A friendly NFL rivalry between TODAY show co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin led to an unforgettable on-air moment after Guthrie’s Philadelphia Eagles defeated Melvin’s Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game on January 26.
As part of a bet made ahead of the game, the losing side agreed to wear a temporary tattoo of the winner’s face in a prominent spot for one week. With the Eagles advancing to the Super Bowl, Melvin was the one to fulfill the wager.
On January 27, TODAY show co-host Carson Daly applied the tattoo—an image of Guthrie wearing an Eagles cap with the team’s logo—onto the back of Melvin’s neck during a live broadcast.
“I haven’t even seen the picture,” Melvin said with a laugh, adding that Guthrie also presented him with a Philadelphia Eagles jersey featuring star running back Saquon Barkley’s name.
“Let this be a lesson: Don’t gamble,” he joked.
The lighthearted bet was part of a viewer-driven contest, with fans voting on what the losing anchor would have to endure. Other options included drinking from a shoe—a practice known as a “shoey”—or wearing a sign in the New York City subway reading, “Ask me about the bet I lost.”
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills to win the AFC Championship and will face the Eagles in Super Bowl 59 on February 9 in New Orleans. The matchup marks a chance for Philadelphia to seek redemption after a narrow 38-35 loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57 in 2023.
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