Each Super Bowl is marked by a Roman numeral, and the 2024 season ends with the 59th Super Bowl in NFL history.
What does the “LIX” in Super Bowl LIX mean?
What the Roman Numerals Mean
Since Super Bowl V, the fifth Super Bowl, the game has been titled using Roman numerals. The first four Super Bowls were eventually renamed to reflect the NFL’s labeling of the Super Bowl with Roman numerals. The NFL is the only major American professional sports league to label its championships this way.
Until the NFL reaches its 90th edition of the Super Bowl, it will only require a combination of four different letters. “I” stands for one, “V” stands for five, “X” stands for 10, and “L” stands for 50. The Super Bowl will start with an L for the next 30 years until the NFL reaches Super Bowl XC (90).
This year is the 59th Super Bowl, but making nine is not as simple as adding four ones and a five (VIIII). In Roman numerals, putting an I before the X (10) will make “IX” which stands for nine. Putting an I before a V (five) will make IV and that stands for four.
This year’s Super Bowl will be Super Bowl LIX (59th). Next year will return to the straightforward addition of the four foundational numerals, with the largest coming before the smallest (L, X, V, and then I) until Super Bowl LXIV (64), with the I coming before the V to signal the number four (IV).
The NFL used one exception for the Super Bowl as Super Bowl 50 did not use the Roman numeral L to depict the event. They presumably weren’t fans of any of the potential logos including Super Bowl L, so they stuck with just the number instead. The NFL reverted right back to tradition with Roman numerals for all the ensuing Super Bowls.
Super Bowl LIX
The two teams set to face off in Super Bowl LIX are the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are searching for revenge after the Chiefs defeated them two years ago in Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs are trying to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.
When these teams met, it was a classic. The Chiefs won 38-35 on a Harrison Butker field goal with eight seconds left in the game. Fans will be hoping to see another instant classic when these teams take the field on Feb. 9.