Total Pro Sports
For millions of fans, the Super Bowl halftime show is a must-watch spectacle filled with music and entertainment. But for the players, it’s an entirely different experience. Unlike regular games, where halftime flies by in minutes, the Super Bowl break lasts around 30 minutes- twice as long as usual. This extended pause presents both challenges and opportunities, requiring teams to plan how they use their time carefully.
Whether it’s refueling, reviewing game strategies, or simply finding ways to stay sharp, players must adjust to the unique demands of the biggest game of the year.
Unlike regular season games, where players barely have time to catch their breath, the Super Bowl halftime allows them to sit down, eat, and hydrate properly. Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson noted a simple yet important benefit with USA Today: “We have more time to use the restroom.”
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna shared that teams follow a structured schedule, including four or five minutes designated for eating a light snack. Players review coaching points drilled into them for two weeks before the game, followed by a break and another round of eating and hydrating. Chiefs safety Justin Reid emphasized that decompression is key, saying, “The first little bit is just decompressing. Then from there, you do another mini warmup to get out there and play again.”
As reminded by the NFL draft the players think they're cool, but they'll never be as cool as Len Dawson, the starting QB of the KC Chiefs during halftime of the 1970 Super Bowl, on the sideline smoking a cigarette & drinking a Fresca (KC won btw)!
How times have changed!!🤣 pic.twitter.com/PFwNqfgK25— Dane.ltrp (@danerm67) April 26, 2024
Coaches get extra time to analyze first-half performance and relay adjustments. Washington Commanders right tackle Andrew Wylie, formerly of the Chiefs, pointed out that this extended break gives coaches “an extra while to digest that information and then get it to us.” However, major adjustments aren’t drastically different from regular games since teams have already made changes between series using sideline tablets. “It’s about the same amount of plays as a regular game,” Reid said. “It’s just stretched out over four or five hours instead of three hours.”
Also Read: How Long Is The Super Bowl Halftime Show?
A longer halftime means players need to warm up again before returning to action. Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat admitted he barely remembers his last Super Bowl halftime, saying to USA Today, “Last Super Bowl was a blur.” Chiefs right guard Trey Smith compared it to college games, where band performances extend the break.
Former NFL offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth, who played in two Super Bowls with the Rams, said reactivating after shutting down is one of the toughest parts. *“Whereas in a normal halftime, I would never even sit down, here, you truly need...
