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Steve Lott – a crucial member of Team Tyson in the early days – revealsed some extraordinary insight on why he might just have been the greatest underachiever in boxing history

STEVE LOTT lived with a young Mike Tyson for three years and has known him for 35. A crucial member of the team – alongside the likes of Cus D’Amato, Jim Jacobs and Kevin Rooney – who turned Tyson from angry young man into one of the most fearsome fighters in history, Lott claims to know the workings of Tyson’s mind better than anyone.

Has the Tyson story worked out the way you thought it would?

It’s changed, of course. It started out great in ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88 but it changed dramatically with the introduction of Robin Givens and Don King. And people think that Mike just self-destructed. It wasn’t like that. In the same meticulous way that Cus D’Amato, Bill Cayton and Jim Jacobs looked at every single facet and made every single decision for Mike that resulted in him becoming the world’s most popular athlete, on the opposite side of the coin King and Givens made decisions that were in their best interests that resulted in the destruction of Mike Tyson. There was two completely separate objectives.

What if Mike had stayed with Kevin Rooney?

Well, it didn’t look like Mike was getting any worse, that’s for sure. If you look at the Tucker fight and the knockouts over Biggs and then Holmes, and then Tubbs, then Spinks and being voted the world’s most popular athlete, even when Mike broke up with Robin Givens and came back to the office to apologise to Bill in that summer of ’88, Bill told him the fights he had lined up, with [Francesco] Damiani in Italy in an outdoor stadium, with [Adilson] Rodrigues in South America in a huge stadium, with [Frank] Bruno in England, Lennox Lewis, then Evander [Holyfield]. Mike was thrilled and the big fights that would have taken place that would have been the monster fights would have been Tyson and Tommy Morrison and the fight of all fights would have been Tyson and George Foreman. Those are the fights that would have happened if he’d stayed with Kevin and Bill. But missing out on those fights wasn’t as bad as what happened to him outside the ring, losing his hero status, from going in 1987 and being voted the world’s most popular athlete to two years later the New York Daily News, the biggest newspaper in the world at the time, voted Mike the most unpopular celebrity. 

How long do you think he would have reigned for if he had stayed with Bill and Kevin?

That would have depended upon the competition, of course. But unless there
was a distraction I would have thought that Mike would have found a way to beat
the likes of Lewis, Holyfield, Moorer and Foreman. The guys that we are talking
about were fine fighters but they all got hit, and whenever Mike fought a guy
who was not elusive, it was a rather easy fight for Mike.

Where does he stand on the list of all-time great heavyweight based on his
accomplishments?

Now there are two parts to that and I always try in my own way to
distinguish it and I think there’s a difference between great and best.
Greatness involves a lot of stuff. It involves not only the ability of a
fighter, what his accomplishments were in the ring, his notoriety, his hero
status, his longevity… A lot of stuff goes in that package. Best means you put
two fighters in the ring, who will win? Greatest? You have the Greatest Of All
Time, Ali, of course. Number two, probably Joe Louis. Number three, maybe Rocky
Marciano. Maybe Evander at four. That’s putting all that stuff together. The
best, Ali and Tyson. Now I don’t know who would win that. I would give Ali the
edge in the first fight, if they fought more than once. Mike would have been
very nervous. After the first fight, and when Mike realises Ali was easy to hit
and not a great puncher, the second fight I would bet on Mike. The greatest?
Mike would be down the list because of the unpleasant things he’s done outside
the ring, with the rape, the ear biting, his demeanour. Everyone will vote him
down the list on greatness, but best? That’s different.

Was Mike a wasted talent or did he fulfil his potential by becoming
heavyweight champion of the world?

That’s a very interesting question. Usually, when a fighter trains they
train at 50 per cent, 60 per cent or 80 per cent, and when they fight they
fight at 100 per cent of whatever they got. Mike was the opposite in that there
were some sparring sessions when Mike was spectacular, bobbing, weaving and
coming up and he never fought like that. Maybe, after the Spinks fight, had he
become more relaxed, some of that would have come out and I’m telling you he
could not have fought any worse than he did against Biggs, Tubbs and Holmes and
Spinks. He never fought 10 per cent of what was in him, yet he still beat those
guys. Even without the stuff he was doing in training, he blew out everyone. So
potential, I don’t know if he ever fought up to 50, 60 or 70 per cent.

Will anyone break his record of being world heavyweight champion at 20?

It is possible but the thing that makes it difficult is mathematics. There
are less gyms around today than there were back then. If there are less gyms,
there are less fighters. If there are less fighters there is a lesser pool of
talent from which a fighter can rise, especially at heavyweight. There’s a
difference between the United States and the UK. In the UK, there’s really no
baseball [US] football or basketball. So any big kid who has athletic ability
would probably try boxing, like Klitschko, or Joshua, Lennox… They are not
sophisticated fighters but they are so f***** big, it gives them the edge. If
you’re in the United States, it’s completely different. If you’re 12, 13, 14
and you’re 6ft 2in and 215 [lbs] and someone’s father says let’s try baseball,
and the kid sees the beautiful fields, the beautiful girls, then the dad says,
let’s try football. And he sees beautiful fields, beautiful girls… Let’s try
basketball, and he sees the beautiful arena, the beautiful girls… Then he says,
‘Son, if you become heavyweight champion you can make more money in one fight
than your whole career in another sport.’ They drive 20 miles to a gym, a spit
bucket of a dump. ‘No way, Dad. No way.’ So I don’t think there’s a chance of
an American fighter ever becoming a great world heavyweight champion again.
It’s just not possible.

Also, Mike was having 10 fights a year at the start, that’s not often done
these days.

That’s because the managers are either stupid or they don’t want to spend
their own money to do what is in the best interest of a fighter. If a manager
had a heavyweight kid, 18 years old, turning pro, and wanted to do what is best
for the fighter, if he wanted the kid in New York to fight on a show in Chicago
the Chicago promoter would say, ‘Really? Your guy is not a draw. We don’t need
him.’ Then the manager would say, ‘I will pay for my fighter. I will pay for
the opponent. You just put the fight on.’ Then the promoter would say, ‘You got
it.’ And they would do that two weeks later somewhere else, then two weeks
after that somewhere else. And that’s what Jim and Bill were doing with Mike.
Mike was getting no purses whatsoever. They were paying for everything. Why?
Because Mike needed that experience. Jim and Bill were spending $1,000 a week
on sparring when Mike was still an amateur. That will never happen again.

What do you think Cus, Jim and Bill would have made of what has happened
to Mike?

They would be very sad. Jim and Bill, Bill especially because Mike sued
Bill and it is very emotional when someone you love and someone you put a lot
of time, effort, money and energy into sues you. It would have hurt Jim if he
was alive at the time and it definitely would have hurt Cus D’Amato. Don’t
forget, Cus made Jim and Bill the managers. Cus was very smart and no one cared
for Mike more than Cus and he made every decision for Mike based on what’s best
for Mike. Cus put Mike in the hands of people he trusted and that would have
hurt Cus.

What do you think people will remember Mike for?

I believe that most likely only boxing people will remember Mike as a boxer of incredible ability. Outside of the world of boxing they will remember Mike and think, ‘Yeah, he was a champion. And that tattoo. And The Hangover. And the One Man Show.’ All that stuff. The boxing people will remember the boxing, the rape and the ear biting. The non-boxing people will just remember him as a celebrity. Just a celebrity.

Read the Descent of Mike Tyson here

The Chiefs and Bucs face off for the second — and final — time of the 2020 season in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday. And the stakes are a little higher than their Week 12 meeting this season.

Kansas City is looking for its second consecutive Super Bowl under Andy Reid. A win at Raymond James Stadium would also mark the second such victory for quarterback Patrick Mahomes — an incredible feat for someone still on their rookie contract. That would also keep him within striking distance of Tom Brady for all-time GOAT status.

Speaking of Brady, he will look for his seventh Super Bowl victory in 10 tries, cementing perhaps forever his place as the greatest NFL player of all time. That argument would certainly be compounded by the fact he would do it with the Buccaneers in his first season in Tampa Bay after earning his first six wins in New England. That he could do it against a challenger to his all-time greatness would be another facet in his favor.

Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Super Bowl 55 between the Chiefs and Buccaneers. Follow below for complete results and more.

MORE: Watch Super Bowl 55 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Super Bowl 2021 score

Chiefs vs. Buccaneers live updates, highlights from Super Bowl 55

Fourth quarter: Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9

9:38 p.m: Pinion’s 39-yard punt is fair-caught at the 6-yard line.

9:38 p.m.: Brady goes deep to Gronk, but overthrows him. He might have tried to draw a pass interference, but you have to put the ball in a catchable radius for that. Punt upcoming.

9:36 p.m.: Fournette showing a little shiftiness and gets 8 yards out to the Chiefs’ 47.

9:36 p.m.: Brady to Brate for 6 yards and a first down to the 45.

9:33 p.m.: Jones’ fourth straight carry goes for 4 yards and another first down at the 35.

9:33 p.m.: Another 8 yards for Jones, straight up the gut. Against a stacked box, too.

9:33 p.m.: Ronald Jones gets 8 on the second-down carry. That makes it first-and-10 from the 23.

9:32 p.m.: Ronald Jones gets 4 yards on the carry, making it second-and-6 from the 15. Don’t be surprised if Tampa Bay runs out the clock here.

9:29 p.m.: Turnover on downs, Chiefs. Through no fault of Mahomes, it’s a turnover on downs. He scrambles and ducks in and out of defenders and throws a pass parralel to the ground, only for the ball to hit Williams in the face mask. Tampa Bay takes over at the 11.

9:28 p.m.: Timeout, Kansas City (13:43)

9:27 p.m.: Mahomes is running for his life trying to extend the play and flings it downfield while being brought down. He targets Pringle in the corner of the end zone but can’t find connect. Fourth-and-9 from the 12 upcoming.

9:26 p.m.: More backyard football from Mahomes, but Demarcus Robinson can’t bring it in on the high pass. That would have been a score.

9:25 p.m.: Mahomes splits two defenders to hit Kelce for a 17-yard gain to the 12.

9:22 p.m.: Chiefs will face second-and-10 from the 29 on their first play of the first quarter.

End of third quarter: Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9

9:21 p.m.: Sammy Watkins gets his first reception with a 13-yard gain out to the 29. Mahomes is noticeably limping.

9:20 p.m.: Mahomes finally finds Hill in the open for a 21-yard gain out to the Bucs’ 42.

9:19 p.m.: Hill is called for a false start, making it first-and-15 Chiefs from their 37.

9:18 p.m.: Edwards-Helaire with some more tough running gets 8 yards on second down out to the 42.

9:17 p.m.: Mahomes looks to scramble, stops just short of the line of scrimmage and heaves one to Kelce. The ball falls incomplete, but Carlton Davis is called for defensive holding. That’s a 5-yard penalty and automatic first down to the 30.

9:13 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, BUCCANEERS. Even when things go wrong for Tampa Bay, it ends up all right. Succop sneaks the ball inside the left upright to make it 31-9 Bucs with 2:50 left in the third quarter.

9:12 p.m.: Disaster averted for the Bucs; the snap goes a little high and fast and Brady can’t bring it in. He wisely dives on it for a 14-yard loss, bringing Ryan Succop on for a 52-yard field goal attempt.

9:11 p.m.: Brady overthrews his receivers on consecutive plays, missing Tanner Hudson in the end zone and Godwin along the sidelines. The first would have been a touchdown, the second a first down.

9:10 p.m.: Jones gets 2 yards and a new set of downs at the 19.

9:09 p.m.: A couple runs by Fournette and Jones makes it third-and-1 from the 21.

9:08 p.m.: Brady keeps it going. Fakes the handoff to Fournette then high-lows back to the running back out of the backfield for a 15-yard gain. Bucs driving at the 30.

9:04 p.m.: Interception, Chiefs. Is it too early to call this game? Mahomes’ pass to Hill is knocked in the air by Mike Edwards, and Antoine Winfield Jr. brings down the interception. Tampa Bay will have the ball at Kansas City’s 45.

9:03 p.m.: Barrett finally hits pay dirt, beating Mike Remmers for a 6-yard sack on Mahomes to bring up third-and-14.

9:02 p.m.: Pringle returns the kickoff to the 25. Chiefs need a touchdown here; no kicks.

8:58 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, BUCCANEERS. Tampa Bay isn’t slowing down at all. Fournette goes off right tackle, untouched, for a 27-yard field goal. That makes it 28-9 Bucs with 7:45 left in the third quarter.

8:57 p.m.: Gronkowski’s having a huge game. He’s the recipient of another big reception as he takes it 25 yards to the 27-yard line.

8:56 p.m.: Brady finds Fournette out of the backfield, and he takes it 14 yards out to the 46.

8:55 p.m.: Third-and-4 upcoming. Kansas City would love a three-and-out to start the half.

8:54 p.m.: Mickens’ return gets the Bucs a start at the 26-yard line. The Chiefs need a stop here, big-time.

8:50 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, CHIEFS. Kansas City wanted a touchdown, but it will have to settle for a 52-yard field goal from Butker. It’s 21-9 Bucs with 11:31 left in the third.

8:50 p.m.: Chiefs again fail to convert on third down. Another field goal attempt upcoming.

8:48 p.m.: Edwards-Helaire jukes Barrett in his own backfield and gets the ball to the 37 after a 9-yard gain. First down.

8:47 p.m.: Mahomes to Kelce for a 9-yard gain to the Bucs 46.

8:46 p.m.: Good start: Edwards-Helaire takes the ball up the left sideline for a 26-yard gain to the 45 — the team’s first gain of 20 or more yards all game.

8:46 p.m.: Second half upcoming. The Chiefs start at their 19.

Halftime: Buccaneers 21, Chiefs 6

8:17 p.m.: Halftime stats:

Total plays: Bucs 35, Chiefs 30
Total yards: Bucs 194, Chiefs 124
Passing: Bucs 16 of 20, 134 yards, three touchdowns; Chiefs 9 of 19, 67 yards
Rushing: Bucs 14 for 60; Chiefs 11 for 57
First downs: Bucs 18; Chiefs 9
Third-down conversions: Bucs 2 for 6 (0 for 1 fourth down); Chiefs 1 for 6
Penalties: Bucs 1 for 5 yards; Chiefs 8 for 95 yards
Turnovers: N/A
Time of possession: Bucs 16:41; Chiefs 13:19

8:15 p.m.: Kneel. That’ll end the first half with an incredible deficit likely no one predicted.

8:15 p.m.: Touchback. Now: Kneel or Hail Mary?

8:14 p.m.: Mathieu is also called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the touchdown. Not that it matters with so little time left in the half.

8:12 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, BUCCANEERS. Brady fakes the handoff and finds Brown in the end zone. Tampa Bay, somehow, did it again. That makes it 21-6 Bucs with just six seconds left in the half.

8:11 p.m.: Mathieu is called for pass interference in the end zone, but it looks like Brady way overthrew Evans.

8:10 p.m.: Timeout, Kansas City (0:13)

8:09 p.m.: Timeout, Tampa Bay (0:13)

8:09 p.m.: Brady finds Fournette for a big gain for 15 yards to the 9.

8:08 p.m.: Kansas City’s timeouts bite them in the butt. Breeland is called for pass interference on Evans at the Chiefs’ the 24-yard line with 18 seconds left.

8:08 p.m.: Gronk gets the pass and gets the first down at the 42.

8:07 p.m.: Timeout, Kansas City (0:44)

8:06 p.m.: Brady goes to Godwin for a 8 yards to bring up third-and-2.

8:06 p.m.: Timeout, Kansas City (0:49)

8:05 p.m.: Fournette is stopped at the line of scrimmage. Second-and-10 upcoming.

8:05 p.m.: Jayden Mickens returns the kickoff out to the 29, giving Brady 55 seconds left to get his team in scoring position.

8:02 p.m.: Chiefs will now try to avoid the Packers’ last-minute come-apart of the NFC championship game.

8:01 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, CHIEFS. Butker’s true from 34 yards out, giving the Chiefs their second score of the game. That makes it 14-6 Bucs with 1:04 left in the half.

8 p.m.: Barrett again gets after Mahomes, forcing him to retreat and throws the ball away. Another field goal attempt upcoming.

8 p.m.: Mahomes’ pass to Kelce gets to the 15, bringing up third-and-6. Four-down territory here?

7:59 p.m.: Mahomes again forced to extend plays with his feet. HIis dump-down pass to Hill is swallowed up for a 1-yard loss.

7:56 p.m.: Two-minute warning

7:55 p.m.: Kelce gets the pass again after Mahomes plays a little backyard football in the backfield. That’s another first down, with the Chiefs driving at the 18.

7:54 p.m.: Edwards-Helaire gets 7 on first down out to the 29-yard line.

7:54 p.m.: Mahomes scrambles left for a first down at the 36. The clock is winding down at about 3:30.

7:53 p.m.: Mahomes looks to run, pulls up at the last second in the pocket and finds Kelce again for a first down. The Chiefs are now driving across midfield at the 46.

7:51 p.m.: Mahomes to Kelce on the first play of the drive. Short memories by both. Kansas City is driving at the 38.

7:51 p.m.: The Chiefs are at it again from their 25, and they need a score here before halftime.

7:47 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, BUCCANEERS. Brady to Gronk AGAIN! Kansas City’s L’Jarius Sneed tried to hold the tight end and he still caught it in the end zone to make it 14-3 Bucs with 6:03 left before halftime.

7:45 p.m.: Incredible. The Bucs’ field goal is good, but the Chiefs’ Antonio Hamilton is called for lining up in the neutral zone. That results in a first down at the 17. Just incredible.

7:45 p.m.: Brady and his receivers aren’t in sync and it hits Tyler Johnson in his shoulder pad without his seeing it. Gronkowski is also in the area.

7:44 p.m.: Brady to Fournette goes for about 5 yards to the 22. The Bucs have third-and-5 from there.

7:42 p.m.: A lot to unpack: Brady’s pass is deflected at the line of scrimmage, it bounces off Fournette’s hands and Tyrann Mathieu pulls in an interception. But Charvarius Ward is called for holding before the pass, giving Tampa a first down at the 27.

7:41 p.m.: Brady to Gronk in the crossing route for 9 yards. Third-and-4 upcoming from the 32.

7:40 p.m.: The Chiefs knock Brown for a loss of 3 on the jet sweep. Second-and-13 upcoming from the 41.

7:37 p.m.: Wow. Townsend shanks the punt for only a 29-yard gain to the Kansas City 38.

7:36 p.m.: The Chiefs are called for holding on the punt, resulting in a 10-yard penalty. Here comes another Chiefs punt, this one from the 9-yard line.

7:35 p.m.: Oof. Mahomes again is pressured, but he finds Kelce for the first down … until the talented tight end drops it. Another punt upcoming, and the Chiefs have only four first downs so far. Incredible defensive effort by Tampa so far.

7:34 p.m.: Darrel Williams only gets 2 yards on second down, bringing up third-and-8.

7:33 p.m.: Mahomes to Hill on the quick slant, and he weaves in and out of defenders for a 14-yard gain to the 15.

7:31 p.m.: The Bucs challenged the call, but it stands. That cost Tampa its second timeout and an ability to challenge later. Chiefs, meanwhile, take over at the 1-yard line.

7:28 p.m.: Turnover on downs, Bucs. The Chiefs go for it on fourth-and-goal and Jones is called short again! A goal-line stand! This one’s definitely going to the booth for review though.

7:28 p.m.: Ronald Jones is stopped at the goal line.

7:27 p.m.: Joe Haeg nearly gets a fat-man touchdown, but it’s broken up in the end zone. Incredible defensive play (and a reason you never go for a fat-man touchdown in the Super Bowl).

7:26 p.m.: Ronald Jones gets 4 yards down to the 2. Chris Jones is in on the tackle.

7:25 p.m.: Timeout, Tampa Bay (12:25)

7:24 p.m.: Bucs go hurry up, and Brady connects with Mike Evans on the deep crossing route for a 31-yard gain to the 6-yard line. Bucs are rolling on offense right now.

7:23 p.m.: Jones gets a 7-yard gain on first down to the Chiefs 45. He follows that up with a first-down run to the 37.

7:22 p.m.: Uh-oh. Chris Jones is called for unnecessary roughness after the play. Ryan Jensen got a little shove at the whistle, but Jones is caught retaliating. Either way, it’s first down at the Bucs 48.

7:22 p.m.: Third-and-6 upcoming already for the Bucs.

7:20 p.m.: Mahomes’ screen pass bounces off the intended target’s hands. That’s a three-and-out, and Tampa Bay will take over at the 30 after just a 27-yard punt from Tommy Townsend.

End of first quarter: Buccaneers 7, Chiefs 3

7:16 p.m.: Mahomes to Hill for 6 yards on second-and-10. That’ll be the last play of the quarter, and the Chiefs will face third-and-4 on their first play after the break.

7:15 p.m.: Byron Pringle takes the kickoff from 4 yards deep for a 41-yard return to the 37.

7:14 p.m.: Curious bit of trivia: That Brady touchdown to Gronk not only is his first-ever first-quarter in the Super Bowl (it took 10 tries) but also breaks the Joe Montana-Jerry Rice record of tandem Super Bowl touchdowns.

7:10 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, BUCCANEERS. The Bucs’ magnificent pass is capped by a beautiful touchdown connection between Brady and Rob Gronkowski; the tight end goes in motion in the backfield and is already running full speed when Brady connects with him on the tight end screen. It’s 7-3 Bucs with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.

7:09 p.m.: Brady to Brown on a quick pass; the receiver delivers a monster stiff-arm to Breeland to make it second-and-5 from the 8.

7:09 p.m.: Fournette bounces at the line of scrimmage, regains his center of gravity and takes it 11 yards up the right sideline for a first down to the 13. Bucs can get a first down without a score.

7:08 p.m.: Now they go Cameron Brate on the tight end screen, getting 15 yards down to the 24-yard line.

7:07 p.m.: Now Brady finds Antonio Brown on a go route that comes back just a bit; that gives Tampa a first down at the Chiefs 39 after the gain of 16.

7:07 p.m.: Bashaun Breeland nearly intercepts a Brady pass, but he’s called for holding on Mike Evans. First down Bucs at their 45.

7:06 p.m.: Fournette gets 6 on the third carry, giving the Bucs a first down at their own 35.

7:05 p.m.: Leonard Fournette gets back-to-back carries, bringing up third-and-1 at the 29.

7:04 p.m.: Brady and Co. again take over at the 25 following a touchback on the kickoff.

7:01 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, CHIEFS. Harrison Butker’s 49-yard field goal is good! There’s your first points of the Super Bowl; Chiefs lead 3-0 with 5:14 left in the first quarter.

7 p.m.: Mahomes avoids the double corner blitz and throws a side-arm pass downfield, but the ball goes through Hill’s hands and hits him square in the face mask. Here comes a long field goal attempt.

6:57 p.m.: Mahomes gets a free play and nearly finds his receiver in the end zone, but it’s batted away at the last minute by Sean Murphy-Bunting. It’s a first down for the Chiefs at the Bucs’ 30 following the offsides by Jason Pierre-Paul.

6:56 p.m.: Tough running by the rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who powers through a couple of tackles for a (near) first down at the K.C. 48. Mahomes gets the first down on the following play with an 11-yard scramble to the Tampa 41.

6:55 p.m.: Tyreek Hill gets his first touch of the game, a toss left for 5 yards.

6:54 p.m.: Officials moved it back to the 38; still good field position.

6:51 p.m.: Bradley Pinion’s punt takes a Chiefs bounce to the Kansas City 42. Bucs are going to need to score soon; they can’t keep playing a (losing) battle of field position.

6:51 p.m.: Frank Clark gets to Brady for a 1-yard loss, bringing up fourth-and-14. Another punt upcoming.

6:49 p.m.: That’s followed immediately by a reverse to receiver Scotty Miller, who is tackled for a 3-yard loss by Frank Clark. Second-and-13 upcoming.

6:49 p.m.: Ronald Jones II gets the Bucs’ first first down of the game with a 13-yard burst to the right. Tampa Bay driving at the 33.

6:45 p.m.: Touchback on the 51-yard punt.

6:45 p.m.: Interesting play there; Bucs again dial up the pressure, but Mahomes overthrows a fairly wide-open Mecole Hardman downfield. Here comes the second punt of the day (and Kansas City’s second of the postseason).

6:44 p.m.: Chiefs again face third-and-8. Bucs doing a good job in coverage so far.

6:43 p.m.: Barrett again pressures from Mahomes’ right, but he scrambles for 11 yards out to the 47.

6:42 p.m.: Shaq Barrett blitzes off the edge and has a completely open lane to Mahomes, forcing him to throw it in the dirt. Third-and-7 upcoming now.

6:40 p.m.: A 40-yard punt is downed at the 33-yard line. That’s where Mahomes and Co. will take over.

6:39 p.m.: Tampa already facing third-and-6 after a couple short gains … and Brady’s throw to Chris Godwin in the flats is too long. They’ll go three-and-out to start the game.

6:38 p.m.: Bucs start their series at the 23. Super Bowl 55, here we go.

6:34 p.m.: The Chiefs call heads and win the toss, electing to defer to the second half. Brady and the Bucs get the ball first.

6:31 p.m.: Travis Kelce and Lavonte David taking the coin toss for the Chiefs and Bucs, respectively.

6:21 p.m.: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden give a pregame message to the Super Bowl contestants; they ask for a moment of silence for those who have died due to COVID-19. Raymond James Stadium is … notably loud.

6:14 p.m.: Also, for those who missed it: The playing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Alicia Keys, played before the Super Bowl:

6:09 p.m.: It’s about that time. Here are inactives for both teams: It seems the Bucs will have plenty of options ready with Antonio Brown, LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins and Cameron Brate all active:

Super Bowl start time

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 7
• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Super Bowl 55 between the Chiefs and Buccaneers kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET, which has become the usual time for Super Bowls. The game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 7, which is two weeks after the conference championship games determined that Kansas City and Tampa Bay would play in the season’s final game.

You should be able to find Super Bowl coverage all over your cable channels throughout the day, including morning coverage on NFL network and extended pregame shows on CBS before kickoff.

What channel is the Super Bowl on?

The 2021 Super Bowl will be broadcast on CBS, which has actually flipped its turn in the three-network rotation with NBC. NBC wanted to trade to broadcast the 2022 Super Bowl to pair its advertising with its 2022 Winter Olympics coverage.

This will be the 21st Super Bowl on CBS, the most of any channel. It will also be the last during the current broadcast agreement that expires after 2022 and featured the three-network rotation of CBS, NBC and Fox, which broadcasted last year’s game.