Fox decided it needed to update what had previously been a perfectly reasonable and utilitarian scorebug — the running scoreboard/clock/stat sheet that shows up on the screen as a football game wears on. And, for some reason, the network decided the right time to do that was the 2025 Super Bowl.
That meant viewers of the most-watched broadcast of the season were treated to massive, all-caps “KC” and “PHI” blocks that ate up the bottom 10 percent of their screens. While the old “Fox Box” took up a small top corner of the display, this was intrusive, unignorable and, importantly, ugly.
Behold: the minor convenience of never having to ask anyone the score and the frustration of on-screen graphics larger than most closed captions:
It’s so big, you guys. Reviews on social media were overwhelmingly negative.
HORRIBLE NEW SCOREBUG JUST DROPPED
— victoria zeller (preorder my book) (@dirtbagqueer.rocks) February 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Wow that is the worst scorebug I’ve ever seen!
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger.bsky.social) February 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
WHAT IS THIS SCOREBUG
— Chris Vannini (@chrisvannini.com) February 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Fox scorebug looks weird
— JP Acosta (@acosta32jp.bsky.social) February 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
First take of the night: Hard no on this scorebug!
— Emma Baccellieri (@emmabaccellieri.bsky.social) February 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
wow I hate this scorebug
— obnoxiously pitt girl (@opg.bsky.social) February 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
At that size, I think it becomes less of a scorebug and more of a scorebird
— Matt Brown (@mattbrown.bsky.social) February 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
FOX’s strategy to have everybody criticize the scorebug instead of Tom Brady is so far paying off.
— Bryan Fischer (@bryandfischer.bsky.social) February 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Ok, I am NOT a fan of this Fox Super Bowl scorebug. At all.
— Wade Minter (@wademinter.com) February 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
