Super Bowl LIV was meant to be a night of excitement, celebration, and unforgettable moments. Adan Manzano, a young and promising broadcast journalist, was there to cover it all.
But instead of reporting from the bright lights of the stadium, his name is now making headlines for a heartbreaking reason.
Third year covering the Super Bowl
Adan Manzano, a talented broadcast journalist, was in New Orleans covering Super Bowl LIV for both Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports.
He lived and breathed sports, pouring his heart into covering both the games and his community with unmatched dedication.
The excitement of being part of a historic Super Bowl, especially with The Kansas City Chiefs striving to three-peat, was a dream come true for him. As Telemundo Kansas City’s only journalist in New Orleans, he embodied what it meant to be fully invested in his work.
This was his third straight year covering the Super Bowl, having previously worked in the broadcast booth. In 2024, he was promoted to sideline reporter, a moment he couldn’t have imagined happening so quickly. ”I used to dream about this, but I never expected it would come so soon. It’s just a blessing,” he shared.
Found him unresponsive
But tragically, the 27-year-old was found dead on February 6, 2025. He was found unresponsive in his hotel in Kenner, La., just outside of New Orleans, NOLA.com reported. On Thursday, February 7, the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s office confirmed that Adan Manzano was found dead at a hotel in Kenner.
The office stated that “there were no obvious signs of trauma to his body.”
Although an autopsy has been conducted, officials have stated that the final cause of death is still pending additional testing.
KGKC Telemundo Kansas City confirmed the heartbreaking news, honoring Manzano’s promising career and the incredible potential he displayed in his work.
“Adan was an exceptional professional and a rising star whose dedication and talent reflected excellence in his work,” the news station said. “We will deeply miss Adan, his passion for sports and the contributions he made to the local community.”
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas also honored the life of Adan Manzano, saying, ”Adan was so young and full of energy, and truly covered almost every event in the community. So very sad to see this news. My condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.”
Dedicated sideline reporter
Adan Manzano, originally from Mexico City according to Daily Mail, graduated from Kansas State University before making his mark with the Chiefs Television Crew.
He joined the team as a sideline reporter at the start of the previous NFL season, as reported by Fox affiliate KCTV. The young journalist was widely praised for his sideline reporting on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Spanish-language broadcasts, as well as his role as the play-by-play announcer for the KC Current.
Bringing the game of football to a Spanish-speaking audience was something Adan Manzano excelled at – and was truly passionate about.
“The Kansas City Chiefs are growing so fast in Mexico City,” Manzano told NBC affiliate KSNT-TV last year and added:
“Bringing that to the Spanish community because the Hispanic and Latinos — they’ve supported soccer culturally and historically, but there’s always a space where football can be the favorite sport. That’s why I think it’s important.”
In a heartfelt tribute, KGKC Telemundo Kansas City shared, ”He will be greatly missed by our TICO Family and will live on in our hearts and memories.”
The station also said that they were “cooperating with authorities as they investigate this tragic event.”
Devoted father to a young daughter
In his personal life, Adan Manzano was a devoted father to his young daughter, Eleanor. Tragically, Eleanor has now lost both of her parents.
Her mother, Ashleigh LeeAnn Boyd Manzano-Aguilar, passed away on April 11, 2024, at just 24 years old.
She was involved in a multiple-vehicle crash southwest of Topeka, leaving an infant passenger in her car with serious injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was also rushed to the hospital.
In an obituary, Ashleigh LeeAnn Boyd Manzano-Aguilar was remembered as “the kindest, most caring, and beautiful person.” Her radiant personality was described as contagious, always lighting up any room she entered. She was a true ray of sunshine, constantly wearing a smile that brightened the lives of everyone around her.
Adan Manzano also had a special Instagram description for his late wife: “Always in my heart @ashleighboyd37 ❤️🕊.”
Manzano deeply cherished his baby girl, who was just 15 months old when her mother passed away. Even when his daughter wasn’t with him on the field, he always found ways to include her in his life.
At the first media game hosted by Kansas City Current, he shared a collage of pictures, one of which showed him wearing a jersey with Eleanor’s name on the back. He captioned the post, “There is this girl who stole my heart and something tells me I am going to love her forever🎀.”
The loss of Adan Manzano is a heart-wrenching tragedy that has left a void in both the world of sports journalism and the lives of those who knew him.
His passion for his work, his love for his community, and his devotion to his daughter will never be forgotten. As we remember his vibrant spirit and remarkable career, our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who were touched by his presence. May his legacy continue to inspire and his memory live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
