20 Super Bowl Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

The Super Bowl is much more than just a game–it’s an unforgettable cultural phenomenon that is made of record-breaking performances, jaw-dropping surprises, and the kind of unforgettable moments that history cannot forget. Every Super Bowl has a story, be it the billion-dollar commercials, wild halftime shows, bizarre traditions, or historic comebacks, in which the tale of each is so intriguing to millions worldwide. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or in it just for the snacks, these mind-blowing facts will have you seeing the Big Game in a whole new light!

1. The Coldest Super Bowl Was Played in a Freezing Wind Chill

NFL from Wikimedia Commons

The coldest game-time temperature ever recorded was when Super Bowl VI took place in New Orleans in 1972, at 39°F. The wind chill made it feel even colder, as the event was hosted in Tulane Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys won the Miami Dolphins 24-3 while still playing one of the coldest Super Bowls ever.

2. The Miami Dolphins Had the Only Perfect Season

Miami Dolphins from Wikimedia Commons

The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to ever complete a season without losing any game,  winning the Super Bowl VII against Washington with a score of 14-7. No team has been able to do it since then. The New England Patriots in 2007 did their best and were defeated by the New York Giants in the Super Bowl XLII.

3. The Most Expensive Super Bowl Commercial Ever

DOD News Features from Wikimedia Commons

In 2023, it cost about $7 million for a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl. The most expensive ad ever was Chrysler’s two-minute ad in 2011 with Eminem, reportedly costing $12 million. It was expensive because the Super Bowl was the number-one show on television in the United States.

4. Tom Brady Has More Super Bowl Wins Than Any NFL Franchise

Alexander Jonesi from Wikimedia Commons

Brady has won seven Super Bowls—six with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No team has won more than six. His success in the big game is unmatched in NFL history.

5. A Blackout Stopped Super Bowl XLVII

Au Kirk from Wikimedia Commons

During the 2013 Super Bowl between the Ravens and 49ers in New Orleans, power was lost for 34 minutes. It happened early in the third quarter; the game got delayed and changed momentum. The 49ers almost made a comeback but didn’t get through to the win, with a score of 34-31 in favor of the Ravens.

6. The Most Lopsided Super Bowl Ever

Cards84664 from Wikimedia Commons

In Super Bowl XX, the Chicago Bears crushed the New England Patriots 46-10 in 1986. The Bears’ defense, under the legendary coach Buddy Ryan, dominated from start to finish. Even their defensive tackle, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, scored a touchdown.

7. Super Bowl Tickets Used to Cost Less Than $20

Cards84664 from Wikimedia Commons

When the first Super Bowl was played in 1967, a ticket cost just $12. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $100 today—a fraction of the thousands fans pay now. The most expensive face-value ticket for Super Bowl LVII in 2023 was over $6,000.

8. No Super Bowl Has Ever Gone to Overtime—Until 2017

Brian Allen/Voice of America from Wikimedia Commons

For 50 years, not one Super Bowl had ever entered overtime. In Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots overturned a 28-3 lead by the Atlanta Falcons to defeat them 34-28 in overtime. The game was the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.

9. The Lombardi Trophy is Cast by Tiffany & Co.

Teo’s89 from Wikimedia Commons

The Super Bowl trophy is manufactured by the luxury brand Tiffany & Co. It is made of sterling silver, 22 inches tall, and weighs around 7 pounds. A new trophy is manufactured for the winning team every year.

10. Gatorade Showers Began in the Super Bowl

Gatorade from Wikimedia Commons

This practice of dousing the coach with Gatorade started somewhere in the mid-1980s but gained fame after the Giants won the Super Bowl XXI in 1987. Defensive lineman Harry Carson doused head coach Bill Parcells with the icy drink. The “Gatorade shower” has since become one of the more celebrated Super Bowl moments.

11. Super Bowl is the Second-Largest Eating Day in the U.S.

Willis Lam from Wikimedia Commons

The only day other than Thanksgiving where Americans eat more is on Super Bowl Sunday. On this one day, Americans eat more than 1.4 billion chicken wings and finish more than 10 million pounds of chips. Pizza and beer sales explode on game day.

12. The Winning Team Gets Paid More

Collision Conf from Wikimedia Commons

Each player on the winning team gets paid more than the losing team. For example, winners in Super Bowl LVII (2023) earned $157,000 per player, while the losing team got $82,000 each. That’s still a big payday, but winning definitely pays more.

13. The First Super Bowl Wasn’t Even Called the “Super Bowl”

Opertinicy from Wikimedia Commons

The first championship game between the AFL and NFL in 1967 was called officially the “AFL-NFL World Championship Game.” For a few years longer, it would not be the “Super Bowl” after the “Super Ball” toy. The name was popularized, and for Super Bowl III, it became official.

14. The Halftime Show Used to Be Just Marching Bands

mos.ru from Wikimedia Commons

It was all about marching bands and drill teams before pop stars took over the Super Bowl halftime show. The early Super Bowls featured groups like the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band. It wasn’t until the 1990s that big-name artists like Michael Jackson turned halftime into a spectacle.

15. Janet Jackson’s Wardrobe Malfunction Changed TV Rules

Rich Esteban from Wikimedia Commons

Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s chest during the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. The event, known as “Nipplegate,” became the most recorded FCC complaints ever. It also led to the broadcast delay rule for live TV events.

16. The Most Watched Super Bowl Ever

Gage Skidmore from Wikimedia Commons

Super Bowl LVII (2023) was the most-watched Super Bowl in history, with an average of 115.1 million viewers. The game, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, broke the previous record set by Super Bowl XLIX (2015). Rihanna’s halftime show alone drew over 121 million viewers.

17. The Super Bowl Was Once Simulcast on Two Networks

ViacomCBS from Wikimedia Commons

The first Super Bowl, in 1967, was on both CBS, covering the NFL, and NBC, which covered the AFL. Each network used separate announcers and production teams. It remains the only time in history that two networks broadcast a Super Bowl simultaneously.

18. A Kicker Won Super Bowl MVP

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Only one placekicker has ever won Super Bowl MVP—Mark Moseley never did it (contrary to myths), but in Super Bowl V, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley became the only losing player to win MVP. Kicker Adam Vinatieri, though legendary, never won the award. The MVP title is usually reserved for quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defensive players.

19. One City Hosted the Super Bowl and the Olympics in the Same Year

Cards84664 from Wikimedia Commons

Minneapolis in 1992 became the first and only city that hosted both the Super Bowl (XXVI) and the Winter Olympics of that year at Albertville, France. Washington won the Super Bowl played at the Metrodome against Buffalo. This type of scheduling overlap has never recurred.

20. Most Points Ever Scored in a Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXIV/NFL from Wikimedia Commons

The San Francisco 49ers hold the record for scoring the most points ever in one Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXIV (1990), they totally mauled the Denver Broncos by a score of 55-10. That was the highest such margin in the history of the Super Bowl.

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