Have you ever played hooky from work the day after the Super Bowl? If you have, you’re not alone.
New data from career expert TopResume reveals that nearly one in five U.S. workers (18.45%) have called in sick following Super Bowl celebrations, and of these workers, 7.56% admit they’ve done it more than once.
And this trend shows no sign of slowing.
Nearly a third of employees (28.92%) who’ve previously called in sick to work the day after the Super Bowl admit they plan to call in sick again after the Big Game this Sunday, while another 32.53% say their decision will depend on how late the night goes. Only one-quarter (25.30%) of those who’ve previously called in sick plan to return to work as normal next Monday.
Gen Z leads the “Super-Sick Monday” trend
The research revealed that younger Americans are driving much of the post-Super Bowl absenteeism, with Gen Z emerging as the most likely generation to call in sick:
- More than one in four Gen Z workers (27.45%) have previously called in sick after Super Bowl Sunday.
- 12.42% admit they’ve done so more than once.
- 6.54% already plan to call in sick after this year’s Super Bowl, and another 18.30% admitted they’ll decide based on how late the night goes.
Millennial workers follow closely behind
The research revealed that millennials also show high levels of post-Super Bowl “sickness”:
- More than one-fifth (21.17%) have called in sick after Super Bowl celebrations.
- Nearly one in 10 (8.64%) have done so more than once.
- 8.64% plan to call in sick this year.
- 8.36% will decide depending on the night.
Gen X and boomers less likely to skip work
The research revealed that older generations are far less likely to take a Super Bowl sick day:
- Only 13.08% of Gen X and 6.82% of baby boomer workers have called in sick after Super Bowl celebrations.
- While 3.49% of Gen X plan to do so this year, only 1% of boomer professionals feel the same.
- 2.62% of Gen X workers will decide depending on how late the night goes in comparison to 4.55% of boomers.
Men are more than twice as likely as women to call in sick
The new research also revealed a clear gender divide in post-Super Bowl absence. Nearly a quarter of male professionals (24.31%) admitted to having called in sick after the game, compared to only 13.86% of women.
This pattern continues amongst repeat offenders: 10.89% of men admitted to doing so more than once, more than double the 4.95% of women who said the same.
A staggering 9.11% of men plan to call in sick after this year’s Super Bowl—nearly three times the share of women who said the same (3.37%). A further 11.14% of men say that they’ll decide depending on how late the night goes, more than double the rate of women (4.95%).
“For many Americans, the Monday after the Super Bowl comes with a real post-game hangover, and I don’t just mean from the snacks and cocktails,” Amanda Augustine, resident career expert for TopResume and a Certified Professional Career Coach, said in a statement. “It’s a mix of late nights, disrupted routines, and for some, a case of the post-game blues. Instead of forcing employees to power through, employers can get ahead of it by offering simple, creative support, like reminding staff about floating holidays, encouraging half-days for die-hard fans, or even providing small perks like breakfast or coffee to help people ease back into the work week.
“On the employee side, honesty and planning go a long way,” she added. “If you know Sunday night will be a late one, consider using PTO—even for a half day—or shift meetings and deadlines ahead of time. Save lower-lift administrative tasks for Monday and tackle your more focused work later in the week. A little foresight can help you enjoy the game without starting your work week in recovery mode.”
This survey was conducted by TopResume in January 2026, gathering insights from 900 full-time U.S. workers.
Photo caption: Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025.
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