Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones wiped away tears during the Super Bowl 2025 performance of the national anthem.
Moments earlier, Jones had been spotted racing over to shake President Donald Trump’s hand as visited the field during player warm-ups.
Jones has cried during every national anthem performance during the Chiefs playoff games this postseason – Kansas City fans believe Jones’s tears are a good luck omen.
This time, he was clearly prepared for the emotions to get the better of him.
The last two occasions, he wiped away tears with his bare hands but on the night in New Orleans, he had a tissue with him.
Trump made history by traveling to New Orleans for the game – he is the first sitting President to have ever attended a Super Bowl.
Chiefs star Chris Jones cried during the national anthem before the Super Bowl began
Moments earlier, Jones made a point of greeting President Trump by shaking his hand
Speaking in an interview with Super Bowl broadcaster Fox before the game, Trump predicted that the Chiefs would emerge victorious against the Philadelphia Eagles on the night.
Trump said that the relentless winning record of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes made him opt for Kansas City but predicted a close game overall.
Trump was seen in the stands alongside his daughter Ivanka for the national anthem itself, while Jones and his teammates took up their usual position on the side of the field.
But while Jones, 30, was clearly moved by the performance rom Jon Batiste, plenty of fans watching on deeply disliked the rendition at Caesars Superdome.
The American singer-songwriter was given the honor of singing the Star-Spangled Banner ahead of the Chiefs-Eagles showdown in New Orleans, but fans felt he got the tone of the occasion completely wrong.
Taking to X, one viewer wrote: ‘Sing the national anthem like the national anthem. It’s not a jazz improv song! This is shameful.’
Another added: ‘I think you disrespect the national anthem by trying to jazz it up. Sorry, but not really sorry.’
