How the NFL Keeps Latin Alive

How the NFL Keeps Latin Alive: One Super Bowl at a Time

If you've ever watched the Super Bowl, you've seen it written as "Super Bowl LIX." But why not just call it "Super Bowl 59"? Turns out, the NFL has found a clever way of keeping a piece of Ancient Rome alive!

Roman numerals have been around since the 8th or 9th century BC. But how did the Ancient Romans come up with this concept?

One theory is that shepherds used tally sticks to count their cattle. They would carve notches into the sticks to represent higher values—no need to carry around a thousand of them.

Another theory is that the Ancient Romans used various hand gestures to represent numbers, specifically designed to efficiently indicate higher values.

Either way, Roman numerals were not only stylish, but they were practical too. Preserving the historical significance of Latin numerical notation helps us better understand how the ancient world continues to influence modern society.

So Why does the NFL Use Roman Numerals?

Now, back to football. The NFL started using Roman numerals for the Super Bowl to avoid a specific kind of confusion. Football seasons span two calendar years. For example, the 2024 NFL season begins in September 2024, but the Super Bowl is played in February 2025. If we called it "Super Bowl 2025," would that refer to the season… or the game itself?

Roman numerals cleared that right up.

Another reason the NFL uses Roman numerals is thanks to Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt. He believed that using Roman numerals would add a sense of grandeur and uniqueness to the event, making it feel more like a legendary event rather than just another football game.

Using Roman numerals in today’s modern society may seem odd, or even make you wonder, “Why?” But they've had a significant impact on the ancient world, which makes them meaningful even today.

So, the next time you watch the Super Bowl, remember: there’s a little piece of Ancient Rome on the field.

Sources:

Roman, in. “Why Is Super Bowl LIX in Roman Numerals? How to Read Roman Numerals, plus a History of Why the NFL Uses Them.” CBSSports.com, 2025, www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-is-super-bowl-lix-in-roman-numerals-how-to-read-roman-numerals-plus-a-history-of-why-the-nfl-uses-them/.

History Learning. “The History of Roman Numerals.” Historylearning.com, 2023, historylearning.com/a-history-of-ancient-rome/history-of-roman-numerals/.