Bet you didn’t have Jim Nantz closing the AFC Championship broadcast with a Kobe Bryant reference on your Bingo card. Nantz and Tony Romo were on the call as Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs defeated Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, advancing to their fifth Super Bowl in six years. They are now attempting what has never been done before in the NFL—a three-peat. As Nantz underscored their potential for a three-peat towards the end of the broadcast, he also took a moment to remember the late Kobe Bryant.
Jim Nantz gave Kobe Bryant a shoutout to close the AFC Championship Game broadcast pic.twitter.com/Jp5KmMf3Af
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 27, 2025
“Well, Tony. The last major sports league to see a three-peat was in the NBA,” Nantz remarked. “It was the Lakers of 2000, 2001, 2002 that completed a three-peat. Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant tragically passed away on January 26th, 2020, five years ago today.” On that note, Nantz wrapped up the broadcast and handed over CBS’s AFC Championship coverage to their postgame show before heading down to the field to present Kansas City with the Lamar Hunt Trophy.
The final exchange between Nantz and Romo in the booth for the 2024 NFL season ended with a reference to Kobe Bryant. This moment was indeed unorthodox and likely unexpected, particularly given it marked the fifth anniversary of Bryant’s death. Remembering Bryant, who was one of the most recognizable sports figures globally for decades, is certainly fitting, especially in light of the sorrow surrounding his tragic passing alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others in a helicopter crash five years ago.
Nantz has a unique knack for timing. He aptly connected Kansas City’s pursuit of a three-peat with the anniversary of Bryant’s death. However, the timing of this reference, occurring as Nantz and Romo were concluding their season and while the Chiefs celebrated their AFC title victory, likely caught a few fans off guard.
