96 Fun Facts About Super Bowl

Which team won four Super Bowls in six seasons during the 1970s?

The Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowls IX, X, XIII and XIV between the 1974 and 1979 seasons, then added two more titles in 2006 and 2009.

What is the silver prize handed to the Super Bowl winner officially called?

It honors the coach who won the first two Super Bowls and five NFL championships before the merger.

Who ran for a record three touchdowns in Super Bowl XXXII while playing through a migraine?

Davis had blurred vision from the migraine yet rushed for 157 yards and was named MVP.

Along with Miami, which city hosted eleven of the first 59 Super Bowls?

Half of the first 60 Super Bowls were played in just three metro areas: Miami, New Orleans and Los Angeles.

In what year was the first Super Bowl played?

The game was played on January 15 and remains the only Super Bowl that failed to sell out.

Which halftime show performer famously played 'Purple Rain' in the actual rain during Super Bowl XLI?

Prince closed his Super Bowl XLI halftime set in Miami with 'Purple Rain' as a downpour soaked the field, the first Super Bowl played in rain.

Which team lost four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991 to 1994?

The Bills' four straight AFC titles under Marv Levy and four straight losses (XXV through XXVIII) are both records that still stand.

Who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history?

McGee, a backup who expected not to play, made a one-handed grab and ran 37 yards past Fred Williamson for the score.

Which company debuted its iconic '1984' commercial during Super Bowl XVIII?

Apple's '1984' ad, directed by Ridley Scott, introduced the Macintosh and aired nationally only once, during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII.

Which coach was the first to win six Super Bowls as a head coach?

Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI and LIII), passing Chuck Noll's four.

What famous Super Bowl XLII play ended with the Giants' QB heaving the ball to David Tyree?

The Helmet Catch in Super Bowl XLII saw David Tyree pin the ball against his helmet while falling backward, keeping alive the drive that led to the Giants' stunning 17-14 upset of the undefeated Patriots.

Which quarterback guaranteed victory before Super Bowl III and then delivered?

Joe Namath of the New York Jets famously guaranteed victory before Super Bowl III, then led the Jets to a shocking 16-7 upset of the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in January 1969.

Whose 2004 halftime performance ended with the infamous "wardrobe malfunction"?

Janet Jackson's Super Bowl XXXVIII show in Houston ended with Justin Timberlake tearing away part of her costume, prompting an FCC indecency crackdown and delays on later live broadcasts.

In Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots overcame a 25-point deficit to beat which team?

In Super Bowl LI (February 2017) the Patriots trailed the Atlanta Falcons 28–3 in the third quarter, then forced the first overtime in Super Bowl history and won.

Which player was the first to be named Super Bowl MVP five times?

Tom Brady won Super Bowl MVP with the Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, LI) and with the Buccaneers (LV), at 43 the oldest winner at the time.

Which team won the first two Super Bowls?

The lopsided wins over the AFL champions left some owners worried the merger would look one-sided, until the Jets' upset in Super Bowl III.

Who caught Joe Montana's game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of Super Bowl XXIII?

John Taylor caught Joe Montana's 10-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds left, capping a 92-yard drive that beat Cincinnati 20–16 in Super Bowl XXIII.

How much did a 30-second Super Bowl commercial cost in Super Bowl I (1967)?

A 30-second spot in Super Bowl I cost about $37,500, a price that had climbed past $7 million by the mid-2020s.

Which team completed a perfect season by winning Super Bowl VII?

The 1972 Miami Dolphins finished 17-0, capped by a 14–7 win over Washington in Super Bowl VII, the first NFL team to go through a season and postseason unbeaten.

Who made the goal-line interception that sealed the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XLIX?

Rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson's pass at the goal line with 20 seconds left, sealing the Patriots' 28-24 victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.

Which singer performed the halftime show at Super Bowl LIV in Miami, alongside Jennifer Lopez?

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez co-headlined the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in February 2020 in Miami, delivering a Latin music-infused performance that drew over 100 million viewers.

What was the final score of Super Bowl XLVIII, which opened with a safety 12 seconds in?

Seattle scored on a safety, a kickoff return and an interception return, the first team to do all three in one Super Bowl.

What is the traditional drink dumped on the winning coach after the Super Bowl?

The Gatorade shower became a Super Bowl tradition starting in the mid-1980s, when New York Giants players dumped the sports drink on coach Bill Parcells after their victories.

Which Michael Jackson song opened his legendary 1993 Super Bowl halftime performance?

Michael Jackson opened his Super Bowl XXVII show with 'Jam' after standing motionless for well over a minute, then played 'Billie Jean' and 'Black or White' before a 'Heal the World' finale.

Which Super Bowl featured a 34-minute power outage that delayed the game?

Super Bowl XLVII (2013) in New Orleans experienced a 34-minute power outage in the third quarter. The 49ers nearly completed a comeback after the delay, but the Ravens held on to win 34-31.

Who was the MVP of Super Bowl I?

Starr completed 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards, then repeated as MVP the following year.

Which defensive player earned Super Bowl MVP honors in Super Bowl 50?

Miller's 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles tormented league MVP Cam Newton in a 24–10 win.

A year after Tampa Bay did it, which team became the second to win a Super Bowl in its own home stadium?

The Los Angeles Rams beat Cincinnati 23–20 in Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, the first Super Bowl in the Los Angeles area since January 1993.

In which edition of the NFL title game did the Eagles run the 'Philly Special' trick play?

The Philly Special came in Super Bowl LII: on fourth-and-goal before halftime, Corey Clement took the snap, pitched to Trey Burton, who threw to a wide-open Nick Foles.

Before the 'Super Bowl' name was adopted, what was the two leagues' title game officially called?

The first two games were officially the AFL-NFL World Championship Game; the 'Super Bowl' name, inspired by a children's Super Ball toy, became official with the third game.

Which player ran for a record 204 yards in Super Bowl XXII?

Timmy Smith, a rookie backup for Washington, rushed for 204 yards in Super Bowl XXII (January 1988), the most ever in a Super Bowl at the time, in a 42–10 rout of Denver.

Which team won three Super Bowls in four years during the 1990s?

The Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowls XXVII (1993), XXVIII (1994), and XXX (1996), establishing themselves as the dominant team of the early 1990s under coach Jimmy Johnson and later Barry Switzer.

Who kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired in Super Bowl XXXVI?

Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal as time expired beat the St. Louis Rams 20–17 in Super Bowl XXXVI in February 2002.

Which legendary running back scored a 74-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XVIII?

Marcus Allen scored on a 74-yard run in Super Bowl XVIII — one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history — as the Raiders crushed the Redskins 38-9. Allen was named MVP with 191 rushing yards.

How many consecutive Super Bowls did the Patriots appear in, ending with Super Bowl LIII?

The Patriots reached three straight Super Bowls, winning LI and LIII and losing LII to Philadelphia in between, four trips in five seasons.

Which quarterback was the first player to say "I'm going to Disney World!" after a Super Bowl, in 1987?

Phil Simms, MVP of Super Bowl XXI after completing 22 of 25 passes, was the first to deliver Disney's 'I'm going to Disney World!' line in January 1987.

Which two Destiny's Child members joined Beyoncé on stage at her 2013 halftime show?

Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams rose through the stage at Super Bowl XLVII for a Destiny's Child reunion, two weeks after Beyoncé's lip-syncing controversy at Obama's inauguration.

Which team won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1998 and 1999?

The Denver Broncos beat Green Bay 31–24 in Super Bowl XXXII and Atlanta 34–19 in Super Bowl XXXIII, after which John Elway retired.

What jersey number did Joe Montana wear during his four Super Bowl victories?

The 49ers retired No. 16 after his career; in Kansas City he wore 19, the number Len Dawson's retired 16 forced him to take.

Which beer brand is famous for its Clydesdale horses Super Bowl commercials?

Budweiser's Clydesdales, the brand's symbol since the end of Prohibition in 1933, starred in Super Bowl spots such as 2013's 'Brotherhood', in which a trainer reunites with a horse he raised.

Which quarterback led the underdog New York Giants to upset the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII?

The Giants were 12.5-point underdogs; Manning won MVP and did it again four years later against the same opponent.

Where was Super Bowl I played?

Super Bowl I was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 15, 1967. The stadium was not sold out — it is the only Super Bowl in history that did not sell out.

Which pop star performed at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in 2023?

Rihanna headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in Glendale, Arizona, her first live performance since 2018, and revealed her pregnancy on stage.

Which coach led the San Francisco 49ers to their first Super Bowl victory?

Bill Walsh coached the 49ers to victory in Super Bowl XVI (1982), defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21. Walsh went on to win two more Super Bowls with San Francisco.

Which edition of the NFL title game was the first played outdoors in a cold-weather city?

Super Bowl XLVIII (February 2014) was played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the first Super Bowl held outdoors in a cold-weather city and the first in that state.

Which player caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII with 35 seconds left?

Holmes landed on his toes in the back corner of the end zone; he finished with nine catches for 131 yards and was named MVP.

Who scored the overtime touchdown that ended Super Bowl LI?

James White's 2-yard run on the first possession of overtime ended Super Bowl LI, capping a night on which he scored three touchdowns and 20 points.

Which holiday outranks Super Bowl Sunday as the biggest US food-consumption day?

Thanksgiving is the one day Americans eat more than on Super Bowl Sunday, when the National Chicken Council estimates well over a billion chicken wings are consumed.

Which quarterback was MVP of Super Bowl XXII after throwing four touchdown passes in one quarter?

Doug Williams threw four touchdown passes in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXII and was named MVP with 340 passing yards, the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.

Which pizza chain added Buffalo wings to its national menu in 1994 after the Bills' fourth straight Super Bowl?

Domino's put Buffalo wings on its national menu in 1994 and Pizza Hut followed in 1995; Buffalo itself had declared July 29, 1977, Chicken Wing Day.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl XX?

Richard Dent, the Bears' defensive end, was MVP of Super Bowl XX with 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in Chicago's 46–10 rout of New England in January 1986.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl X with four catches for 161 yards?

Lynn Swann's four catches for 161 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown from Terry Bradshaw, made him the first wide receiver named Super Bowl MVP as Pittsburgh beat Dallas 21–17 in Super Bowl X.

Which quarterback was MVP of Super Bowl XXVI as Washington beat Buffalo 37–24?

Mark Rypien threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns as Washington beat the Buffalo Bills 37–24 in Super Bowl XXVI in Minneapolis in January 1992.

Which quarterback was MVP of Super Bowl XLV in February 2011?

Aaron Rodgers threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns as the Packers beat the Steelers 31–25 in Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Which linebacker was MVP of Super Bowl XXXV in January 2001?

Ray Lewis anchored a Ravens defense that allowed no offensive touchdowns in Super Bowl XXXV, a 34–7 win over the New York Giants in Tampa.

Which quarterback threw six touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIX?

Steve Young threw six touchdown passes and was named MVP as San Francisco beat the San Diego Chargers 49–26 in Super Bowl XXIX in January 1995.

The fan-made 'Free Doritos' ad that topped the Super Bowl XLIII Ad Meter won its makers how much?

Doritos paid the Herbert brothers a $1 million bonus when their 'Free Doritos' spot, in which an office worker smashes a vending machine with a snow globe, topped the Super Bowl XLIII Ad Meter.

Which Steelers linebacker returned an interception 100 yards in Super Bowl XLIII?

James Harrison intercepted a pass at the goal line on the last play of the first half of Super Bowl XLIII and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown.

Which quarterback was MVP of Super Bowl XV as the Raiders beat the Eagles 27–10?

Jim Plunkett, the 1970 Heisman winner who had been released by the 49ers, threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns as Oakland beat Philadelphia 27–10 in Super Bowl XV.

Which quarterback threw for 414 yards as MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV?

Kurt Warner threw for 414 yards and two touchdowns, including a 73-yard strike to Isaac Bruce, as the St. Louis Rams beat Tennessee 23–16 in Super Bowl XXXIV.

Which head coach, famously wired for sound by NFL Films, won Super Bowl IV?

Hank Stram, wearing a microphone for NFL Films, coached Kansas City to a 23–7 win over Minnesota in Super Bowl IV in January 1970.

Which quarterback was MVP of Super Bowl XXVII with four touchdown passes?

Troy Aikman completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns as Dallas beat Buffalo 52–17 in Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl.

Which team won Super Bowl LX, played in February 2026?

The 29–13 win at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara was Seattle's second title; running back Kenneth Walker III was named MVP after rushing for 135 yards.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl XL in February 2006?

Hines Ward caught five passes for 123 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown from Antwaan Randle El, as Pittsburgh beat Seattle 21–10 in Super Bowl XL.

Which team lost four Super Bowls in the 1970s without winning one?

The Minnesota Vikings lost Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI between January 1970 and January 1977, all under coach Bud Grant.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl XLI?

Peyton Manning completed 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards as Indianapolis beat Chicago 29–17 in the rain in Super Bowl XLI, his first title.

Who was MVP of Super Bowl XVII after rushing for 166 yards?

John Riggins carried 38 times for 166 yards, including a 43-yard fourth-down touchdown, as Washington beat Miami 27–17 in Super Bowl XVII in January 1983.

Roughly how many of the LA Coliseum's 94,000 seats went unsold at Super Bowl I?

About 33,000 seats went unsold as 61,946 fans attended Super Bowl I, and the local TV blackout rule kept the game off Los Angeles screens.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl V despite playing for the losing team?

Chuck Howley, a Dallas Cowboys linebacker, intercepted two passes in Super Bowl V and was named MVP even though Baltimore won 16–13 on a last-second field goal.

What trophy is awarded to the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player?

The Super Bowl MVP receives the Pete Rozelle Trophy, named for the commissioner who ran the NFL from 1960 to 1989 and oversaw the AFL-NFL merger.

Which team lost Super Bowl XXXIX to New England, 24–21, in February 2005?

The Philadelphia Eagles lost 24–21 to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville in February 2005, with Deion Branch named MVP after 11 catches.

Which two networks both televised Super Bowl I, each with its own announcers?

Because NBC held the AFL's rights and CBS the NFL's, both were allowed to televise the game, each using its own announcers.

Which team was the first to appear in ten Super Bowls?

The New England Patriots reached their tenth Super Bowl with LII in February 2018, when no other franchise had passed eight appearances.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl XLVII?

Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes, all in the first half, and 287 yards as Baltimore beat San Francisco 34–31 in Super Bowl XLVII.

Which quarterback ran for three touchdowns in a losing effort in Super Bowl LVII?

Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns, threw for 304 yards and added a two-point conversion, but the Eagles lost 38–35 to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl VI?

Roger Staubach threw two touchdown passes as Dallas beat Miami 24–3 in Super Bowl VI in New Orleans in January 1972, the Cowboys' first championship.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl XXVIII in January 1994?

Emmitt Smith rushed for 132 yards and two second-half touchdowns as Dallas beat Buffalo 30–13 in Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta.

The 17-game schedule adopted in 2021 moved the Super Bowl to which Sunday?

The 17-game, 18-week schedule adopted in 2021 moved the Super Bowl from the first to the second Sunday of February, starting with Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022.

Which event caused Super Bowl XXXVI to become the first played in February?

The September 11 attacks led the NFL to postpone its Week 2 games to January, pushing Super Bowl XXXVI to February 3, 2002, the first Super Bowl played in February.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXVII?

Safety Dexter Jackson intercepted two passes in the first half as Tampa Bay beat Oakland 48–21 in Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003.

Which Super Bowl drew a 49.1 Nielsen household rating, the highest of the 20th century?

Super Bowl XVI in January 1982, San Francisco's 26–21 win over Cincinnati, drew a 49.1 household rating, meaning nearly half of all US TV homes tuned in.

Which broadcaster called Super Bowls for CBS, Fox, ABC and NBC?

John Madden called 11 Super Bowls as an analyst: five for CBS, three for Fox, two for ABC and one for NBC, the last being XLIII in 2009.

Why did the NFL move Super Bowl XXVII from Tempe, Arizona, to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena?

Voters rejected an MLK Day holiday for state employees in 1990, so the NFL pulled the game; once Arizona created the holiday in 1992 it was awarded Super Bowl XXX.

Why did New Orleans lose Super Bowl LVIII to Las Vegas?

The 2021 schedule expansion pushed the game to February 11, so New Orleans was handed Super Bowl LIX instead.

Under the NFL's 2014 host-city specifications, what was the minimum Super Bowl stadium capacity?

The NFL's 2014 host specifications, leaked during Minneapolis's bid for Super Bowl LII, required at least 70,000 seats and a roof or waiver for cold-weather stadiums.

Who sang 'America the Beautiful' in place of the national anthem at Super Bowl XI?

Vikki Carr sang 'America the Beautiful' in place of the national anthem at Super Bowl XI in Pasadena in January 1977, the Raiders' 32–14 win over Minnesota.

Who sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before Super Bowl XXV in January 1991?

Whitney Houston's anthem at Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, ten days into the Gulf War, was released as a single that reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Which receiver was MVP of Super Bowl XXIII with a then-record 215 receiving yards?

Jerry Rice caught 11 passes for 215 yards in Super Bowl XXIII, then a Super Bowl record, and was named MVP of San Francisco's 20–16 win over Cincinnati.

Which Bears defensive lineman scored a one-yard rushing touchdown in Super Bowl XX?

William 'The Refrigerator' Perry, a 300-plus-pound defensive tackle, plunged in from the 1-yard line in the third quarter of Super Bowl XX, Chicago's 46–10 win over New England.

Who became the first Black head coach to win a Super Bowl, at Super Bowl XLI?

Tony Dungy's Colts beat the Bears 29–17 in Super Bowl XLI; opposing coach Lovie Smith had been his Buccaneers linebackers coach from 1996 to 2000.

Which Bills kicker pushed a 47-yard attempt wide right on the final play of Super Bowl XXV?

Scott Norwood's 47-yard attempt on the final play sailed wide right, and the Giants beat Buffalo 20–19 in Super Bowl XXV, the first Super Bowl decided by a single point.

Which team opened the second half of Super Bowl XLIV with a surprise onside kick?

The New Orleans Saints recovered Thomas Morstead's onside kick to open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV, a play nicknamed 'Ambush', and went on to beat Indianapolis 31–17.

Which Titans receiver was tackled a yard short of the goal line as Super Bowl XXXIV ended?

Kevin Dyson was tackled at the 1-yard line by Rams linebacker Mike Jones as time expired in Super Bowl XXXIV; three weeks earlier he had scored on the 'Music City Miracle' against Buffalo.

Which Super Bowl was the first played in a domed stadium?

Super Bowl XII, Dallas's 27–10 win over Denver in January 1978, was the first played indoors, at the Louisiana Superdome, and the first with a prime-time kickoff.

Who was the first special-teams player named Super Bowl MVP, at Super Bowl XXXI?

Desmond Howard's 99-yard kickoff return touchdown in Super Bowl XXXI was then a Super Bowl record and capped a 1996 season in which his 875 punt return yards set an NFL record.

Which Colts rookie kicked the 32-yard field goal that won Super Bowl V with five seconds left?

Rookie Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds left gave Baltimore a 16–13 win over Dallas in Super Bowl V, a game with 11 turnovers nicknamed the 'Blunder Bowl'.