Super Bowl LVIII is set for kick-off this Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers battle it out for the NFL’s highest honor. But what does the “LVIII” part mean?
The Chiefs have won three Super Bowl titles in their 64-year history, with two of those championships coming since 2019. Another victory for Patrick Mahomes would put him amongst the best ever at the quarterback position.
The 49ers flex five Super Bowl rings in 78 seasons of play, but all of them came from 1981 to 1994. It’s been nearly three decades since San Francisco has hoisted a Lombardi Trophy.
Most fans are familiar with the players taking the field for Super Bowl LVIII, but many have wondered what the letters stand for.
What does “LVIII” mean in Super Bowl LVIII?
The Roman numerals of LVIII equals 58. It indicates the 58th annual NFL Super Bowl, which will occur on Feb. 11 between the Chiefs and 49ers.
In Roman numerals, each letter represents a numerical value. “I” is “1”, “V” is “5”, “X” is “10”, “L” is “50”, “C” is “100”, “D” is “500”, “M” is “1,000”.
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You can create any number between 1 and 1,000 with these Roman numerals. Thus, “LVIII,” when broken down to its simplest form, is L (50) + V (5) + I (1) + I (1) + I (1) = 58.
Since the NFL season begins in one calendar year and ends in another, it didn’t make sense to name the Super Bowl after a singular year. Instead, league officials decided on a Roman numeral system as an alternative.
Don't be embarrassed, lots of people don't know what the "L" means either. pic.twitter.com/aPGRmjV5wx
— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) February 7, 2024
But don’t feel bad if the system is confusing for you, as several fans share that sentiment. Roman numeral searches spike considerably during the lead up to every Super Bowl.
Action for Super LVIII begins at 6:30 PM ET, 3:30 Pacific, and 11:30 PM in the UK. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, plays host as the Chiefs and 49ers fight for NFL immortality.