Jon Bon Jovi Explains His Connection to Both Superbowl Challengers

Jon Bon Jovi, loves him some football.

The New Jersey native adores the sport so much so much he bought an arena team (Philadelphia Soul) and always finds a way into the VIP areas of big games... and it doesn't get any bigger than the Superbowl.

This year, the Bowl will feature the New York Giants battling it out with their East Coast rivals, the New England Patriots. Jon is a Giants season ticket holder and he frequents many Patriots games too. It's likely he'll visit the sidelines of both teams during the championship, which goes down at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 5.

Back in 2007, the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. With close connections to both teams, the singer's heart will ultimately go with his childhood heroes. Jon explained his conflict in a 2008 interview with ESPN:

"Yea, I actually met Bill [Belichick, Patriots coach] when he was the D-Coordinator the Giants. I stayed home for the Super Bowl, watched it at my apartment in New York. It's tough, because I am friends with Bill, but I've been going to Giants games forever. I say to my best friend, "At 6:18pm, I'll tell you which way I'm gonna root.

"Head coaches may come and go, but the New York Giants are forever. So, I come out of my room at 6pm wearing my Giants jersey, and I sat there like the rest of New York celebrating with the team."

Bon Jovi performed at the opening ceremony for the new $1.6 billion Giants-Jets Stadium back in 2009, and their frontman helped kick off the 2011 football season by performing 'America the Beautiful' during the NBC special 'NFL Kickoff 2011' back in September. The song closed the show and served as a special tribute to first responders to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks.

The Superbowl will be telecast on NBC on Feb. 5, with Madonna scheduled to perform during the halftime show.