Amanda Gorman: The First Poet to Recite at the Super Bowl

Amanda Gorman recited an original poem at the Super Bowl Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a part of the pregame ceremony for Super Bowl LV, Gorman read a poem that honoured the heroes of the pandemic and mentioned the country’s losses.

Amanda Gorman is the first poet to ever recite at a Super Bowl Game. The NFL announced on January 27 that Gorman would read a poem as a homage to the game’s honorary captains, a group of normal citizens, doing good work during the pandemic.

“So while we honor them,” she said of frontline workers, “It is they, every day, who honor us.”

Gorman’s poem “Chorus of the Captains” celebrated three honorary captains during the pandemic — Pittsburgh Marine veteran James Martin who works with at risk kids:

“James has felt the wounds of warfare,
But this warrior still shares
His home with at-risk kids.
During Covid, he’s even lent a hand,
Live-streaming football for family and fans.”

The Los Angeles teacher who helped his students secure internet connection during remote learning, Trimaine Davis:

“Trimaine is an educator who works nonstop,
Providing his community with hotspots,
Laptops, and tech workshops,
So his students have all the tools”

and Tampa ICU nurse manager Suzie Dorner:

“Suzie is the ICU nurse manager at a Tampa Hospital.
Her chronicles prove that even in tragedy, hope is possible.
She lost her grandmothers to the pandemic,
And fights to save other lives in the ICU battle zone,
Defining the frontline heroes risking their lives for our own.”

Gorman rose in popularity when she became the youngest poet selected to perform at a presidential inauguration. Gorman said that her agreement to read at the Super bowl predated her invitation to recite at the inauguration.