In the backdrop of Super Bowl LIX media discussions, a pressing question emerged: how would Fox address the New Orleans New Year’s Day Bourbon Street terror attack? This tragedy, which occurred prior to the Sugar Bowl, left a significant impact on both the city and its community. Just over a month after those attacks (which resulted in the loss of 14 lives and left 57 injured), Fox created a poignant video to kick off their Super Bowl LIX game coverage. The video featured Michael Strahan and Tom Brady expressing their condolences for the victims and their families, celebrating New Orleans’ resilience, and reflecting on other tragedies affecting communities across the nation, including hurricanes in North Carolina, wildfires in Los Angeles, and plane crashes in Washington D.C., among others.
In a moving sequence, Brady and Strahan strolled down Bourbon Street while Lady Gaga performed “Hold My Hand” on a piano, accompanied by their fellow Fox NFL Sunday panelists and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
The opening dialogue between Strahan and Brady stood out for its significance. Strahan remarked, “Here on Bourbon Street, always the heart and soul of New Orleans, this year began with a terror attack that tried to shatter its spirit.” Brady responded, emphasizing the resilience of New Orleans by stating, “But the resilience of New Orleans is matched by the resolve of our country. When tragedy strikes, we don’t break. We come together, we rise above, and we never let evil win.” Strahan continued, acknowledging the somber mood as they prepared for sports’ biggest day, saying, “As we get ready for sports’ biggest day, we gather together with heavy hearts for our families and friends from North Carolina to Los Angeles; from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, these last few months have left us relying on each other in ways we never imagined.” Brady concluded, “But in moments when heads are down and hope feels lost, something powerful always rises. The American spirit of courage, generosity, and unity,” leading into Gaga’s song.
According to TMZ, this tribute was filmed earlier this week and served as a powerful homage to the victims. Additionally, tributes to those affected by the New Orleans attack have been prevalent in various pregame shows and across other media outlets recently. The NFL even honored some victims’ families during the coin toss:
They honored the 14 victims from the Bourbon St. terror attack on the morning of Jan 1. @wdsu pic.twitter.com/DXsrIUPI2A
— Sharief Ishaq (@ShariefWDSU) February 9, 2025
Jack Bech, in honor of his brother Tiger, at the Super Bowl coin toss. This family has been so strong in the face of such unspeakable tragedy. I hope Jack gets the chance to stand at the Super Bowl coin toss as a player someday in the future. pic.twitter.com/GmlmYZXz7X
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) February 9, 2025
Addressing tragedies like these in a sports broadcast presents challenges, yet Fox and the NFL managed to respectfully discuss the New Orleans attack and other recent tragedies during their Super Bowl coverage, effectively acknowledging the impact such events have on communities and the importance of unity in the face of adversity.
