Final confetti to first look: Inside ESPN’s 24-hour, multi-platform ‘Handoff’ following Super Bowl LX
Traveling from Levi’s Stadium to SoFi Stadium, Disneyland and across southern California, ESPN’s biggest voices kicked off the countdown to Super Bowl LXI in an unforgettable way.
ESPN didn’t just close out Super Bowl Sunday, it opened the next chapter.
The cross-company event turned the transition into a one-time, 24-hour, multi-platform baton pass with “The Handoff” across Sunday night and all-day Monday, opening the door to Super Bowl LXI — ESPN’s first Super Bowl (Feb. 14, 2027) — in the way only ESPN and The Walt Disney Company can.
“Thanks to the efforts and tireless dedication of so many teams across The Walt Disney Company, The Handoff achieved what we had hoped,” said Andy Tennant, ESPN VP, Super Bowl. “It’s all about the power of ESPN and Disney being on full display over the last 24+ hours. Fans should now have a true sense of the storytelling resources and expertise that we will employ as we start the push to Super Bowl LXI.”
Relive the highlights and incredible special features that defined the event — plus behind-the-scenes notes that show how this 24-hour sprint and the first real glimpse of ESPN and Disney’s broader Super Bowl vision came together.
San Francisco's Sue Bierman Park provides the backdrop for this shot. (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)
Levi's Stadium: The Seattle Seahawks lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LX.
(Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)
Alex Smith (R) interviews Seahawks stars Jaxon Smith-Njigba (L) and Sam Darnold. (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)
Chris Berman reports from the set of "NFL Primetime" after Super Bowl LX. (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)
Berman, Smith, and Booger McFarland report from the set of "NFL Primetime." (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)
Laura Rutledge (L) and Scott Van Pelt pose on "SportsCenter" set during Super Bowl LX handoff. (Mpu Dinani/ESPN Images)
Van Pelt reports from the set outside SoFI Stadium. (Mpu Dinani/ESPN Images)
(L-R) Laura Rutledge, Ryan Clark, Mina Kimes and Marcus Spears report from the set of "Super Bowl Live." (Mpu Dinani/ESPN Images)
Disneyland: (L-R) Stephen A. Smith, Shae Cornette, Cam Newton, Ryan Clark, and Marcus Spears report from the set of "First Take."
(Melina Pizano/ESPN Images)
Disneyland: (L-R)Laura Rutledge, Marcus Spears, Mina Kimes, and Peter Schrager report from "Super Bowl Live." (Melina Pizano/ESPN Images)
Disneyland: Super Bowl Champions Sam Darnold (white T-shirt) and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III (black T-shirt) of the Seattle Seahawks visit "NFL Live." (Melina Pizano/ESPN Images)
Disneyland: Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson report from the SportsCenter set.
(Mpu Dinani/ESPN Images)SUNDAY, FEB. 8
Following the crowning of the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks inside Levi’s Stadium and the conclusion of NFL PrimeTime, Chris Berman — an original ESPN voice and NFL broadcasting legend — shifted the spotlight to SoFi and Scott Van Pelt.
After his 44th #SuperBowl on ESPN, only fitting Chris Berman signs off and hands it to @notthefakeSVP officially kicking off ‘The Handoff’ and the road to ESPN’s first Super Bowl in 2027 pic.twitter.com/xTI8MwG6ea
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) February 9, 2026
The symbolic transfer was illustrated in a unique and memorable way, with a traveling piece of Super Bowl LX confetti, created by ESPN Creative Studio.
“Super Bowl confetti is one of the most iconic moments in American sports — and we wanted to kick off our countdown to Super Bowl LXI by welcoming our fans with a symbolic handoff from Super Bowl LX. Thanks to the effort and creativity of many teammates involved, we created this — Super Bowl confetti taking a Disney’s Soarin’-inspired trip to SoFi Stadium.” – Lucas Nickerson, ESPN Sr. Creative Director
And that was just the beginning.
ESPN’s first Super Bowl is on the horizon @notthefakesvp checks in from SoFi Stadium, the site of Super Bowl LXI in 2027 pic.twitter.com/nN3ByAPYb0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 9, 2026
SportsCenter with SVP dove deeper into Super Bowl LX, with insight from those on the field including Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. Walker is no stranger to the art of the handoff, and during the show, ESPN took the opportunity to debut a special feature with great perspective on the play featuring legendary insight as it continued its look ahead.
Then, Super Bowl Live with Laura Rutledge made its debut alongside Marcus Spears, Mina Kimes and Ryan Clark with SoFi Stadium illuminating the backdrop.
The quartet broke down the Seahawks’ dominant performance and showcased a new series taking fans inside the personal stories and lasting memory of every Super Bowl touchdown, with Ep. 1 featuring David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII.
Sights & sounds from Sunday night @SoFiStadium pic.twitter.com/wVZHMRU5sO
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) February 9, 2026
MONDAY, FEB. 9
A full slate of ESPN and ABC shows originated the next day from Disneyland and across southern California.
The day began with ABC News’ Good Morning America, a conversation with Michael Strahan on-site at Levi’s Stadium and the debut of ESPN’s Super Bowl LXI marketing spot, as well as Get Up from ESPN’s LA studios, which included a feature that embodied the excitement of the big game over the years with 60 iconic Super Bowl images in 60 seconds, adding to ESPN’s expansive lineup of special content.
First Take, Super Bowl Live, NFL Live and SportsCenter continued the “The Handoff” throughout the day at Disneyland.
“Look at my friends! Mickey and Minnie, how you doing?” @stephenasmith and the @FirstTake crew are live from @Disneyland
(via @FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/OuS52yrHQI
— ESPN (@espn) February 9, 2026
MAIN STREET U.S.A. IS JUMPIN’ @Disneyland @mspears96 had to hype the crowd up pic.twitter.com/CWcZ6bdziN
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 9, 2026
SportsCenter The Happiest Place on Earth@itsthebaldgirl and @KevinNegandhi are LIVE from @Disneyland ✨ pic.twitter.com/3LRHKlHrQn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 9, 2026
The West Coast run culminated with more cross-company storytelling integration as World News Tonight with David Muir and Jimmy Kimmel Live! brought home the day-long relay — the prelude to ESPN and Disney’s full Super Bowl initiative.
As Wright Thompson put it…