Adan Manzano, a renowned sports journalist recognized for his coverage of the Chiefs, tragically passed away on Wednesday while covering Super Bowl 2025 in New Orleans. At the time of his death, Manzano was employed by Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports, as confirmed by Steve Downing, the general manager of KGKC. The circumstances surrounding his death remain undisclosed, but Downing assured that the network is fully cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.
Manzano, 27, was a highly respected member of the sports journalism community. Downing characterized him as a “true professional and a rising star,” who consistently demonstrated excellence in his work. He further noted that Manzano’s enthusiasm for sports and his contributions to the local community would be deeply missed. The network has extended its heartfelt condolences to Manzano’s family and loved ones.
Manzano had been a part of the KGKC team since April 2021. Born and raised in Mexico City, he relocated to Topeka, Kansas, in 2018 and later graduated from Kansas State. He had covered the Chiefs’ last two Super Bowls and was celebrated for his insightful reporting and commitment to his profession.
In a previous interview before Super Bowl 2024, Manzano expressed his gratitude for the opportunities he had been given. He shared that he used to dream about his career but never expected his success to come so soon, describing it as a “blessing.”
Manzano’s final social media post featured a photo of Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes surrounded by reporters at the Super Bowl opening night. He captioned the image, “Mahomes vs el Mundo,” which translates to “Mahomes vs. the world.”
In a tragic turn of events, Manzano’s wife, Ashleigh Boyd, passed away in a car accident several months after last year’s Super Bowl. Their one-year-old daughter, who was in the car at the time, survived the crash. Boyd was a teacher at Lowman Hill Elementary School in Topeka. She had previously spoken about Manzano’s dedication to his work, noting that he often held multiple jobs to make ends meet.