One of the big questions floating around Super Bowl LIX media discussions this week was how broadcaster Fox would address the New Orleans New Year’s Day Bourbon Street terror attack. That attack, ahead of the Sugar Bowl, left major marks on the city and community.
A little more than a month after those attacks (which killed 14 victims and injured 57 more) as part of the opening of their Super Bowl LIX game coverage, Fox released a special video in response. That video featured Michael Strahan and Tom Brady discussing those attacks, their sympathy for the victims and their families, New Orleans’ resilience, and their thoughts for other victims of North Carolina hurricanes, Los Angeles fires, the Washington D.C., plane crash, and more.
Then, Brady and Strahan walked down Bourbon Street while Lady Gaga played “Hold My Hand” on a piano on the street, surrounded by their other Fox NFL Sunday panelists, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and many more.
The opening conversation there from Strahan and Brady is notable.
Strahan says “Here on Bourbon Street, always the heart and soul of New Orleans, this year began with a terror attack that tried to shatter its spirit.”
Brady then says “But the resilience of New Orleans is matched by the resolve of our country. When tragedy strikes, we don’t break. We come together, we rise above, and we never let evil win.”
Strahan then says “As we get ready for sports’ biggest day, we gather together with heavy hearts for our families and friends from North Carolina to Los Angeles, from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, these last few months have left us relying on each other in ways we never imagined.”
And Brady says “But in moments when heads are down and hope feels lost, something powerful always rises. The American spirit of courage, generosity, and unity.” That leads into Lady Gaga’s song.
According to TMZ, this was shot earlier this week. And it made for a powerful tribute here.
Tributes to the victims of the New Orleans attack have also featured on many pregame shows and in other media recently. And the NFL featured some victims’ families on the field for the coin toss:
They honored the 14 victims from the Bourbon St. terror attack on the morning of Jan 1. @wdsu pic.twitter.com/DXsrIUPI2A
— Sharief Ishaq (@ShariefWDSU) February 9, 2025
Jack Bech, in honor of his brother Tiger, at the Super Bowl coin toss.
This family has been so strong in the face of such unspeakable tragedy. I hope Jack gets the chance to stand at the Super Bowl coin toss as a player some day in the future. pic.twitter.com/GmlmYZXz7X
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) February 9, 2025
Covering tragedies like these on a sports broadcast is always difficult. But Fox and the NFL found notable ways to discuss the New Orleans attack and other tragedies leading into this Super Bowl telecast. And their coverage seemed to provide a good acknowledgment of what had happened, and how people came together afterward.
