What you’re reading is the product of eight years of trying to figure out the best way to use all of the information, anecdotes, trash talk, insight, nonsense, and reporting that goes into my favorite story of the year: the Super Bowl cover story. I used to call this thing my baby, but now that I have two of those for real, I’d like to think I love them more—but not by much.
In those eight seasons, I’ve written about Malcolm Butler’s interception, Von Miller’s greatness, Julian Edelman’s improbable catch, Nick Foles’s transition to Philadelphia sports legend, the Patriots’ dynasty to end all dynasties, Mahomes’s first title, Brady’s seventh ring and the Rams’ epic journey. I’ve talked my way into Brady’s private after-party, plunged into the Pacific Ocean with Rams GM Les Snead, and watched Patriots owner Robert Kraft and a mink-coat-wearing P. Diddy sit together listening to Lionel Richie—the real thing, not a recording—belt out “All Night Long.”
I’ve always worked with another writer, from Joan Niesen to Ben Baskin to Jenny Vrentas to, now, Conor Orr. They’re all excellent, and all critical to the process. They help conduct, in a typical year, more than 50 interviews—some years it’s more than 100. We set out to tell the best story of a team’s season, and we’ve talked to comedians (Lenny Clarke); actors (Will Ferrell, Dennis Leary, Jenny McCarthy); musicians (Macklemore, Meek Mill, Migos, Kenny Chesney); historians; documentarians; authors; confidants; superfans; Hall of Famers; soccer luminaries; basketball executives; and even Bill Nye (as in “The Science Guy”).
The problem we’ve never solved is this: My laptop contains thousands upon thousands of pages of original reporting, much of it new or deeper than what’s out there. But we write the story overnight—word counts have ranged from 4,500 to 8,500—and there’s just never enough room to come anywhere close to using everything we uncover. Hence the newsletter now sitting in your inbox.
Please send all ideas/qualms/sources our way ([email protected]). Starting Monday, we’ll publish everyday right up until Super Bowl Sunday. Today, we wanted to give you a taste of what to expect …
