It’s the thing that comes up every darn year: the number of the Super Bowl is written in Roman numerals, which is quite the tradition. But if you’re here, you might be wondering: how do you read Roman numerals in the first place? SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS: How the 2025 Super Bowl could go terribly wrong for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs

For nearly 60 years, the Super Bowl has become a central part of American culture well beyond the sphere of pro football. And for many, the Super Bowl also prompts the need to touch up on a certain other piece of culture that always re-enters the collective conscience around Super Bowl time.

The use of Roman numerals did not become an NFL tradition until Super Bowl V in 1971. The first two Super Bowls were known as the AFL-NFL world Championship Game. The name “Super Bowl” was officially adopted for the third annual game and the league retroactively added Roman numerals to the Super Bowls before 1971.

It’s finally here, the climactic event that attracts the entire world for an evening. On Sunday at 6:30 p.m., the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the 59th game of this crazy sport we call football.

With just over a week until Super Bowl LIX kicks off at the Caesars Superdome, New Orleans is in full preparation mode. MORE: Super Bowl LIX events in New Orleans: Your Ultimate Guide City leaders and event organizers are working around the clock to ensure everything is in place for fans,