The most tragic storyline to emerge from last week’s Super Bowl was the passing of local Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano, who was in New Orleans to cover the Kansas City Chiefs. Shortly after news of Manzano’s death spread, reports surfaced indicating that police had made an arrest in connection with his death, prompting an outpouring of tributes from the sports community.
On Friday, MLS team Sporting KC organized a tribute for Manzano during its media day. The young reporter was “heavily involved” in covering the team, as mentioned in a report from KCTV. They set up a special spot displaying his media credential alongside a vase of flowers in his memory.
.@SportingKC set up a tribute for Adan Manzano at today’s Media Day, including his credential for the upcoming season.
Peter Vermes remembers his thoughtful and calm nature as a reporter, adding he’s ‘incredibly sad’ for his family and all who knew him. pic.twitter.com/qkzS0qRGnO
— Marleah Campbell (@MarleahKCTV5) February 14, 2025
“He had a calmness to him always whenever he asked questions,” remarked Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes. “He was always thoughtful in those situations. I always had a really good rapport with him.” Ely Martinez, the creative services director for Kansas City’s Telemundo station, shared with NBC News earlier this week that Manzano’s death felt like “losing [his] little brother.”
The cause of Manzano’s death remains under investigation by local authorities. However, it is evident that the young reporter left a lasting positive impact on those who knew him.
