Kirk Herbstreit isn't afraid to go against the grain. The veteran ESPN college football voice and Amazon Prime NFL analyst has just dropped a Super Bowl 61 prediction that's raising eyebrows across the sports world.
Herbstreit, who calls Thursday Night Football alongside Al Michaels, took to X with a simple but explosive message: “I’d take em vs the field.” The “em” in question? The Kansas City Chiefs.
That's right—Herbstreit is betting the house on Patrick Mahomes and company to hoist the Lombardi Trophy next February, even though the Chiefs missed the playoffs in 2025 and Mahomes is coming off a torn ACL suffered late last season. It's a bold stance for a team many have already written off.
But Herbstreit isn't alone in his conviction. His ESPN colleague Pat McAfee also chimed in with strong support for Kansas City. “So it begins.. a young GOAT being overlooked & doubted for the first time in a long time. Coming off an injury.. Is The Chiefs still The Chiefs? I’m saying they ARE,” McAfee wrote on X. He added that the team's chemistry is “very HIGH,” referencing a recent 7-on-7 session where Mahomes went a perfect 5-of-5, including a deep strike to Omari Evans.
The Chiefs certainly have their doubters. They're an aging roster with a superstar quarterback recovering from a devastating injury. But Herbstreit and McAfee see something others don't—a team that's been counted out before and thrived on the doubt.
This isn't the first time Herbstreit has made headlines for his NFL takes. He's also been vocal about his love for international soccer, even penning a love letter to the World Cup that turned non-fans into believers. And he's not shy about comparing the Super Bowl to other global spectacles—he recently argued that the World Cup halftime show crushes the Super Bowl in terms of fan unity.
Herbstreit's pick also adds fuel to the ongoing debate about where the Super Bowl belongs. Hall of Famer Michael Irvin has expressed concern that the big game could eventually move to streaming after the NFL's recent deals with platforms like Amazon Prime.
For now, though, Herbstreit is all in on the Chiefs. The 2026 season is still months away, but the prediction is already one of the boldest we've seen. Whether it pays off or backfires spectacularly, one thing is certain: Kirk Herbstreit is not playing it safe.
