- Super Bowl week kicked off with Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs taking part in a media day.
- Insider asked players on both teams what their last meal before kickoff of the big game will be.
- Proteins like steak and chicken were popular answers, as was carb-loading with alfredo.
PHOENIX — Super Bowl LVII kicks off on Sunday between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
On both rosters, finely-tuned athletes will be looking to peak at just the right time on Sunday so they can perform their best.
The importance of the final meal a player eats before kickoff cannot be overstated. So we wanted to know: what will be fueling these gladiators as they step into battle?
Insider spent Super Bowl's Opening Media Day asking players on both sides what their last meal will be before the coming championship game.
Proteins like steak and chicken were popular picks
"The last thing I eat is chicken and rice," Chiefs fullback Michael Burton told Insider.
Burton has his gameday meal planning down to a science.
"Three hours before the game. Plain, little salt and pepper. Boring. I keep it plain because I don't want to eat too much or something crazy before the game. It's just become a habit, just what I've done," Burton said. "I've probably been doing that since I was in college."
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott had a similar game plan. "We play 4:30, so probably a lunch meal," Elliott said. "I'll be pretty easy and bland here, but chicken and rice. Have to keep it super easy."
Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed also picked a protein with a plan, opting to eat steak about three hours before the game. "It's the only thing I eat before a game," he said.
Sneed might be dining with Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who also prefers steak.
"Of course," Butker replied when asked if he knew what he'd be having just before kickoff. "Steak and rice, as always."
Alfredo pasta got a surprising amount of love as a pregame meal
While it's difficult to imagine attempting to run after a plate of alfredo, let alone compete in an NFL game, some pros swear by the cheesy dish. These guys really are Built Different.
"Pasta. I usually have a plate of pasta. Carb up," said Eagles linebacker Patrick Johnson. "Get some protein, so throw in some chicken and some vegetables, broccoli. Alfredo sauce. It's either the red or the alfredo and I always go with the alfredo."
"I want to say it's 2.5 hours [before the game]," Johnson said. "I usually eat it over at the facility or the hotel, and then head straight over to the stadium after that."
Eagles tight end Trey Sermon agreed, saying he also plans to eat pasta with alfredo. "Spinach, chicken, a little bit of bell pepper."
Philadelphia safety Darius Slay was also a supporter of some pre-game pasta, getting a bit creative with his use of alfredo.
—FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 7, 2023Staples like PB&J and vegetables rounded out most players' picks for a final meal
Outside of the alfredo enjoyers, most players planned to keep their meals simple.
Peanut butter and jelly, a staple of childhoods across the country, still has its place among the giants of the NFL.
"I always eat a nice breakfast, but I will probably need a refuel for the late game," Chiefs offensive lineman Andrew Wylie told Insider. "Probably a few bits of an Uncrustables PB&J. They are usually a little frozen. Just a tad frozen."
"Right before a game, they have some peanut butter and jelly sitting in the locker room," Chiefs reserve tight end Matt Bushman said. "I'll have that really quick. Like an hour before the game."
Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon likes to eat his vegetables before kickoff, going for broccoli and carrots.
Meanwhile, Eagles punter Brett Kern swears by eBars, a company based out of Franklin, Tennessee, where Kern calls home.
"They're like an organic, healthy energy bar," Kern said. "They've been taking care of me for like, five or six years now."
While players on both sides are ready to head into Super Bowl LVII fueled up on impressive meals, only one team will get to wash it all down with champagne after the final whistle.
Watch: How Super Bowl fields are deep cleaned and prepped for game day
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