How could the Chiefs’ red uniform give them an advantage in the Super Bowl?

Chiefs are the home team in the Super Bowl

Chiefs won the Super Bowl LIV wearing red jerseys against the 49ers.LAPRESSE

The Kansas City Chiefs have opted for red jerseys for Super Bowl LVIII next week, a choice based on their previous victory against the same opponent four years ago. The decision is also rooted in the psychological advantage that the color red may offer, drawing from millennia of human behavior.

In a clash of reds in Las Vegas, the Chiefs are set to face the 49ers. When the two teams met in Super Bowl LIV in 2020, it marked the first time in history that both teams wore red jerseys. As the designated home team, the Chiefs chose to stick with their red tops, which had previously propelled them to victory in the playoffs and their sole Super Bowl win in 1970.

The Chiefs‘ decision to once again don red jerseys as the designated home team has put the 49ers back in white tops, a color they have worn in three previous Super Bowls. Notably, their only Super Bowl loss in white came against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

According to color expert Leatrice Eiseman, red symbolizes activity, assertiveness, and power. She explains: “If you adorn yourself in red, if you use red, psychologically that can give you the feeling that you are more powerful.” Additionally, Russell Hill, a professor of evolutionary anthropology, highlights the significance of red in signaling dominance and aggression across various animal species.

Mahomes has lost a Super Bowl wearing red jersey

Despite the psychological impact of wearing red, the physiological effects remain less clear. Hill notes that while wearing red may have a psychological impact, there is no conclusive evidence of its influence on physiological preparedness.

The Chiefs’ previous experience with red jerseys in Super Bowl LV resulted in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, studies have shown that wearing red can lead to perceptions of increased aggression and dominance, as well as self-reported feelings of confidence. This aligns with Hill’s observations about higher levels of testosterone and psychological priming for competition associated with the color red.

As the Chiefs and the 49ers gear up for their upcoming showdown, the significance of red in both psychological and physiological contexts adds an intriguing layer to the anticipation of Super Bowl LVIII.