a country strikingly divided politically and socially, football is a sport that unites many of us. According to a 2024 Gallup poll, “a record-high 80% of U.S. adults believe Americans are greatly divided.” With polarizing politics, social media, and fast-paced lives, individual communities are less connected, but every year, the Super Bowl continues to unify the American people.
Last year, 123 million Americans watched the Kansas City Chiefs and the 49ers game, earning it the title of the most popular TV program of all time in the country.
The Philadelphia Eagles faced off and defeated the Chiefs this year. Philadelphia experienced a sense of community that only comes to the city when the Eagles enter the Super Bowl. People who don’t usually tune in to sports are coming together with family and friends to watch the game and party. Strangers strike up conversation, discussing playoffs and the Eagles’ chances, which is an easy conversation starter for many Philadelphians.
The Super Bowl may be for sports fans, but it’s also for pop culture fanatics and anyone wanting to catch the legendary (and eight million dollars) Super Bowl day commercials. Super Bowl parties are organized, kids gather to watch the Puppy Bowl in the morning, and food and drinks enhance the entertaining mix of the day. This year, Kendrick Lamar headlined halftime show alongside SZA, garnering the game plenty of viewers just for the Grammy-winning artists.
According to Daniel Wann, PhD, in an article by WebMD, “Sports fandom is really a tribal thing. We’ve known for decades that social support — our tribal networks — is largely responsible for keeping people mentally sound, whether it’s our religious organizations, our business or vocation affiliations, our communities, or our families. We have a psychological need to belong.”
American football, and by extension, the Super Bowl, can provide a sense of tribal or group identity and belonging, if even for a day. This can create connections between neighbors, strengthen family bonds and friendships, and improve fans’ mental well-being, regardless of whether they win or lose.
According to Philadelphia magazine, “It’s a shared, spontaneous feeling of closeness among other people going through the same experience.”
Watching football, especially a game with such high stakes, is an emotional journey. There are highs at every touchdown and yard gain lows when the team loses the ball at the fourth down or suffers a major penalty. Sharing this experience with other people bonds communities and friends together and otherwise provides an excuse for a fun night out.
The Super Bowl will continue to be a source of joy and connection for millions of Americans. No matter what chaos or uncertainty ensues in the upcoming years, the second Sunday in February will always be a haven of city pride, community, and fun for Philadelphia and beyond.
