CBS Sports' presentation of the Kansas City Chiefs' overtime victory in Super Bowl 58 was the most-watched telecast in history, with more than 120 million viewers across all CBS platforms.
CBS announced its presentation of the NFL final, which was available across the CBS Television Network, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Univision, and more, topped 123.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen Fast National data and Adobe Analytics.
This puts viewership up 7% compared to 2023's Super Bowl, which reached 115.1 million viewers. A total of 202.4 million viewers watched the Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 across all platforms, which is the highest unduplicated audience in history and up 10% compared to 2023.
The huge rise in numbers are perhaps, at least in part, due to the influence of pop star Taylor Swift, who is in a relationship with one of the Chiefs' star players Travis Kelce. Swift's first appearance at the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium became the most-watched Sunday night NFL game since the last Super Bowl; Kelce jersey sales have increased 400% since their relationship began; and Apex Marketing Group estimated her interest has generated more than $330 million in value for the NFL and Chiefs.
Winning their third Super Bowl in five years, the Chiefs became the eighth team in history to win back-to-back Super Bowls, and only the ninth instance of a back-to-back winner in NFL history. Chiefs quarterback Partrick Mahomes also became the third player in history to win back-to-back Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards.
EA Sports predicted the Chiefs' win by simulating the game in Madden NFL, though anticipated the score to be 30-28. The game was still incredibly close, with the Chiefs scoring the winning touchdown with three seconds left on the clock in overtime.
Image Credit: Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
