The use of Roman numerals to designate Super Bowls began with game V, won by the Baltimore Colts over the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 on Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds remaining. The Roman numerals were adopted to clarify any confusion that may occur because the NFL Championship Game, the Super Bowl, is played in the year following a chronologically recorded season. Numerals I through IV were added later for the first four Super Bowls.
Super Bowl XXV marked the initial presentation of the Pete Rozelle Trophy to the most valuable player of the game. It was named in honor of former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who led the league for 30 years, from 1960 until he retired in 1989. Running back Ottis Anderson of the New York Giants was the recipient of the first Rozelle Trophy.
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is presented each year to the winner of the Super Bowl for permanent possession. It is a memorial to the late coach of the Green Bay Packers, who won Super Bowls I and II, plus NFL championships in 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967. Following four years as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game Trophy, it was renamed for Lombardi in 1970. The Lombardi Trophy is handcrafted of sterling silver, stands 21 inches high, and weighs seven pounds. A stylized football of regulation size sits atop a three-sided base with convex faces. Each trophy is valued at $25,000. It is crafted by Tiffany & Co.
Only two players, Gene Upshaw and Jerry Rice, have played in Super Bowls in three different decades. Upshaw, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, played guard for the Oakland Raiders from 1967 to 1981, and he participated with the AFL/AFC champions in Super Bowls II (1968), XI (1977), and XV (1981). Rice, who is the NFL's all time leader in career receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895) and touchdowns (207), played wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers (1985-2000), Oakland Raiders (2001-04) and Seattle Seahawks (2004). Rice appeared in four Super Bowls, including Super Bowls XXIII (1989), XXIV (1990), XXIX (1995) with the 49ers and XXXVII with the Raiders (2003).
Jim Nantz, who provided play-by-play coverage of Super Bowl XLI and XLIV for CBS, is the only announcer in history to call a Super Bowl, Masters and FinalFour.
NBC will be broadcasting its s17th Super Bowl. Previous Super Bowls televised by NBC: Super Bowls I, III, V, VII, IX, XI, XIII, XV, XVII, XX, XXIII, XXVII, XXVIII, XXX, XXXII, XLIII.
The 2010 game was the most-watched program in television history, with 153.4 million viewers in the United States. The game was broadcast to 185 countries and territories in 30 different languages.
The record 98.7 million average viewers for Super Bowl XLIII exceeded the combined total of the 2008 American Idol season premiere (33.5 million), 2008 Academy Awards (32.0 million viewers), and the November 2008 Dancing with the Stars finale (20.7 million)--86.2 million.
Super Bowl XLIII was only the third Super Bowl game to be decided in the final minute (XLII, XXIII).
A total of 162.9 million people watched all or part of Super Bowl XLV, making it the most-viewed television program in history besting Super Bowl XLIV's record of 153.4 million. In addition, a record average of 111 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLV, topping the previous mark of 106.5 million for Super Bowl XLIV.
104.9 million people watched Packers safety Nick Collins' 37-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter, while 118.2 million people watched Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings in the fourth quarter to give Green Bay a 27-17 lead.
Twenty-five starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl have worn number 12; 14 have been winners. Conversely, quarterbacks wearing number 7 have won only 5 times in 13 games. The winning 12s: Joe Namath (Jets, III), Roger Staubach (Cowboys, VI, XII), Bob Griese (Dolphins, VII, VIII), Terry Bradshaw (Steelers, IX, X, XIII, XIV), Ken Stabler (Raiders, XI), Tom Brady (Patriots, XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) and Aaron Rodgers (Packers, XLV). Those who wore number 12 and lost: Staubach (X, XIII), Griese (VI), Jim Kelly (Bills, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII), Stan Humphries (Chargers, XXIX), Chris Chandler (Falcons, XXXIII), Rich Gannon (Raiders, XXXVII) and Brady (Patriots, XLII). Other winning starters include three who have worn 16 seven times: Len Dawson (Chiefs, IV), Jim Plunkett (Raiders, XV, XVIII), and Joe Montana (49ers, XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV). Winning in number 15 were Bart Starr (Packers, I, II) and Jeff Hostetler (Giants, XXV); in number 11, Phil Simms (Giants, XXI) and Mark Rypien (Redskins, XXVI); in number 8, Troy Aikman (Cowboys, XXVII, XXVIII, XXX), Steve Young (49ers, XXIX), and Trent Dilfer (Ravens, XXXV); in number 4, Brett Favre (Packers, XXXI); in number 7, John Elway (Broncos, XXXII, XXXIII), Joe Theismann (Redskins, XVII); and Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers, XL, XLIII); in number 9, Jim McMahon (Bears, XX); and Drew Brees (Saints, XXIV); in number 10, Eli Manning (Giants, XLII); in number 13, Kurt Warner (Rams, XXXIV); in number 14, Brad Johnson (Buccaneers, XXXVII); in number 17, Doug Williams (Redskins, XXII); in number 18, Peyton Manning (Colts, XLI); and in number 19, Johnny Unitas (Colts, V). Losing while wearing number 7 have been: Elway (Broncos, XXI, XXII, XXIV), Craig Morton (Cowboys, V and Broncos, XII), Ron Jaworski (Eagles, XV), Theismann (Redskins, XVIII) and Roethlisberger, Steelers, XLV); in number 13 Warner (Rams, XXXVI, Cardinals, XLIII).
4,705 accredited members of the media covered Super Bowl XLIV. In contrast, there were just 338 credentials issued to media at Super Bowl I in Los Angeles.
Dan Reeves participated in more Super Bowls, nine, than any other coach or player. Reeves played running back for the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowls V and VI, and was a Cowboys assistant coach in X, XII, and XIII. Reeves was head coach in Denver from 1981 to 1992, leading the Broncos to three AFC championships and into Super Bowls XXI, XXII, and XXIV. He also coached the Atlanta Falcons in their Super Bowl XXXIII appearance.
Youngest QB's to win a Super Bowl--- Ben Roethlisberger, 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers (23 years, 340 days), Tom Brady, 2001 New England Patriots (24 years, 184 days), Joe Namath, 1968 New York Jets (25 years, 226 days) and Joe Montana, 1981 San Francisco 49ers (25 years, 227 days).
The top 3 host cities are Miami/ South Florida (10), New Orleans (9) and Los Angeles (LA Coliseum 2, Rose Bowl 5)
The designated "home" team at Super Bowl has not always found the comfort expected in friendly surroundings. The home team has won only 20 times, while "visitors" have won 25 titles. No Super Bowl has been played at the home field of a participant, but two teams, the 1979 Los Angeles Rams and the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, did make it to the NFL title game in their home area. The Rams lost to the Steelers in XIV at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The 49ers defeated the Dolphins in XIX at Stanford Stadium.
Superbowl Prop Betting Theory and Bets
Host Vegas Runner and Pregame Pro Bryan Leonard discuss general theory of prop betting and have your own number before the plays are out to beat the crowd.