Super Bowl Trivia by Year: Winners, Halftime Shows and Most Memorable Moments
The NFL championship game, or the Super Bowl, is one of America’s greatest pastimes. The game is now widely regarded as an unofficial holiday and draws millions of viewers from all around the world. Every year, fans and casual viewers tune in to watch the game, the commercials, and of course, the halftime performance. In this article, we’ll take a look back who won the Super Bowl throughout the years and examine some of the most interesting moments from the games and halftime shows.
Super Bowl I – 1967
Halftime Performance: Al Hirt and the University of Arizona and Grambling State University marching bands
The hottest tickets for the first AFL/NFL Championship Game between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs were just $12. Even back in 1967, that was a steal. If you adjusted that price to today, it would still roughly be around $90 for the best seat in the house at the biggest game in football.
Super Bowl II – 1968
Halftime Performance: Grambling State University Band
Still called the AFL/NFL Championship Game, the Green Bay Packers became the first-ever back-to-back champions. Legendary coach Vince Lombardi and Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr defeated the AFL’s Oakland Raiders 33-14.
Super Bowl III – 1969
Halftime Performance: Florida A&M University Band
This game marked the first time that the AFL would win a championship game. The New York Jets, led by quarterback Joe Namath, shocked the world by beating the Baltimore Colts 16-7. Namath had put himself in the headlines by guaranteeing a Jets victory three days before the game. Luckily for Broadway Joe, his teammates secured his promise.
Super Bowl X – 1976
Halftime Performance: Up With People
Pittsburgh became the third team in the history of the game to win consecutive Super Bowls. Both teams wore special bicentennial patches to commemorate the United States’ bicentennial year.
Super Bowl XVII – 1983
Halftime Performance: Los Angeles Super Drill Team and the Los Angeles Unified School District All-City Marching Band
John Riggins of the Washington Redskins set two Super Bowl records during his team’s 27-17 win over the Dolphins. Riggins had 38 carries for 166 rushing yards, both record-setting numbers. Riggins, the MVP, ended up with more total yards than the entire Dolphins team.
Super Bowl XVIII – 1984
Halftime Performance: “Salute to Superstars of the Silver Screen”
Known as “Black Sunday” the Oakland Raiders demolished the Washington Redskins 38-9. Marcus Allen became the third Heisman Trophy winner to also win Super Bowl MVP. Apple’s famous commercial, “1984” aired and introduced the world to the Macintosh computer.
Super Bowl XXI – 1987
Halftime Performance: The Beach Boys and Southern California high school drill teams
This Super Bowl introduced us to several now-common traditions. We first saw Giants coach Bill Parcells get doused by his players in what is now called the “Gatorade Shower”. We also saw the first instance of the MVP shouting the phrase “I’m going to Disney World!” Phil Simms was paid $75,000 by Disney to do so. Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway was paid the same to say it if he won, but he didn’t.
Super Bowl XXVI – 1992
Halftime Performance: Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano, Dorothy Hamill, and the Minnesota Marching Band
The poor Buffalo Bills became the third team in NFL history to lose back-to-back Super Bowls, joining the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. The Redskins’ coach Joe Gibbs got his third Super Bowl victory in the Metrodome of Minneapolis. The venue also hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, making it the first venue to host both events in the same year. The game became more famous for the prediction made by Lisa Simpson of “The Simpsons” when she guessed that Washington would win in an episode that aired three days before the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XXVII – 1993
Halftime Performance: Michael Jackson
The Dallas Cowboys blew out the Buffalo Bills 52-10, marking the Bills’ third consecutive Super Bowl loss, an NFL record. While the game itself may not have been worthy to watch, the halftime show featuring Michael Jackson pulled in more viewers than the entire game.
Super Bowl XXXIV – 2000
Halftime Performance: Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, Edward James Olmos
This game is sometimes referred to as the “Dot-Com Bowl” due to the enormous amount of internet companies that purchased advertising. It also featured one of the most heartbreaking moments in Super Bowl history, when Tennessee Titans receiver Kevin Dyson was tackled just one yard short of the end-zone in an attempt to tie the St. Louis Rams at 23 with no time left in the game.
Super Bowl XXXVII – 2003
Halftime Performance: Shania Twain, No Doubt, and Sting
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by former Oakland head coach Jon Gruden, defeated the Raiders for their first Super Bowl win. Bucs safety Dexter Jackson became the second safety and third defensive back to win Super Bowl MVP.
Super Bowl XXXVIII – 2004
Halftime Performance: Jessica Simpson, Ocean of Soul, Spirit of Houston, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P Diddy, Kid Rock, and Nelly
This Super Bowl is remembered more for its halftime show than the game itself. While the Patriots defeated the Panthers in their first Super Bowl appearance, the halftime show brought the entertainment. Justin Timberlake accidentally exposed Janet Jackson’s breast at the ending of his performance. The moment lives in infamy, but it was TiVo’s most re-watched moment of all time.
Super Bowl XXXIX – 2005
Halftime Performance: Paul McCartney
The Patriots and the Eagles faced off in one of the most competitive Super Bowls of the 2000s. Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch tied the Super Bowl record for receptions with 11. The Patriots became the second team to win 3 Super Bowls in 4 years.
Super Bowl XL – 2006
Halftime Performance: The Rolling Stones
One of the most controversial Super Bowl games of all time, the Seattle Seahawks lost their first Super Bowl appearance to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10. The Seahawks were the first-ever sixth seed to reach the Super Bowl and the fourth wild card team to make it. The game was controversial due to several questionable officiating decisions that seemed to favor the Steelers heavily.
Super Bowl XLI – 2007
Halftime Performance: Prince
Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts finally get to the Super Bowl where they overcame rain and a 14-6 deficit to secure Manning’s first Super Bowl victory of his career. The game was the fifth most-watched event in U.S. history and peaked at about 140 million viewers.
Super Bowl XLV – 2011
Halftime Performance: The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, and Slash
Aaron Rodgers won in his first Super Bowl appearance and the Packers won their 4th Super Bowl over the Steelers. The game averaged 111 million viewers, making it the most viewed program in American history at the time.
Super Bowl XLVI – 2012
Halftime Performance: Madonna, LMFAO, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, and Cee Lo Green
Just when the previous year’s Super Bowl had broken the record for the most viewed program in American history, the Patriots and Giants broke it a year later. Eli Manning won the second Super Bowl MVP of his career in the first-ever Super Bowl held in the state of Indiana.
Super Bowl XLVII – 2013
Halftime Performance: Beyonce and Destiny’s Child
This matchup of the Ravens and Niners literally put the lights out. A partial power outage at the Superdome in New Orleans delayed the game for 34 minutes before the Ravens scored 17 unanswered points.
Super Bowl XLVIII – 2014
Halftime Performance: Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers
This Super Bowl wasn’t much of a contest between the Seahawks and Broncos. The Seahawks notched their first-ever Super Bowl win in the first contest held in an outdoor cold-weather city (East Rutherford, NJ).
Super Bowl XLIX – 2015
Halftime Performance: Katy Perry, Missy Elliot, Lenny Kravitz, and the Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band
Another heartbreaking game that still haunts Seahawks fans today, the New England Patriots famously intercepted a Russell Wilson pass at the 1-yard line to seal the Patriots victory. Seattle became the fourth defending champion to lose in the following Super Bowl.
Super Bowl 50 – 2016
Halftime Performance: Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Beyonce, and Mark Ronson
You may have noticed, but this was the first official Super Bowl to not contain Roman numerals. It would have been referred to as “Super Bowl L”. Broncos linebacker Von Miller won Super Bowl MVP with his famous strip-sacks of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, but Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy set a Super Bowl record with three sacks and also recorded an interception.
Super Bowl LI – 2017
Halftime Performance: Lady Gaga
The Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons after being down 28-3 and completing the largest comeback victory in Super Bowl history. The game was also the first time the Super Bowl has ever gone to overtime. Tom Brady won Super Bowl MVP for the record fourth time.
Super Bowl LII – 2018
Halftime Performance: Justin Timberlake
The Eagles made their third appearance in the Super Bowl against the favored New England Patriots and came away victorious on the shoulders of backup quarterback Nick Foles. Several records were set in this game including most yards gained, fewest punts, and most points scored by a losing team.
Super Bowl LIII – 2019
Halftime Performance: Maroon 5, Travis Scott, and Big Boi
In one of the lowest-scoring Super Bowls of all time, Tom Brady and the Patriots secured their sixth championship, tying the Steelers for the most in NFL history. The halftime show, headlined by Maroon 5, had the smallest viewing audience in 10 years.