Security measures will be heightened for this year’s Super Bowl after the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans.
On Feb. 9, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off with the Philadelphia Eagles at the New Orleans Superdome, where thousands of fans will gather to watch the final game of the football season.
Without going into detail on the specifics of the measures, NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier told reporters on Wednesday that there will be thousands of law enforcement officials circulating from state, local, and federal agencies.
“In the weeks since the New Year’s Day attack we have asked for and received some additional law enforcement support,” she said. “And we’ve really polished up a robust intelligence information-sharing plan with all of our partners.”
At 3:15 a.m., on Jan. 1, 2025, a suspect killed 14 people and injured up to 35 by driving a truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s on Bourbon Street.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar of Texas was identified as the suspect in the attack. He died in a shootout with police after he fired at officers.
He was believed to have rented his Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck in Houston on Dec. 30. He then drove to New Orleans while posting several videos on social media in which he proclaimed his support for ISIS, stating that he joined the terrorist group in 2024.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry amended a state-of-emergency order initially issued on Jan. 1, 2025. The executive order allows for emergency assistance for potential disaster relief to prepare for the scenario of another attack during the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.
“Super Bowl LIX is the perfect opportunity to showcase New Orleans as the world class city it is,” Landry wrote in a post on social platform X. “In order to do this, we must prioritize the safety of every single visitor and resident in the city.”
Landry said in a Wednesday press conference that the executive order sets up an “enhanced security zone” around the French Quarter in addition to the one surrounding the Superdome.
The Department of Homeland Security will guard the zones with strict checkpoints to prevent any weapons or explosive devices from entering.
This means no ice coolers will be allowed, Landry said.
Bags, such as purses, are subject to being searched, he said.
If one refuses to have his or her bag searched, entry into the enhanced security zone will not be permitted, he said.
“We want cooperation with the public in balancing freedom to enjoy the Quarter with the need for these heightened security measures based upon the threat level that we saw on January 1,” he said.
Tom Ozimek and Reuters contributed to this report.
