Super Bowl LX has barely wrapped up, but fans have already turned their attention to the next one. Just hours after the Seattle Seahawks dismantled the New England Patriots to lift this year’s Lombardi Trophy, an unofficial Super Bowl LXI logo began circulating online. And that was enough for social media to spiral into full conspiracy mode.
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Los Angeles is set to host Super Bowl 61 at SoFi Stadium next year. ESPN will telecast the big game for the first time in its history via a simulcast with ABC. So, curiosity around the next edition of the league’s biggest event was already bubbling.
And, when the Super Bowl LXI logo flashed during an ESPN broadcast after the final game of the season on Sunday, fans were convinced something had leaked. According to multiple screenshots shared across social media, the logo features a deep orange sky as the backdrop, with the foreground dominated by a bright blue, almost teal-colored wave.
The wave-like design was quickly interpreted as a nod to the beach of Los Angeles, while the sunset tones aligned with Southern California’s coastal hues. But visual aesthetics weren’t the end of it.
Almost instantly, fans began connecting the color palette with teams. One user wrote, “That couldn’t be more Cincinnati and Jacksonville, lol.” Another said, “The Miami dolphins versus the Denver Broncos ?”
A third fan, meanwhile, kept it simple: “Packers vs Broncos.” Others, however, were far less convinced, pushing back against the entire act of assigning teams. “The logo theory died this year,” a fan bluntly posted.
the logo theory died this year
— Nolan Zeigler (@NolanZeigler2) February 9, 2026
This debate exists, and is raging now, because of what’s known as the Super Bowl logo color theory. It revolves around a belief that the primary colors used in the logo hint at which two teams will make it all the way to February’s game.
Over the past decade, fans have pointed to several coincidences. From Super Bowl LVI’s orange-and-yellow logo leading to a Rams-Bengals matchup to Super Bowl LVII’s green-and-red palette matching Eagles vs. Chiefs. Even last year’s red-and-green logo lined up with another Eagles-Chiefs showdown.
Super Bowl LX, however, broke the theory almost. The logo for the 60th edition was one of the most vibrant in recent memory, featuring the Golden Gate Bridge surrounded by red, blue, neon yellow, and green. With so many colors in play, almost any matchup could be assumed.
However, fans retroactively pointed to the green and blue tones, which align with the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, keeping the theory alive… just barely. That’s why the LXI logo “leak” has sparked immediate chaos. It has enough orange, blue, and ambiguity to let imaginations run wild.
The NFL has consistently pushed back on the idea that logos predict outcomes. Designers involved in the process have previously explained that Super Bowl branding is finalized 18 to 24 months in advance, long before teams, rosters, or playoff paths are even remotely clear. Creative teams also work years ahead to ensure consistency across tickets, stadium branding, and merchandise.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has also addressed “scripted league” accusations in the past, calling them “ridiculous”, stating that social media gives such theories new life every season. But clearly, that hasn’t stopped fans from guessing. And it looks like they won’t stop anytime soon.
