Every Super Bowl Winner History - Complete Guide
The 2022 Kansas City Chiefs speared the Philidelphia Eagles out of the Super Bowl LVII sky to hold on to the team’s second Lombardi Trophy during the tenure of legendary head coach Andy Reid and MVP Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes’ production through pain, Jalen Hurts’ contactless fumble despite his running prowess, and the debatable holding penalty called on cornerback Ray Bradberry comprise a compelling trio of stories. However, they are just 3 of countless that shape the NFL’s rich history.
We recap every Super Bowl winner in history that sits beside the Chiefs between the Lombardi lines of gridiron greatness.
EVERY SUPER BOWL WINNER IN NFL HISTORY - COMPLETE GUIDE
The 2022 Kansas City Chiefs speared the Philadelphia Eagles out of the Super Bowl LVII sky to hold on to the team’s second Lombardi Trophy during the tenure of legendary head coach Andy Reid and MVP Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes’ production through pain, Jalen Hurts’ contactless fumble despite his running prowess, and the debatable holding penalty called on cornerback Ray Bradberry comprise a compelling trio of stories. However, they are just 3 of countless that shape the NFL’s rich history.
We recap all of the Super Bowl winners in history who sit beside the Chiefs between the Lombardi lines of gridiron greatness.
Related: Get a sneak peek into this week's NFL action with our NFL Predictions.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP: 2020’s
SB LVII/2022 SEASON CHAMPIONS: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
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Tyreek Hill’s absence caused no problems for the slightly revamped Chiefs, who won their Super Bowl 2022 matchup. Kelce crushed the wide workload with 110 catches, over 1300 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Mahomes zipped plenty of precise passes to him with quicker timing than previous years requiring setups for deep throws. The State Farm spokesperson covered MVP honors with 5,250 yards in the air and 45 touchdowns, including a career-high 4 on the ground.
Maligned Steeler Ju Ju Smith-Schuster capitalized on a clean slate as an important second option in the passing game. Rookie Isiah Pacheco imported championship-level toughness with a gritty running style to get hard yards en route to Andy Reid’s second hard-earned Super Bowl win.
SB LVI - 2021 SEASON CHAMPIONS: LOS ANGELES RAMS
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The Rams’ front office showed no shame in its game that lived up to the team’s name. Von Miller rendered his Hall of Fame-caliber services to the Rams, giving the team one of the best pass rush tandems in recent history with Donald. All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey provided the swagger the silent, lead-by-example linemen refrain from. Former franchise quarterback for lowly Lions teams Matthew Stafford roared in delight when given his first chance to execute ingenious head coach Sean McVay’s scheme that surpassed any plans wallowing in the wreckage of Detroit garbage bins.
He also found a weapon close to Calvin Johnson’s production in Cooper Kupp. The Rams’ desire to grab greatness rejuvenated the once-hallowed hands of Odell Beckham Jr. He signed with the team and was likely to become Super Bowl MVP until injury reared its ugly leg.
The remaining firepower outgunned a young, overeager Bengals team 23-20 to give the City of Angels its first glimpse of football heaven since 1984. McVay holds the distinction of being the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl at age 36.
SB LV/2020 SEASON CHAMPIONS: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
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Brady proved Belichick’s masterminding wasn’t the only force puppeteering the Pats’ Super Bowl strings. He controlled a stacked offense featuring three former Pro Bowl receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown. The defensive side held its end of the bruising bargain. Unmatched speed spread across the linebacker positions, and a ferocious mixture of veterans and prime rushers populated the defensive line.
The latter dominated the Chiefs’ understaffed offensive line. Star tackles Eric Fischer, and Mitchell Schwartz missed Super Bowl LV with torn Achilles and back injuries, respectively. Big blows to pass protection meant bigger ones to Mahomes. The Buccaneers pressured Mahomes more times (29) than all other quarterbacks in any other game in Super Bowl history.
Winning the battles in the trenches translated to a 31-9 victory. To the victorious Brady went the spoils of being the first quarterback to win a ring, starting for teams in different conferences. Mahomes sulked in the less-glorious position of playing his first NFL game as a starter without a touchdown.
SB LIV/2019 SEASON CHAMPIONS: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Mahomes announced his early all-time arrival on the grandest stage of Hardrock Stadium where the Dolphins play. He maximized the Flash-esque speed of Tyreek Hill and the dependability of Superman tight end Travis Kelce to throw for nearly 300 yards and score 3 touchdowns in the process. Damien Williams’ clutch running turned a dynamic duo into essentially a Justice League of an offensive superteam torching the league’s top passing defense and second-best in yards allowed for 31 points.
That final point total spells disaster for most Super Bowl games, but the scoreboard can’t tell this whole story. The 49ers’ stout defense authored a 45-minute manifesto on neutralizing passing attacks. Kyle Shannahan spoiled the parade plotline by choking under the tightest pressure yet again with inexplicably aggressive playcalling, despite an unimpressive Jimmy Garapallo at quarterback. The 49ers failed to score a single point in the fourth quarter while the Chiefs rallied for 21.
Such is the story of SBLIV and Kyle Shannahan’s career.
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EVERY SUPER BOWL WINNER: 2010’s
SB LIII/2018 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
After consecutive thrillers, this Super Bowl showdown slowed the country’s collective heart rate. A throwback to defensive chess games maneuvered by old masters Belichick and Wade Phillips stalemated most of Super Bowl LIII. Grownkowski’s diving catch cracked open the only touchdown opportunity in the fourth quarter of a tied game that ended up 13-3. That represents the lowest point total in Super Bowl history.
SB LII/2017 SEASON CHAMPIONS: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Remember when Nick Foles became Super Bowl MVP? Philadelphia Farms remembers! An underdog squad propped by guts and gambles swooped on a Patriots defense, shockingly missing previous Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler. Belichick’s motives for benching the clutch defensive back remain a mystery today.
Neither defense provided any surprises during this game that broke the Super Bowl record for total yardage by over 200. Doug Pederson concocted the biggest swerve on offense with the “Philly Special.” A trick play making Foles an unsuspected receiver yielded a key touchdown that became instantly immortalized in NFL history.
Brady dropped a pass while open on a trick play of his own. His receivers hauled in plenty of passes en route to becoming the only quarterback to throw for 500 yards in a Super Bowl game. Ultimately, the Lombardi trophy slipped from Brady’s greedy grasp as well.
SB LI/2016 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
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28-3. Nothing more needs to be said about a game and score that will forever live in infamy. Kyle Shannahan forgot how to run the ball; MVP Matt Ryan a.k.a. “Matty Ice” turned into “Melted Ice,” and Brady orchestrated the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history that ended up 34-28.
SB 50/2015 SEASON CHAMPIONS: DENVER BRONCOS
The NFL ditched Roman numerals for this game and Cam Newton left the Superman cape at home. The regular season MVP known for fearlessly flying through contact evaded it after a key fumble forced by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. Denver’s recovery marked a turning point that led the Broncos on the path to a 24-10 victory. Newton cobbled only 228 total yards with zero touchdowns and an anemic 55.4 quarterback rating after scoring 45 touchdowns and over 4,400 total yards in the regular season.
Manning didn’t fare much better with 141 passing yards, like Newton no touchdowns, and a 56.6 quarterback rating. The 39-year-old passing icon diminished into unrecognizable status that season, getting benched in favor of Brock Osweiler before the playoffs. Manning becoming the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl starting for multiple franchises adds a silver lining to the aluminum effort.
SB XLIX/2014 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
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Why didn’t Pete Carroll activate Beast Mode at the goal line? That odious question baffles armchair geniuses who can’t wrap their head around Marshawn Lynch not getting a chance to ice Super Bowl victory at the goal line when seemingly nobody could wrap up the human bulldozer.
Carroll trusted Russell Wilson to throw a quick slant instead that Malcom Butler intercepted in the end zone. The decision destroyed goodwill, and every key player has retired or exited since.
In fairness to the Patriots, Darrelle Revis resurrected his unparalleled coverage success under Belichick’s man utilization, and Brady stepped up when the offense needed him most for the highest completion percentage by a passer with over 300 yards in a Super Bowl game.
SB XLVIII/2013 SEASON CHAMPIONS: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
The Denver Broncos lost before they started. Center Manny Ramirez resembled MLB outfielder Manny Ramirez with his own “Manny Moment.” He snapped the ball over Peyton Manning’s head during an audible on the team’s first play from scrimmage, resulting in a safety.
Setting a terrible tone devolved into a 43-8 blowout that left screaming Broncos fans tone-deaf. Many widely consider the “Legion of Boom” defense that embarrassed an aerial attack that Peyton Manning commanded through an unprecedented 55 passing touchdowns, the best defense to rise above recent rule changes centered around safety and scoring. The margin of victory was the widest for a Super Bowl in 30 years.
SB XLVII/2012 SEASON CHAMPIONS: BALTIMORE RAVENS
Colin Kaepernick taking a knee overshadows when he took the 49ers to a Super Bowl years prior. The pistol offense literally run by the controversial quarterback and enduring running back Frank Gore perplexed the defensive coordinator, who was unused to the formation outside of amateur levels.
However, legendary linebacker Ray Lewis and arguably the greatest safety ever Ed Reed, had seen everything by Super Bowl XLVII. The intimidating mix of intelligent defense and an unforgettable playoff run by Joe Flacco, hurling to a determined Anquan Boldin, shut down the 49ers 21-6 by halftime.
The shutdown devolved into getting shut off. The power inexplicably gave out in the Superdome. Darkness showed San Francisco the light as the 49ers mounted a fierce comeback that came down to the game's final play. A controversial no-call on Michael Crabtree allowed Lewis to ride off into the Super Bowl-winning sunset after a 34-31 victory that has spurred conspiracy theories ever since.
Fewer people remember that this was also the final game for then-49er Randy Moss.
Superman succumbs to Kryptonite, and Brady looks human against the Giants with Eli Manning at the helm. Another Cinderella squad riding the molten momentum of a playoff streak that included unseating the Packers hotshotted its way into Super Bowl glory. A stellar defensive line and a fairly lucky pass by Eli Manning along the sideline to Mario Manningham led the way to Upset City again.
Fortune didn’t favor Brady for once. Cornerstone slot receiver Wes Welker failed to corral a slightly errant pass to keep a comeback alive and well at the end of the game. Rob Gronkowski emerged this season as one of the NFL’s premier passing threats. Seemingly everyone appeared to be an elite receiver against an uncharacteristically putrid pass defense that ranked 31st in the NFL overall that year.
SB XLV/ SEASON 2010 CHAMPIONS: GREEN BAY PACKERS
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Aaron Rodgers cemented his superstar status during Super Bowl XLV, throwing for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns to capture the game’s MVP trophy. His breakout performance carried a stellar passing attack all season. James Stark jolted the run game with his sudden spark in the postseason. An opportunistic zone defense captained by Hall of Famer Charles Woodson thrived in key moments.
SB XLIV/2009 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The Saints marched into Sun Life Stadium to do a physical number on the finesse-heavy Indianapolis Colts. Oddsmakers expected one of Peyton Manning’s seemingly endless lines to be “I’m going to Disney World.”
Sean Payton flipped the script by recovering a surprise onside kick at the start of the second half to set a game-winning tone sealed by cornerback Tracy Porter intercepting Peyton Manning for a pick-six late in the game. The Saints won the franchise’s only Super Bowl 31-17.
The aftermath haunting the 2009 New Orleans Saints tainted the victory. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams allegedly imported a bounty system learned from mentor Buddy Ryan that monetized dirty defense targeting key players on opposing teams. Warner suffered a career-ending blow on a blindside hit against the Saints in the playoffs leading to this Super Bowl. Malicious, late hits also tested Favre’s legendary durability to the absolute limits.
The league suspended Williams indefinitely, Payton for a year, suspended Pro Bowl linebacker Jonathan Vilma for a year, alongside several other starting players and key coaches for various lengths. The Saints surrendered their 2012 2nd-round picks and paid a $500,000 fine as well.
2000’s
SB XLIII/2008 SEASON CHAMPIONS: PITTSBURGH STEELERS
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The 2008 Steelers spoiled the feel-good story of Warner trying to become the first player to win a Super Bowl for two different franchises. A hard-hitting defense packed with vicious veterans, including Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and vaunted Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, left running backs in ruin all season. Defense ruled the highlight reel again when James Harrison rumbled through a 100-yard pick-six that remains the longest interception return in Super Bowl history.
Warner flashed the trademark resilience that catapulted him from bagging groceries to delivering record-setting Super Bowl performances, but Santonio Holmes sealed a late victory for the Steelers with the tope-tapping endzone catch of his football life.
SB XLII/2007 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW YORK GIANTS
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An angry Patriots squad looking to prove a point amidst Spygate punishments unleashed newly acquired Randy Moss to rewrite NFL history during a perfect regular season. The team shattered the record for points scored in a season, largely thanks to Brady chucking 23 touchdowns to a motivated Moss. An intelligent defense surrounded by veterans ensured a weak AFC conference couldn’t keep pace, as the Patriots obtained the highest margin of victory in over 60 years.
A 14-point underdog Giants squad highlighted by an impressive defensive line featuring Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora, and future All-Pro Justin Tuck denied the seemingly inevitable. Current Super Bowl champion defensive coordinator Steve Spagnolo righted the 38-point wrongs of Week 16 against the perfect Patriots, only surrendering 14 in the biggest game.
The ball sticking to unknown receiver David Tyree’s helmet for an impossible completion supplied the luck that couples with the skill to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
SB XLI/2006 SEASON CHAMPIONS: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Super Bowl XLI holds more historical value than the actual game’s entertainment value. The meeting between Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith marked the first and only time two Black head coaches have faced. Dungy cemented his place in history as the first Black coach to win a Super Bowl. The “Windy City” brought winds of change when Devin Hester opened a Super Bowl with a return touchdown for the first time in history.
Mother Nature unveiled plans beyond rain at halftime. Prince performed “Purple Rain” in actual rain during what many still consider the greatest halftime show ever.
SB XL/2005 SEASON CHAMPIONS: PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Ben Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl at age 23. Ironically, college quarterback-turned-receiver Antwan Randle El delivered the game’s key pass on a 43-yard strike to Pittsburgh mainstay Hines Ward to christen a 21-10 championship win against a salty Seahawks team called for 7 crucial penalties.
Fan favorite and punishing Hall of Famer Jerome “The Bus” Bettis rolled into retirement with his first Super Bowl ring following this game.
SB XXXIX/2004 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Another Patriots Super Bowl appearance conjured another close win surrounded by weird circumstances.
Terrell Owens returned just eight weeks after suffering a broken leg to contribute 9 gutsy receptions yielding 122 yards. T.O. and less-boisterous teammates accuse Donovan McNabb of being the one unfit to play. He tossed 3 interceptions, struggled to keep a no-huddle pace at the end of the game, allegedly puked in the huddle, and some even accused him of drinking before the game.
Deion Branch won MVP of the 24-21 game by catching 11 passes against a fierce secondary led physically and emotionally by Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins, one of the hardest hitters of the time.
SB XXXVIII/2003 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Brady delivered one of his finest Super Bowl performances this game. After a 41-yarder sealed a 32-29 deal, he repositioned Vinatieri for game-winning heroics. Brady contributed 366 total yards in a late-blooming thriller. Jake Delhomme nearly matched Brady’s greatness, throwing over 300 yards with zero picks. His attempts included the longest touchdown pass in Super Bowl history to Mushin Muhammad.
Some titillating action wasn’t as intentional. Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction stirred heavy debate. John Kasay’s final kickoff sailed out of bounds. The cardinal sin of kicking damned the Panthers to an easier game-winning drive by the Patriots.
SB XXXVII/2002 SEASON CHAMPIONS: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
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If any team has anything relevant to say about the Ravens being the best defense of the 21st century, it’s the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The defensive dynamo equipped with 4 Hall of Famers (one at each defensive level) positioned by Hall of Fame-worthy coordinator/Tampa 2 pioneer Monte Kiffin surrendered 12.3 points per game. That total outperforms the second-best team by nearly 50 points and is only 2 points per game behind the 2000 Ravens, despite facing a strikingly superior schedule of offenses. Many passes sailed the wrong way, regardless of who threw. The Buccaneers scored 4 touchdowns on a league-leading 31 interceptions.
MVP Rich Gannon failed to ‘Bucc’ the trend. The Raiders got blown out 48-21, largely thanks to Gannon throwing 3 pick-sixes (a seemingly unbreakable Super Bowl record). Many Raiders blame coach Bill Callahan rather than the quarterback. The former retained the same plays and ideology largely created by winning head coach Jon Gruden the previous year when Gruden fanned his infamous fire in Oakland’s direction as their head coach.
SB XXXVI/2001 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Brady’s first Super Bowl win gave Madden goosebumps. He surgically operated with zero timeouts and 1:21 left to bring the Patriots from the team’s 20-yard line to a winning 48-yard kick by Adam Vinatieri as time expired to close a 20-17 win that started a dynasty.
The game ranks among the greatest serendipities in Super Bowl history. Franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe got knocked out of a game early in the season, leading to a then-unknown Brady debuting with an 11-3 record after completing 1 pass his rookie year before the ultimate opportunity.
Patriotic viewers applaud the socially conscious efforts of U2 to unite the country during the halftime performance of the first Super Bowl since 9/11.
SB XXXV/2000 SEASON CHAMPIONS: BALTIMORE RAVENS
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens make a compelling case for the greatest defense ever assembled. The iconic squad allowed the fewest rushing yards by any team during a 16-game season. Being unable to establish a run game prevents points, giving this Super Bowl squad the least points allowed in a season since 1978.
Defensive demolition sped through the playoffs too. The 2000 Ravens allowed the fewest points by a team with at least 4 games played in a playoff run at just 23 total points. The overmatched Giants squeaked out 7, thanks to Baltimore icon Ray Lewis singlehandedly wrecking the top offense’s gameplan.
SB XXXIV/1999 SEASON CHAMPIONS: ST. LOUIS RAMS
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Kurt Warner ascended from bagging groceries to sorting the Greatest Show on Turf as a first-year starter at 28 years old. A poisonous bug bite also prevented the 1999 MVP from signing with the Bears. Warner injected defenses with lethal pocket precision, tossing 41 touchdowns to a record-setting offense highlighting 3 future Hall of Famers. A league-leading 109.2 passer rating before offensive-friendly rule changes astounded me at the time.
The run-and-gun offense of the Steve McNair/Eddie George-led Tennessee Titans battled within 1 yard of Super Bowl victory. The flirtation with glory bought Jeff Fisher 16 more years as a head coach, despite becoming a meme for 7-9 mediocrity. He won 2 playoff games after Super Bowl XXIV.
1990s
SB XXXIII/1998 SEASON CHAMPIONS: DENVER BRONCOS
The formula was so nice the team won the Super Bowl twice in a row. The Broncos defeated the Atlanta Falcons led by Elway’s former head coach Dan Reeves 34-19. Elway became the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl and retired on top with Super Bowl MVP honors.
SB XXXII/1997 SEASON CHAMPIONS: DENVER BRONCOS
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Playoff phenom Terell Davis carried John Elway to his first Super Bowl victory. Davis scored 3 touchdowns in a 31-24 victory where he rushed for over 150 yards. Mike Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme accentuated the strengths of an undersized, overachieving offensive line. Favre Favre’d his way to 3 touchdowns but 2 costly turnovers.
“Ol’ Reliable” generated the key play that reappears in every yearly Super Bowl highlight reel. Elway scrambled for a crucial first down near the goal line. The hit he absorbed spun his 37-year-old body like a helicopter, but he held on to the ball.
SB XXXI/1996 SEASON CHAMPIONS: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Seemingly more Wisconsinites worshipped Brett Favre than Jesus Christ on Sundays when “thou shalt not miss games” presided over “thou shalt not steal.” The winner of 3 consecutive MVPs in his prime and Super Bowl XXI restored the welfare of a Packers franchise that opposition cut through like Wisconsin cheese for two decades prior.
All-Pro returner Desmond Howard saved the 35-21 Super Bowl day with 244 return yards, including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He is the only special teams player to be named Super Bowl MVP. Favre added 3 touchdowns and put his canon of an arm to good use by firing the second-longest touchdown pass in Super Bowl history for 81 yards.
This is also the only Super Bowl hallowed Hall of Famer Reggie White won. He set a Super Bowl record with 3 sacks.
SB XXX/1995 SEASON CHAMPIONS: DALLAS COWBOYS
Barry Switzer vultured a Super Bowl ring using the same pieces Johnson set in place. Prime Time took his rightful place among the stars to win his second Super Bowl in a row. The Steelers, under Neil O’Donnell’s pedestrian quarterbacking, lacked the offensive firepower to win a shootout with the Cowboys. The Cowboys rode highest again, 27-17.
SB XXIX/1994 SEASON CHAMPIONS: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Deion Sanders lent his unmatched talents as the universal choice for greatest cornerback ever to get the 49ers over the Dallas hump. He boosted a stellar secondary that gave quarterback Steve Young plenty of chances to shine in, at that time, the most effectively efficient season a highly used quarterback experienced.
Pinpoint accuracy darted through an underdog San Diego Chargers defense to score 49 points. The 75 combined points in this game set an unbroken Super Bowl record. Young tossed 6 touchdowns, and Rice exploded for 3 of them on 10 catches and 149 yards.
SB XXVIII/1993 SEASON CHAMPIONS: DALLAS COWBOYS
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The recipe served as a second helping of Super Bowl success. The Cowboys rustled the Bills 30-13 this time. Emmit Smith received 34 touches for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns to secure Super Bowl MVP honors.
Pride poisoned the production. Egotistical owner Jerry Jones fired Jimmy Johnson out of jealousy over Johnson’s media adulation. This is the first and likely only time a coach has been or will be fired after winning the Super Bowl.
SB XXVII/1992 SEASON CHAMPIONS: DALLAS COWBOYS
The media roasted Jimmy Johnson for his initial lack of success and traded away awesome athlete Herschel Walker for picks. Johnson laughed last and best when the Cowboys returned to Super Bowl glory 3 seasons later with a 52-17 domination over the Bills. Johnson became the first coach to win an NCAA Division I National Title and Super Bowl.
This Super Bowl marked the first championship spearheaded by the “Triplets.” Emmit Smith carried a football more than any man in NFL history behind perennial stonewalls of offensive lines on the way to breaking the career rushing record. Troy Aikman established a Hall of Fame connection with Michael Irvin when defenses slowed the league’s best run game.
Michael Jackson’s immense visual effects and choreographic efforts also skyrocketed the production value of Super Bowl halftime shows.
SB XXVI - 1991 SEASON CHAMPIONS: WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Gibbs leaned on a stellar passing attack that began the trend of stacking receivers to one side as a natural evolution of the popular Air Coryell style of deep passing that intrigued the league in previous years.
The style suited Mark Rypien well. He won MVP of Super Bowl XXVI by throwing for nearly 300 yards in a 37-24 win over the Bills. He is also the third starting quarterback Gibbs won a Super Bowl with. Nobody else projects to accomplish that tough task anytime soon.
SB XXV - 1990 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW YORK GIANTS
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Parcells and Bill Belichick as an ace defensive coordinator, collaborated to update the 1986 blueprint for success. Another strong defense led by Lawrence Taylor, surrounded by other speedy linebackers, built another Super Bowl winner.
That defense forced quarterbacks into wide-eyed gazes. However, it was the 47-yard attempt by Scott Norwood at a game-winning field goal that sailed wide right to break Buffalo's hearts. The play epitomized the bad luck plaguing the Buffalo Bills for years to come.
1980’s
SB XXIV/1989 SEASON CHAMPIONS: SAN Francisco 49ERS
The 49ers also closed the decade by trying to close the debate on the greatest overall team. The 14-2 49ers, under Seifert’s fresh leadership, afforded Montana the chance to unleash a record-shattering season.
Superiority stretched through a playoff run where Montana threw 11 touchdowns, no interceptions, and the 49ers outscored opponents 126-26. The Broncos suffocated under the underdog pressure, losing 55-10. That’s the biggest blowout in Super Bowl History.
SB XXIII/1988 SEASON CHAMPIONS: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Super Bowl XXIII erased any doubts about if Montana was still the man to beat in big games. He led a 92-yard, game-winning drive in essentially 3 minutes to steal victory from the hungry Bengals. Lewis Billups dropped an easy interception to spoil the victors.
Jerry Rice snagged everything thrown his way, including the Super Bowl MVP. He caught 11 passes for an eye-popping 215 yards and a touchdown.
SB XXII/1987 SEASON CHAMPIONS: WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs answered the challenging call of mitigating Taylor’s aforementioned impact by inventing the H-back position. A tight end lining up similar to a fullback assisted in blocking Taylor once the stud edge rusher beat his initial assignment.
There’s only one Lawrence Taylor. Virtually nobody else could penetrate the “Hogs.” John Riggins retired by this point, but Doug WIlliams flawlessly passed behind that stellar line to throw for a then-record 340 yards and 4 touchdowns to win MVP and become the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
SB XXI/1986 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW YORK GIANTS
These Giants cemented a historic reputation for its linebacker corps spearheaded by arguably the greatest non-quarterback ever, Lawrence Taylor. Taylor permanently changed passing protection schematics and made left tackle a premium position to ensure quarterbacks were protected from blindsides.
However, quarterback Phil Simms played the game of his football life during this 39-20 Super Bowl. He owns the record for the highest quarterback rating in one at 150.9. That record withstanding today’s pass-friendly game void of the Giants’ signature style of defensive physicality, augments the impressiveness of throwing 3 touchdowns on an 88 percent completion rate.
SB XX/1985 SEASON CHAMPIONS: CHICAGO BEARS
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The 1985 Chicago Bears top most lists of the greatest NFL teams. A legendary defense was widely credited with resurrecting the rarified standard lost after the “Steel Curtain” closed. The historically underrated offense scored the second-most points in the league, thanks to hallowed running back Walter Payton and charismatic Pro Bowler Jim Mcmahon slinging deep passes to former Olympic hurdler Willie Gault.
The playoff scores finish Chicago’s sacred story. The Bears beat Bill Parcells’ New York Giants 21-0, the L.A. Rams led by single-season rushing king Eric Dickerson 24-0, and the New England Patriots 46-10. That’s the second-largest Super Bowl blowout in history. The monumental mauling is most known for William “Refridgerator” Perry scoring a rushing touchdown at 335 pounds (a record) instead of “Sweetness.”
SB XIX/1984 SEASON CHAMPIONS: SAN Francisco 49ERS
Passing retook the reins in 1984. Montana and Unparalleled pocket passer Dan Marino dueled for a 38-16 game where both quarterbacks had 300 yards through the air, which had never happened in a Super Bowl before. Montana prevailed, breaking Bradshaw’s passing yardage record while scrambling for 59 rushing yards (also a record) and a rushing touchdown. The 49ers reset offensive excellence by shattering the overall team yardage Super Bowl record by over 100 yards.
Keep in mind this was before Jerry Rice joined.
SB XVIII/1983 SEASON CHAMPIONS: OAKLAND RAIDERS
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Lady Luck ran away from Washington the following Super Bowl. Marcus Allen ruled the Raiders’ backfield before Bo Jackson redefined athletic excellence several years later. The old favorite rushed for a then-record 191 yards and two scores to lead an electric charge that set the AFC points record 38-9 over the defending champions.
SB XVII/1982 SEASON CHAMPIONS: WASHINGTON REDSKINS
The Washington Redskins’ gargantuan offensive line of the 80s/early 90s nicknamed “Hogs,” controlled the trenches. Powerful, Hall of Fame running back John Riggins ran through the few obstacles standing in his way. Washington fans squealed alone in delight at the grueling group that justified the “pig” in “pigskin.” Riggins punishingly plodded through 38 rushing attempts at 4.4 yards per carry to control the clock and ultimately the Lombardi Trophy on a 27-17 win over the Dolphins.
SB XVI/1981 SEASON CHAMPIONS: SAN Francisco 49ERS
Bill Walsh innovated West Coast offense principles that persist as the building blocks of today’s intricate passing attacks. Quick-timing routes to establish a rhythm and advancing running backs to desirable receiving options confused defensive coordinators once upon a time.
Joe Montana was the perfect candidate to control the unique flow of 49ers games. His mastery of remaining calm under pressure to quickly deliver scripted strikes or improvise for huge plays established a new completion percentage record in his first full year of starting.
“Joe Cool” blew by the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 to capture his first of 4 Super Bowls. SB XVI christened the start of a promising career that ended up being universally regarded as the greatest in quarterback history until some guy named Brady arrived.
SB XV/1980 SEASON CHAMPIONS: OAKLAND RAIDERS
Another nasty “Black Hole” defense swallowed competition in a gap year where the old guard was starting to show its age, and the new powerhouses hadn’t emerged yet. Jim Plunkett won his second Super Bowl and subsequently many more big trivia games as the answer for the only quarterback not in the Hall of Fame to win multiple Super Bowls as a starting quarterback.
1970’s
SB XIV - 1979 SEASON CHAMPIONS: PITTSBURGH STEELERS
More of the same superiority swept through the 1979 season. Knoll’s 31-19 championship closer separates him as the only head coach to go undefeated through 4 Super Bowls. Bradshaw’s fourth ring granted him Teflon status, despite throwing only 2 more touchdowns than interceptions during his Hall of Fame career.
SB XIII/1978 SEASON CHAMPIONS: PITTSBURGH STEELERS
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The story of Super Bowl XIII recalls Super Bowl X. Terry Bradshaw played a bigger role this time. He broke several passing records to lead the Steelers to a 35-31 victory in probably the best game of his career.
Even though the Cowboys peeked through the “Steel Curtain,” this is the best Super Bowl-winning version of the dynasty. The 1978 Steelers allowed the 4th-fewest points in a 16-game schedule in NFL history. The offense caught up by 1978 to bail out rare clunkers.
SB XII/1977 SEASON CHAMPIONS: DALLAS COWBOYS
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Roger Staubach’s rise to “America’s Team” captain started by alternating series with Craig Morton for one of Landry’s craziest schemes.
There was no question who played better in 1977 when Staubach faced his old teammate. Morton threw a then-record 4 interceptions and an abysmal 0.0 passer rating (the lowest possible) in a horrible performance that allowed the Cowboys to cruise to a 27-10 victory.
SB XI/1976 SEASON CHAMPIONS: OAKLAND RAIDERS
Photo courtesy of Associated Press
Asking Madden became the meta of football games long before being a lazy virtual option. A young John Madden rallied a crazy cast of colorful characters that lit up scoreboards and shoulder sockets en route to the beloved broadcaster’s only Super Bowl victory.
Ken “Snake” Stabler slithered through defenders to deliver passes that gave Fred Bilitnikoff MVP honors and Jake Roberts the inspiration to become “Jake the Snake” as a World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Famer.
SB X/1975 SEASON CHAMPIONS: PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The 1975 Steelers upgraded the 1974 version. The broader “Steel Curtain” allowed only 162 points while scoring 373.
Many consider this 21-17 Super Bowl matchup against the Cowboys to be the greatest semblance of talent in NFL history. 16 Hall of Famers played, while both Chuck Knoll and Tom Landry are regarded as two of the best coaches in NFL history. Lynn Swann emerged from the prestigious pile of Hall of Fame humanity as the first receiver to catch the Super Bowl MVP honor.
Future Hall of Famer Jackie Smith inducted himself into the Hall of Shame that evening after dropping a trafficless touchdown pass that hit his chest and would’ve rewritten history if secured.
SB IX/1974 SEASON CHAMPIONS: PITTSBURGH STEELERS
“The Steel Curtain” obscured scoring opportunities of any offensive variety. Pittsburgh’s defensive dynasty set the bar for any defensive successor to reach. The Vikings’ sole score resulted from a blocked punt. The score at halftime was 2-0. The 16-6 day was far from the first the Steelers would rule during the ‘70s.
SB VIII/1973 SEASON CHAMPIONS: MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Dolphins swam to the shores of prosperity again the following season. Griese eluded injuries and made the Pro Bowl for a 12-2 team that scored 85 playoff points in an era of low scoring. The victimized Vikings surrendered 3 touchdowns for a 24-7 victory.
SB VII/1972 SEASON CHAMPIONS: MIAMI DOLPHINS
Photo courtesy of Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press
Only one of the 56 Super Bowl winners maintained perfection. That team is the 1972 Dolphins, going 14-0 in the regular season and winning the Super Bowl 14-7 under career wins leader for head coach Don Shula.
Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris created the “thunder and lightning” prototype for running back tandems as the first pair to rush for over 1,000 yards. The team achieved the rare feat of leading the league in most points scored and fewest allowed, despite Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese’s injuries. The supreme squad produced 9 Pro Bowlers.
SB VI /1971 SEASON CHAMPIONS: DALLAS COWBOYS
A team with 11 Hall of Famers refined by a Hall of Fame coach stands a great shot at winning the championship in any sport. No NFL roster of the Super Bowl era features more Hall of Famers than the 1971 Dallas Cowboys.
Those not around to witness generational greatness can surmise the team set offensive records for the era and dominated the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl 24-3. This was the only game where a team failed to score a Super Bowl touchdown until SB LII.
SB V/1970 SEASON CHAMPIONS: BALTIMORE COLTS
Passing pioneer Johnny Unitas authored endless new records for future quarterbacks to chase. He nearly rewrote the Colts’ fortunes after getting injured before halftime of SB V.
Rookie head coach Don McCaferty held the championship squad together thanks to a game-winning field goal by fellow rookie Jim O’Brien with 5 seconds left. No other first-year head coach has won a Super Bowl other than George Seifert for the 1989 San Francisco 49ers. This was also the first Super Bowl played on artificial turf. Chuck Howley’s name endures as the only player to win Super Bowl MVP in a losing effort.
1960’s
SB IV/1969 SEASON CHAMPIONS: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Photo courtesy of Associated Press
Hank Stram avenged his loss in the first Super Bowl with a 23-7 upset over a vaunted Minnesota Vikings defense favored by 13.5 points that had set a record for the fewest points given up across 14 games.
Suave signal caller Len Dawson captured the Super Bowl MVP, but the run play “65 Power Trap” stole the headlines. Stram’s confusing call for a rushing touchdown served as the signature soundbite from the first time the NFL wired a coach for sound. “65 Power Trap” withstands the test of time as one of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history.
SB III/1968 SEASON CHAMPIONS: NEW YORK JETS
Joe Namath guaranteed the New York Jets would defeat the Baltimore Colts in this game. The third game proved to be the charm for one of the biggest stars in early football history. Namath was the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season.
SB II/1967 SEASON CHAMPIONS: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Photo courtesy of Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Early history repeated itself with Bart Starr leading the Packers to another dominant win, this time 33-14 over the Oakland Raiders.
The NFL’s grand geriatric before Tom Brady, George Blanda, appeared in his only Super Bowl as a kicker during this game. Blanda played the most professional football seasons, splitting 26 between quarterback and kicking duties. He even completed a pass at age 48!
SB I - 1966 SEASON CHAMPIONS: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Photo courtesy of James Flores of the NFL via Getty Images
The merger of the American Football League with the NFL mandated a game that Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt coined the Super Bowl. Vince Lombardi’s powerhouse Packers, stacked with a terrific overall squad on both sides of the ball, ran the Green Bay Sweep to perfection against the Chiefs to the tune of 35-10 domination. Iconic quarterback Bart Starr set the Super Bowl MVP standard with 250 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns.
FAQ
WHO WON THE SUPER BOWL LAST YEAR?
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in one of the most thrilling Super Bowls in recent memory. Patrick Mahomes won his second Super Bowl MVP trophy
WHICH TEAM HAS WON THE MOST SUPER BOWLS?
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers tie with Six Super Bowl wins.
WHICH TEAM HAS LOST THE MOST SUPER BOWLS?
The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos have lost five Super Bowls.
WHICH PLAYER HAS THE MOST SUPER BOWL RINGS?
Tom Brady won 7 Super Bowl rings quarterbacking the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WHICH COACH HAS WON THE MOST SUPER BOWLS?
Bill Belichick has won 6 Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots and 2 prior as the former defensive coordinator of the New York Giants under Bill Parcells.
WHAT IS THE SUPER BOWL DATE?
The NFL schedules the Super Bowl for the second weekend in Februrary. This date was moved back after the NFL expanded their regularl season to eight games in 2021.
WHERE IS THE 2023 SUPER BOWL LOCATION?
This season’s Super Bowl will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise Nevada. This will be the first Super Bowl to be held in the Las Vegas area.
Further Reading:
Cities That Should Have an NFL Team
Best NFL Players of All Time Ranked
How to Bet on NFL - Complete Guide
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