You’ve got the wings ordered. The beer is chilling. You might even have a designated "squares" person ready to collect cash from the neighbors. But every single year, the same frantic text goes out to the group chat: Wait, when is the super bowl start today? It’s a fair question. The NFL loves its pageantry, and "kickoff" is often a moving target depending on how long the national anthem singer decides to hold that final high note. If you’re looking for the hard numbers, the official Super Bowl LIX kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 9, 2025. But here’s the thing. If you tune in at exactly 6:30 p.m., you haven't actually missed the game. Honestly, the ball usually doesn't leave the tee until about 6:40 p.m. or 6:45 p.m. ET. That ten-minute window is filled with the coin toss, player introductions, and the inevitable final wave of commercials that cost companies roughly $7 million for 30 seconds of your attention.
When Is The Super Bowl Start Today? The Zone-by-Zone Breakdown
NFL fans live across the globe, so "6:30" doesn't mean much if you’re sitting in a bar in Seattle or watching from a pub in London. If you're in the U.S., here is how your Sunday afternoon is basically going to look:
👉 See also: Who Owns the Washington Redskins Today: The Reality of the Commanders Sale
- Eastern Time (ET): 6:30 p.m.
- Central Time (CT): 5:30 p.m.
- Mountain Time (MT): 4:30 p.m.
- Pacific Time (PT): 3:30 p.m.
If you are watching from New Orleans—where the game is actually happening at the Caesars Superdome—local time is Central. This means the sun will still be up when the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs take the field for their massive Super Bowl LVII rematch.
The "Real" Start Time vs. The Broadcast Start
FOX is handling the broadcast this year. They’ll start their pregame coverage basically when you wake up. Seriously. Their official pregame show kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Do you need to watch five and a half hours of retired players in sharp suits talking about "momentum"? Probably not. But if you want to see the flyover and the anthems, you’ll want to be on the couch by 6:00 p.m. ET. This year, we’ve got Jon Batiste performing the National Anthem. Given his jazz background and penchant for improvisation, he might take his time with it.
Why the 2025 Matchup is Weirdly Personal
This isn't just another game. It's the Chiefs trying for a "three-peat"—something no team in NFL history has ever done. Patrick Mahomes is chasing greatness, but he’s facing a Philadelphia Eagles team that looks even more dangerous than the one he beat two years ago.
The Eagles, led by Jalen Hurts and a terrifying ground game featuring Saquon Barkley, are actually slight favorites in many circles. It's a clash of styles. You have the surgical, almost magical passing of Mahomes against the sheer physical force of the Philly offensive line.
The Kendrick Lamar Factor: When is Halftime?
For a lot of people, the football is just the opening act for the halftime show. This year, Kendrick Lamar is the headliner.
👉 See also: Leicester City vs Manchester United: Why This Rivalry Still Matters
Because the first half of a Super Bowl usually takes about 90 minutes to two hours due to the sheer volume of commercials and replay reviews, you can expect Kendrick to hit the stage somewhere between 8:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. ET.
He’s already confirmed that SZA will be joining him. Given the year Kendrick has had—basically winning the biggest rap feud of the decade—the energy in the Superdome is going to be electric. If you're only there for the music, set an alarm for 8:00 p.m. just to be safe. You don't want to be in the kitchen making a sandwich when "Not Like Us" starts playing.
How to Watch if You Don't Have Cable
If you’ve cut the cord, you aren't out of luck. Since the game is on FOX, you can actually stream it for free on the Tubi app. That’s a bit of a rarity for the NFL, which usually hides the big game behind subscription walls.
Other options include:
- FuboTV (They usually have a free trial if you’re sneaky about it).
- YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
- The NFL+ App (Though this is usually restricted to mobile devices).
What to Do Next
If you're hosting, the most important thing is to tell your guests the "start time" is at least 30 minutes earlier than it actually is. People are notoriously late. If you tell them 6:30, they’ll show up at 7:00 and miss the first touchdown.
Your Game Day Checklist:
- Check your local FOX affiliate to make sure your antenna is picking up a clear signal.
- Download the Tubi app now so you aren't fumbling with a password five minutes before kickoff.
- Get your food prep done by 5:30 p.m. ET so you can actually enjoy the pre-game festivities.
- Make sure your phone is charged; the "Super Bowl Squares" texts are going to blow up your notifications all night.
The game is expected to wrap up around 10:15 p.m. ET, unless we head into overtime. And given how closely matched these two teams are, don't be surprised if we're still watching at 11:00.