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Super Bowl: Will ‘Super Sick Monday’ Be a National Holiday?

Right after Super Bowl Sunday, over 60 million Americans are likely to work with a hangover—or not show up at all. US lawmakers are now considering a new holiday.

Two men with foam hands and a football are watching a game on TV.

Millions of Americans could use a holiday after the championship. Will there be a day off for Super Bowl Monday?

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More than half of the 100 million people watching Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, will not be fit for work the next day, either working less or calling in sick.

According to a 2024 report, an estimated 16.1 million US employees planned to miss work on the Monday after the Super Bowl, with 6 million calling in sick despite not being ill. Additionally, workplace efficiency took a hit, as 28% of employees—roughly 45 million people—admitted to being less productive than usual. These figures have fueled ongoing debates about making the day an official holiday.

Tennessee Lawmakers Bring Bill

Some lawmakers have taken notice. In 2023, Tennessee legislators Joe Towns, Jr. and London Lamar, both Democrats, proposed replacing Columbus Day with a “Super Bowl Monday” holiday, highlighting the game’s cultural impact.

Towns introduced House Bill 1463, while Lamar introduced Senate Bill 1344 to the Tennessee General Assembly. The House Bill was halted in 2024, but the Senate Bill might still progress. At the federal level, there are widespread discussions—though no progress has yet been made.

The next step for Super Bowl Monday to become a holiday might be becoming a de facto holiday. This term describes an unofficial holiday widely accepted by employers and businesses, such as the day before Christmas in many parts of Europe when shops and businesses close early to allow people to prepare for Christmas Eve.

Reasons for a Holiday: Food and Exhaustion

Super Bowl Sunday is already considered one of the biggest food consumption days in the US, second only to Thanksgiving. Fans consume 1.42 billion chicken wings, 11 million pounds of chips, and over 325 million gallons of beer, contributing to post-game exhaustion and sluggishness the next day.

Public sentiment appears to support the idea of a holiday. Surveys indicate that 37% of US employees believe the Monday after the Super Bowl should be recognized as a national holiday.

And, with the Super Bowl’s continued popularity and the increasing acknowledgment of workplace productivity dips, “Super Sick Monday” may gain further traction in the years to come.

For now, it looks like we still need to set an alarm for Monday.