Philly Special Milestone: Sal Paolantonio’s 30th Super Bowl

Super Bowl LVII will kick off in Glendale, Ariz., tonight, marking Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ much-anticipated Super Bowl debut. Peering down from the press box in State Farm Stadium, another popular Philadelphian – with a little more Super Bowl experience -will be adding to an annual ritual that began in 1993.

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio will be covering his 30th Super Bowl in his 30-year NFL reporting career. Twenty-eight of those NFL finales have been with ESPN.

“The Eagles have welcomed me in their facility for 30 years — in the good and bad times,” said Paolantonio. “This is the best Eagles team I have ever been around, making this year even more special to see them compete in my 30th Super Bowl.”

In all of his years covering the team, Sal Paolantonio thinks this is the greatest Eagles team of all time 👀 🦅 pic.twitter.com/OIKvEqK4nO

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 6, 2023

Famously nicknamed “Sal Pal,” Paolantonio has been the featured reporter for ESPN’s Super Bowl coverage – and year-round NFL coverage – since he began at the network in 1995.

“Covering a Super Bowl for ESPN is a 24/7 operation for more than a week,” said Paolantonio this week in the midst of being embedded with the NFC Champions. “I am able to do the job only because I have the best field producers in the business – Brian Franey, Charlie Moynihan, Tony Florkowski, Eric Lundsten, and Mark Summer.”

Thirty years of Super Bowls results in countless reporting hours, travel, and late nights. But, most importantly, there are stories and memories.

Heading into Super Bowl LVII featuring the Eagles against the Kansas City Chiefs, Paolantonio reflected on his most memorable Super Bowl moments.

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SUPER BOWL XXXVI – Feb. 3, 2002 – UNITING THE COUNTRY

For the first time, @TomBrady and the @Patriots were Super Bowl Champions. #OTD in 2002, New England entered Super Bowl XXXVI as 14-point underdogs, before securing victory against the Rams in the game's closing moments and launching a dynasty.

📹: @NFL pic.twitter.com/YAa5L79uu5

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 3, 2023

“Super Bowl XXXVI is my most memorable, only months after 9/11 and [then New England Patriots quarterback] Tom Brady’s first win, when the Patriots were double-digit underdogs [to the then-St. Louis Rams].

“There was a feeling of togetherness within the stadium [the Superdome in New Orleans] and the country. I felt caught up in that moment – we all did at ESPN. It was a special moment in history – sports brought the country together in a time of real pain.”

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SUPER BOWL XXXIX – FEB. 6, 2005 – MEETING AN ICON

“Before the game, I wanted to meet [Super Bowl halftime entertainment headliner and Beatles legend] Paul McCartney. During the pregame, on the field, I saw him walk towards me with the confident walk of an astronaut.

“I walked up to him and said, ‘Hi, my name is Sal Paolantonio, I grew up with your music, and I work for ESPN.’ And he said, ‘Let’s take a picture.'”

“I had one of those disposable cardboard cameras in my pocket – we didn’t have cell phones then. I have the picture hanging in my office; pretty cool moment.

“After the picture, we walked to midfield together while the video board was playing a clip from The Beatles on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show.’ I was chatting with him, and I honestly don’t remember most of the conversation except that he said, ‘Well, I got to go out and do my job.'”

“I then watched as he went out to midfield and sang ‘Freedom.’ It was a big moment.”

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SUPER BOWL XLII – Feb. 3, 2008 – A HISTORIC UPSET

15 years ago today in Glendale, AZ…

David Tyree had a football on his helmet. #SBXLII (via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/jOaUvevm3p

— NFL (@NFL) February 3, 2023

“The helmet catch [by New York Giants receiver David Tyree] in Super Bowl XLII was such an iconic moment – it denied history as the Patriots were on the doorstep of being the only undefeated team since the ’72 Dolphins.

“The Giants’ win was miraculous and, I believe, a major pivot point in the Tom Brady era. He, in fact, could be beaten, but it would take a miraculous catch by David Tyree to do it. That was how difficult it was to beat the Patriots that year.”

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Super Bowl XLVII – Feb. 3, 2013 – THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT

The lights cutting off in the Superdome completely shifted momentum for the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.@raylewis and @untouchablejay4 are finally getting their answers why: pic.twitter.com/Gq6jV5IOSq

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 8, 2022

“Literally, the moment the lights went out in the third quarter, I got up from my seat, and I ran down to the basement of the Superdome and told my producer to bring a camera. I started reporting on what happened from outside the Superdome’s electrical control room and eventually did SportsCenter live shots from that area.”

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SUPER BOWL LII – FEB. 4, 2018 – JOY FOR PHILLY

“Super Bowl LII, with the Eagles’ first Super Bowl Championship, was so special.

“The guy that cuts my hair, the guy that cuts my lawn, the guy that delivers my mail – they all talk to me about the Eagles. Every single day for 25 years. Being able to rejoice in that moment with them was pretty neat.”

SUPER BOWL LV – Feb. 7, 2021 – A HISTORIC FEAT IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC

“The game was the greatest single feat in the history of the NFL because of the global pandemic. Tom Brady switched teams in the middle of a crisis, remade the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and went on to win the Super Bowl – in his first year there and over [Chiefs quarterback] Patrick Mahomes.”