At first Super Bowl without Norma Hunt, Gracie Hunt wears ‘Mimi’s’ dress on red carpet

Gracie Hunt wowed on another red carpet Thursday, this time at the NFL Honors ceremony before the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. She glowed like a trophy in a shimmery Tom Ford dress that happened to be pre-worn by someone she loved.

“Wearing Mimi Norma’s @TomFord gown that she wore to NFL Honors at Super Bowl 50,” Hunt wrote on Instagram, where she posted photos of the night.

“Mimi” is Norma Hunt, mother of Gracie’s father, Chiefs CEO and chairman Clark Hunt, and wife of team founder Lamar Hunt.

The “first lady of football” — “Mrs. Norma” to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes — died last June at age 85 after attending all 57 Super Bowls, the only woman to do so.

So her family is in Las Vegas without her this week, where the San Francisco 49rs will take another shot at beating the Kansas City Chiefs for the Lombardi Trophy.

Chiefs officials have brought up her name in interviews with the media in Vegas. The Chiefs have made it clear that they want this win for her. Family members have revealed that she will be honored at the game Sunday.

“For this being the first Super Bowl she hasn’t been to, to bring this home for the Hunt family would mean the world,” star tight end Travis Kelce has said.

Family members are sharing bittersweet feelings about this big game with their social media followers. Gracie and her mother, Tavia Hunt, have both written how difficult the next few days will be.

“This will be the first Super Bowl without her as a spectator and our first without her by our side,” Tavia wrote on her Instagram Wednesday. “She had seen all 57 and had an indirect hand in naming the game itself.

“Our team has worn her NKH (Norma Knoebel Hunt) patch all season, and will wear it in the game on Sunday. There will be a special tribute to Norma and it will definitely be an emotional day for us.”

Writing on National Women in Sports Day on Wednesday, Gracie said that “growing up watching Mimi’s love of football and dedication to her Chiefs is part of why I love this game so much.

“Her greatest legacy was more than a lifetime of Sundays. It was how she loved other people.

“Sunday won’t be the same without you Mimi.”

Earlier this week, Gracie posted a photo of her “Mimi,” in game-day Chiefs red, walking with escorts through Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium at Super Bowl LIV, where the Chiefs beat the 49ers.

You can’t see her face as the camera follows from behind. But Chiefs fans recognized “Mimi,” that chic blond hair, the expensive clothing, the elegant stride.