For all that’s changed about for 2021 Super Bowl fans, one thing is still the same – star gazing. The biggest sports event of the year always brings out celebrities, whether it’s among the limited capacity of 25,000 fans allowed into Raymond James Stadium this year or watching from home like the rest of us. The rich and famous always feel a little more accessible to us when they are crazy passionate about their NFL team. We’ve got some great ones from this year’s matchup.
Read more: 2021 Super Bowl Homegating Guide — Recipes, Tips to Celebrate Chiefs vs. Bucs
Here we will, ahem, pit, the Top 3 most passionate celebrity fans from Kansas City vs. the Top 3 most passionate celebrity fans from Tampa Bay.
2021 Super Bowl: Kansas City Chiefs Celebrity Superfans
Brad Pitt
Need we say more? The Oscar-winning actor grew up in Missouri, so it’s a natural fit. And while he might be a little more understated in his Chiefs fandom than some – he’s got to keep his reputation for being cool – his true Chiefs colors came out on a red carpet video clip that went viral last year.
Pitt was at the Screen Actors Guild Awards the day the Chiefs beat the Steelers to advance to the Super Bowl when a fan tossed him a Kansas City Chiefs cap. Pitt seemed genuinely giddy to get it, winking, giving a thumbs up and thanking the fan who tossed it, then promptly wearing it the rest of the way.
Paul Rudd
The Ant-Man is a Chiefs man, in a big way. He comes off more like the guy next door in other movies like “Knocked Up” and the “The 40-year-old Virgin” and that’s also how he seems decked out in a Chiefs jersey on the sideline. Rudd, who went to junior and high school in the Kansas City area, is one of the most passionate, and lucky, Chiefs fans you’ll come across.
Rudd and his son Jack were on the field after the Super Bowl victory last year and got to embrace Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the post-game celebration. “We did it,” Mahomes said to Rudd. Well, yeah, I guess so.
Melissa Etheridge
The Grammy-award winning rocker was born in Leavenworth, KS and has Chiefs passion in her blood. She is the perfect choice to sing the national anthem at Arrowhead Stadium, which she has done multiple times including before the AFC Championship game against the Patriots in 2019. But did you know she wrote a song about the Chiefs?
Putting her poetry to the test, she performed a “Chiefs are in the Super Bowl” song on the Dan Patrick Show last year, with just the right blend of blues and legit Chiefs knowledge. With their return Super Bowl trip this year, Etheridge wrote another song for Patrick, this time an ode to football and the Chiefs for bringing her joy during an uncertain 2020.
Honorable mention: Actor Eric Stonestreet from “Modern Family” NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer, and actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis of Saturday Night Live fame.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Celebrity Superfans
Hulk Hogan
It’s an old-school choice but when Hollywood Hogan brings the excitement of WrestleMania to Bucs mania, it’s hard to ignore. Hogan grew up in Tampa, started his wrestling career there and makes his home now in Clearwater. Translation: he’s a diehard, anything but the bandwagon fans star quarterback Tom Brady has brought with him from Boston.
Of course, Hogan has a healthy appreciation for Brady now too, and why wouldn’t he?
Nick Carter
The Bucs in the Super Bowl? The Backstreet Boy singer definitely wants it that way.
Carter was born in the Buffalo area and lives in California now but grew up in Tampa and fell in love with the Buccaneers even while most of his family stayed Bills fans. In only the way a Backstreet Boy can do, he made his own Bucs claim to fame when he performed in a dance troupe with Bucs cheerleaders at a halftime show when he was 8 or 9 years old.
“I don’t know where in the hell that footage is, but I did it,” he has said.
Dick Vitale
The Buccaneers are awesome, baby! The legendary ESPN hoops broadcaster lives in the Tampa area and doesn’t have to hide his allegiance for all things Tampa, whether it’s the NHL’s Lightning, MLB’s Rays, or even the New York Yankees, who hold their spring training there.
Of course, Vitale had some of his patented high praise commentary about “new” quarterback Brady. “He’s the greatest of all time,” Vitale said. “Not even debatable.” In fact, Vitale made his own recruiting pitch to try to get Brady to Tampa in the first place.
Honorable mention: “Pitch Perfect” actress Brittany Snow and Bandwagon Bostonian, professional wrestler and actor John Cena.
