For many, the Super Bowl serves as a chance to gather with friends and family, celebrating the end of an exhilarating football season with pizza, beer, and wings. Meanwhile, for those in sports media, it resembles a professional convention filled with socializing and small talk. However, the NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt has had enough.
On Good Morning Football, he criticized the superficial nature of conversations with fellow media members during Super Bowl week, articulating the frustrations of anyone who has ever endured tedious exchanges with industry contemporaries.
How every single conversation goes between two media members in the Super Bowl city….
My media brothers and sisters, what am I missing? pic.twitter.com/thf29VUTCn
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) February 5, 2025
“If you are a media member already in New Orleans or one heading there, I want to discuss this. Every conversation among media members during Super Bowl week boils down to three questions,” Brandt explained as he lifted a martini glass.
“Question one: When did you arrive? If they respond with, ‘Oh, just today,’ you reply, ‘Oh yeah, nice. End of the week. That makes sense. Save money, more time at home with the fam.’ If they say, ‘Been here since Monday,’ you respond, ‘Woah. Long haul, been there man. Bet you can’t wait to get home.’
“Question two: Where are you staying? They’ll likely mention the Hyatt or the Hilton, and you just say, ‘Nice. Nice.’ Or maybe, ‘Woah, wow! High roller! Must be nice for you.’ And the third question—this is a must in every exchange: ‘You staying for the game?’ If they say yes, you respond, ‘Nice, nice. I just hope it’s close.’ But if they say, ‘No, I’m actually going home on Saturday morning,’ you say, ‘Yup, see. That’s the way to play it, man. You get home on your couch—that’s a veteran move right there. You know how to play it.’
“Finally, you conclude the conversation with, ‘We should catch up, man,’ which essentially means you just did!”
Kyle Brandt’s sentiments resonated with journalists already in New Orleans, many of whom were quick to express their agreement.
I’ve had 17 of these so far. If one or both have a show you say, “Gotta get you on my show sometime…” That’s the only thing you missed.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) February 5, 2025
I feel attacked https://t.co/QteUETG7Wc
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) February 5, 2025
If there’s anything “scripted” at the Super Bowl, this is it. Nailed it, @KyleBrandt.
This is 80% of what being in sports media is. https://t.co/JIjLVJGCDU
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) February 5, 2025
I can’t wait to ask & be asked all these questions 😂😂😂 https://t.co/QSbaaZhHfa
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) February 5, 2025
Hopefully, Brandt’s observations will inspire some change in this repetitive conversation pattern.
