Scott Hanson explains Super Bowl credential mishap originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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In sports media, there’s a fundamental rule: never forget your credentials. Even Nick Saban, the most successful coach in college football, has faced this issue; he experienced a moment of denial at SEC Media Days last year in Dallas. This year, the same has happened to Scott Hanson, the prominent face of Sunday football.
Even Scott Hanson needs a Super Bowl credential
If you watch football on Sunday, you should know exactly who Scott Hanson is, the host of the NFL’s RedZone, which delivers a full day’s worth of football each Sunday. Speaking to Front Office Sports, Hanson explained his story of forgetting his credential on Tuesday at Radio Row.
“I hosted Super Bowl opening night last night,” Hanson began. “Well, I had a credential, but because I’m on camera, I don’t wear my credential around my neck. So I usually have an assistant that will wear my credential. We said goodnight. He ended up with my credential around his neck—at a different hotel. And I thought, ‘Oh, that credential was for opening night. They’ll bring me a new credential for today.’ No, that was my today credential as well. You’d think I haven’t been to 17 Super Bowls and that I’m a rookie.”
The NFL has tightened security protocols at this year’s Super Bowl, enforcing stricter credential checks across all media and team areas. Simply flashing a credential is no longer enough — every pass must be scanned for verification before entry. The league’s new system leaves little room for leniency, marking a clear shift toward a more controlled and accountable access process. A process that the league is hoping to shift to a full-facial recognition software within the next few years.
Hanson was able to get into Radio Row with the help of his agent, a bit luckier than Nick Saban, who had to return to his room to get his credential.
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