Adan Manzano, a sports journalist known for his coverage of the Chiefs, passed away on Wednesday while on assignment for Super Bowl 2025 in New Orleans. He was working for Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports at the time, according to Steve Downing, the general manager of KGKC. The cause of his death has not been disclosed, but Downing stated that the network is fully cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.
Manzano, who was 27, was a respected figure in the sports journalism community. Downing described him as a “true professional and a rising star,” who consistently demonstrated excellence in his work. He added that Manzano’s passion for sports and his contributions to the local community would be greatly missed. The network extended its deepest condolences to Manzano’s family and loved ones.
Manzano had been with KGKC since April 2021. Originally from Mexico City, he moved to Topeka, Kansas, in 2018 and later graduated from Kansas State. He had covered the Chiefs’ last two Super Bowls and was known for his insightful reporting and dedication to his craft.
In an interview before Super Bowl 2024, Manzano expressed his gratitude for the opportunities he had been given. “I used to dream about this but I never expected that it was going to come that soon,” he said. “It’s just 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.”
Tragically, Manzano’s wife, Ashleigh Boyd, died 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, saying, “There’s been times when he’s had two or three jobs to make ends meet. And now knowing he gets to go out there and do what he loves and what he’s good at, it’s just the best feelings ever.”