ESPN Unveils Year of the Super Bowl: A Landmark, Yearlong Celebration Building Toward ESPN's First Super Bowl Production in February 2027

ESPN announces Year of the Super Bowl, a sweeping 12-month, multi-platform celebration of America's biggest sporting event and building toward ESPN's first-ever Super Bowl production in February 2027. In collaboration with the NFL, this yearlong effort marks one of the most ambitious cross-company initiatives in ESPN and Disney history, designed to elevate the Super Bowl experience for fans while uniting the storytelling strength, innovation, and cultural reach of ESPN, Disney, and the NFL.

Launched immediately after Super Bowl LX with The Handoff at SoFi Stadium and Disneyland Park, the initiative launches a coordinated campaign that blends iconic moments, expansive content, and fan-first experiences - all building toward Super Bowl LXI on ESPN and ABC on February 14, 2027.

With the full strength of The Walt Disney Company and in collaboration with the NFL, ESPN has embarked on a year-long Super Bowl celebration, says Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Chairman. This fan-focused initiative unites our Company's beloved brands with industry-leading storytelling and technology to showcase football's greatest stories, heroes, and moments like never before. Across our platforms, screens, and parks, we'll build momentum throughout the year toward Super Bowl LXI - a monumental event for sports fans everywhere and for ESPN.

Launch Moment: The Handoff - Setting the Stage for the Year Ahead

ESPN's Year of the Super Bowl officially kicked off on Super Bowl Sunday with a symbolic on air moment: Chris Berman - an original ESPN icon and pillar of NFL coverage - ceremonially handed off to Scott Van Pelt. Berman joined from Levi's Stadium at Super Bowl LX, while Van Pelt anchored from SoFi Stadium, home of Super Bowl LXI on ESPN and ABC.

Van Pelt hosted SportsCenter, followed by the debut of Super Bowl Live, both from SoFi. On Monday, First Take, SportsCenter, Super Bowl Live, and NFL Live all originated from the Disneyland Park set, building momentum toward the year ahead.

Highlights of The Handoff included:

An opening piece that connected Super Bowl LX and LXI, following fans on a Pacific Coast journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Visits to the Disneyland Park set from Super Bowl-winning quarterback Sam Darnold and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III

The debut of new content celebrating the Super Bowl's legacy, including 60 Super Bowl Images in 60 Seconds

Expanded presence across ABC programming - Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! featuring Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald

This coordinated 24 hour initiative marked the first chapter of a yearlong plan that unifies broadcast, storytelling, marketing, and fan experiences in the build toward 2027.

ESPN's Yearlong Storytelling Initiative Takes Flight with 61 Super Bowl Stories

ESPN's ambitious content slate is underway, designed to illuminate the people, plays, and moments that define the Super Bowl.

The weekly series I Scored a Touchdown spotlights the stories of players who reached the end zone on the Super Bowl stage, offering powerful 1-2-minute features that will appear across ESPN shows and platforms. ESPN will showcase 61 players ahead of Super Bowl LXI, with a new player unveiled mostly on a weekly basis over the next calendar year.

New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree - the 159th player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl - was the first story featured. Best known for his iconic helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII, the series highlights Tyree's often overlooked touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter that gave the Giants a 10-7 lead.

ESPN has also introduced a new weekly video podcast, The Biggest Game, hosted by Emmy-winning reporter Jeremy Schaap, which will feature a rotating lineup of distinguished guests. The series revisits six decades of unforgettable Super Bowl moments - from legendary quarterback performances and halftime spectacles to culture-shaping commercials and even the one year when the stadium lights famously went out.

The premiere episode, featuring Chris Berman, who has covered 44 consecutive Super Bowls, is available now; new episodes will begin rolling out weekly around the NFL Draft.

What Fans Can Expect Next: A Year of Signature Moments

As the Year of the Super Bowl unfolds, ESPN and Disney will continue to release new stories, celebratory moments, and creative activations. Among what fans can expect:

Fresh narrative arcs and original content tied to key offseason moments

Spotlight integrations at cornerstone league events, including the NFL Draft, Monday Night Football games and more

Expanded cross-company collaborations leveraging Disney's characters, franchises, and platforms

New programming and fan experiences unveiled surrounding and during the 2026-27 NFL season

Content across every platform throughout the year

Together, these efforts ensure Year of the Super Bowl evolves - building energy, relevance, and cultural impact all the way to Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.

Underway: We're Going - A High-Velocity, Star-Powered Campaign

Debuting on Good Morning America on Monday morning, ESPN and Disney launched We're Going, a high-energy, cameo-filled marketing spot for ESPN's inaugural Super Bowl telecast.

Drawing from nearly four decades of cultural history - dating back to the Super Bowl in 1987 - the spot reimagines the iconic I'm Going to Disney World Super Bowl tradition and brings together more than 60 Disney characters and major personalities from across the Disney universe - all heading to one destination: Super Bowl LXI.

The spot sets an energetic tone for the year and signals how Disney and ESPN will merge tradition, storytelling, and spectacle on the road to 2027. Fans will continue to see the spot across both ESPN and Disney platforms.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/02/12/espn-unveils-year-of-the-super-...
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