The Super Bowl coin toss is a symbolic event held before the game begins, determining which team receives the opening kickoff and which direction they will defend.
Here’s a look at the Super Bowl coin toss history and statistics:
| Statistic | Value | Source |
|—|—|—|
| Total Super Bowls | 59 | |
| Heads Outcomes | 28 times | |
| Tails Outcomes | 30 times | |
| Longest Heads Streak | 5 Super Bowls (XLIII-XLVII) | |
| Longest Tails Streak | 4 Super Bowls (three times) | |
| Toss Winner Also Won Game | 27 times | |
| Toss Winner Also Lost Game | 32 times | |
| Most Coin Toss Wins (Team) | Cowboys (6) | |
Important Considerations:
- 50/50 Probability: Each coin toss is an independent event with a 50/50 chance of landing on heads or tails, regardless of past results.
- Strategic Choice: While the coin toss is random, the winning team has a choice to make: kick off, receive the kickoff, or defer the decision to the second half.
- Deferring the Choice: Most teams now opt to defer the choice, meaning they will choose to receive the ball to start the second half, allowing them to make halftime adjustments and start with possession.
- Betting Popularity: The coin toss has become a popular proposition bet for many sports bettors, though the odds are typically set at +100 for each side.
- No Advantage: Despite the speculation and betting interest, winning the coin toss does not provide a statistical advantage in winning the game itself.
- Recent Trend: Interestingly, in the last 15 Super Bowls, the team that lost the coin toss has won the game ten times (66.7% win percentage). However, the [Kansas City Chiefs] bucked a recent trend by winning the coin toss in Super Bowls LVII and LVIII, and then going on to win both games.
Who won the coin toss in the Super Bowl?
Great question! The Kansas City Chiefs were the away team for Super Bowl 59. That meant they got to call the toss on Sunday. And they were correct with Chris Jones’ choice of tails.
What time is the coin flip for the Super Bowl?
The coin toss typically happens three minutes before the game begins, adding a brief but important ritual before the real action starts. Usually, the coin is a standard quarter, but sometimes referees bring custom coins or even special Super Bowl-themed designs.
What does the coin toss mean in the Super Bowl?
Great question! When the coin toss is called, the winning team can pick whether they want to kick or receive the ball to start off the game. Oftentimes, the winning team will let the losing team pick instead.
Was coin toss heads or tails Super Bowl 2025?
Since the Chiefs are technically the visiting team in this year’s Super Bowl, they called the toss between them and the Eagles and ended up winning after calling tails. Kansas City chose to defer to the second half, so the Eagles will get the ball first.