Chicken wings are one of the most iconic game day foods in America.
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Super Bowl Sunday is known to be one of the most glutinous days of the year across the United States, with Americans consuming roughly 2,000 calories in the three hours of the championship NFL game. Powering that snacky consumption? Chicken wings.
On January 30, 2026, the National Chicken Council (NCC) released its annual Chicken Wing Report, projecting Americans to eat 1.48 billion chicken wings watching the Patriots and Seahawks compete for the Lombardi Trophy. 2026’s chicken wing estimate shows an increase of about 10 million more chicken wings consumed than the 1.38 billion wings enjoyed during last year’s game.
“Football is for food,” said NCC spokesperson Tom Super. “Especially when it comes to the Super Bowl, where wings rule the roost. For football fans looking to add protein to their spreads at an affordable price, wings are king of Super Bowl menus.”
Jayden Higgins #81 of the Houston Texans eats chicken wings after winning the game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
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During the four-week NFL playoff season in late December and early January, chicken wing sales surged nationally 19.8% versus the same period last year, with spend on chicken wings up just 11.4% versus the prior period. Retail prices for fresh chicken wings are down 2.8% year-over-year, with the average retail price at $3.47 per pound, according to Wells Fargo’s Super Bowl Food Report. Part of the decrease in cost is due to U.S. broiler producers boosting domestic chicken production by 2.2% in 2025, which was possible in part due to lower feed costs, according to the USDA.
And yes, protein maxing is very in. Those looking to serve fresh veg at their Super Bowl viewings may see a higher price tag. Wells Fargo reports produce price hikes including cherry tomatoes up 2%, celery up 2.6% and broccoli and cauliflower up 4%.
What 1.48 Billion Chicken Wings Looks Like
Trouble envisioning 1.48 billion drumettes and flats? A billion is tough number to mentally process (this counts for money too), but a few visuals may help explain how many chicken wings almost a billion and a half is.
According to the NCC, 1.48 billion chicken wings, laid end to end, would stretch about 27 times from The Patriot’s Home at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to The Seahawks’ stadium at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. That’s a 2487 mile trip one-way, times 27.
Need a bigger visual? 1.48 billion chicken wings could circle planet Earth almost three times. That’s an equator three stacks of wings deeps!
Hot wings and celery ready to go for the Super Bowl
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To consume this many chicken wings, a person would have to eat one wing every 30 seconds since the fall of the Roman Empire. No time machine? Start now, and eat one wing every 30 seconds and you’ll finish around the year 3430.
Logistically, moving this many wing would require 3,400 fully loaded semi-trucks to move them all, creating a 40-mile long truck parade of just wings.
The good news? Individuals don’t have to worry about those logistics. With over 100 million omnivorous viewers predicted to tune into the big game and snack, Americans will eat, on average, just four chicken wings each.
“Wings will be available in plenty, they’ll be affordable, and they’ll be delicious,” Super added.