The Super Bowl is the ultimate stage for anybody involved in the world of professional football. Over its five-decade history, great players and coaches have become legends and memorable moments have become a part of American pop culture. With so much attention and importance placed on the game every season, it is no surprise that some Super Bowl highlights stand the test of time.
Here, we cover some of the most important participants, moments, bets, and entertainment festivities to ever take place on Super Bowl Sunday. With the event seemingly growing bigger every year, it is only a matter of time until more names are added to the list.
Until then however, let this serve as a refresher as you get ready for this year’s big game with our Super Bowl Hall of Fame.
With six Super Bowl rings and four Super Bowl MVPs, the New England quarterback has started the annual game a record 9 times. His most memorable perhaps comes in the form of the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, where Brady and the Patriots erased a 25-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime.
Before there was Brady, there was Joe Montana, and he was at his best on the biggest stage. Going 4-0 on Super Bowl Sunday with a total of three MVPs, eleven touchdowns, and no interceptions, Montana spearheaded the San Francisco 49ers as the team of the 1980s. No game serves as a better example of Montana’s clutch style than the Super Bowl XXIII affair against the Bengals, where Montana orchestrated a 92-yard scoring drive that ended with his game winning touchdown throw to John Taylor.
Considered the greatest wide receiver and in the eyes of many, player, of all time, Jerry Rice is in his own league in terms of Super Bowl receiving stats. Rice holds Super Bowl records for receptions (33), receiving yards (589) and touchdowns (8). Winning titles with both Joe Montana and Steve Young, Rice was named MVP of Super Bowl XXIII and caught three TDs alone in San Francisco’s Super Bowl XXIX victory.
Often overlooked in recent years due to the championship legacies of both Brady and Montana, Terry Bradshaw was the first NFL quarterback to reel in four Lombardi Trophies. His nine Super Bowl touchdowns trail only the two previously mentioned quarterbacks and despite being saddled with numerous Hall of Famers on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, Bradshaw still made plenty happen himself, serving as the MVP of Super Bowl XIII and XIV.
Pro football’s all-time leading rusher made a point of showing up in the biggest moments. With his five rushing touchdowns serving as a record for the game, he also ranks third all-time in rushing yards with 289 in his appearances in the event. Super Bowl XXVIII’s most valuable player, Smith is also the NFL’s leader in career postseason rushing yards (1,586) and touchdowns (19), showcasing his productivity on the road to the big game as well as his role in it.
Perhaps the greatest individual rushing performance in the history of the big game, Terrell Davis compiled three touchdowns and 157 yards while dealing with a migraine of all things, helping Denver beat Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII where he would be awarded the game’s MVP. The next year, he tacked on 102 yards on the ground and 50 through the air when the Broncos went back to back defeating the Atlanta Falcons. Davis’ efforts in these outings helped bring longtime quarterback John Elway two world titles before his retirement.
Despite playing in the game only once, Doug Williams made possibly the biggest impact on the NFL as any Super Bowl MVP ever had before, as his four touchdown, 340-yard day helped Washington cruise past Denver in Super Bowl XXII. Caught in an initial 10-0 hole, Williams’ four passing scores all came in a 35-point second quarter after injuring his knee earlier in the contest. But above it all, he conquered something far bigger than the Broncos and the MVP award on that Sunday, becoming the first African American quarterback to ever win the big one.
With some of the greatest heroics ever seen in the Super Bowl, Eli Manning defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in two thrilling encounters, giving football fans some of the most jaw dropping moments ever witnessed in the process. With game winning drives in both Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, Manning’s clutch antics earned him MVP honors on both occasions, while also providing arguably the greatest play in the spectacle’s history in his first victory and one of its all-time greatest crunch-time throws in his second.
The first Super Bowl star who truly shook up the football landscape was Joe Namath, and he didn’t even need a huge statistical day to do it. While much of the afternoon featured the Jets’ QB being a game manager more than anything else, it was his swagger in the pregame buildup of Super Bowl III that now stands the test of time. Guaranteeing to beat the heavily favorited Baltimore Colts of the NFL, Namath and the Jets stunned the sports world with their 16-7 triumph. “Broadway Joe” still wound up being the game’s MVP, and the victory for the Jets (and the former AFL as a whole) would change the world of pro football forever.
With five Super Bowl rings, Charles Haley’s all-time mark stood for years before being surpassed by Tom Brady’s most recent championship. Dominating as a defensive end and outside linebacker for the 49ers and the Cowboys, Haley’s pass rush was a consistent force for two different dynasties in both the 80s and 90s. His total of 4 ½ sacks are the second most in the event’s history, and he recorded two of them in San Francisco’s nail biter of a win against Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII.
It is impossible to not include Adam Vinatieri in this crop, as his right leg deserves much of the credit in literally launching the Patriots’ dynasty. For starters, his 34 points in the Super Bowl is the most of anyone not named Jerry Rice (48 points). That alone is quite the feat, but it is the game winning field goals in the closing seconds of Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII that make the kicker a legend of Super Bowl Sunday. After helping the Patriots to a third Super Bowl title, Vinatieri would then help guide Peyton Manning to his first Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI.
Lynn Swann’s performances in the Super Bowl are synonymous with his career as a whole, as his acrobatic grabs in the event are the driving part of his legacy and still prove to be immortalized through NFL films. Named the MVP of Super Bowl X, Swann’s highlight-reel caliber receptions and 161 total yards helped push the Steelers past the Cowboys, with his 64-yard scoring grab in the fourth quarter sealing the deal in what would be Pittsburgh’s second of four titles with Swann in the mix.
With two rings already collected as Joe Montana’s backup, Steve Young etched his own championship legacy with one of the greatest passing performances in the history of the competition. With six scoring throws in the 49ers’ 49-26 blowout of the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX, Young set the bar for most touchdown passes in a Super Bowl game, and with his additional 24 of 36 passes completed and 325 yards totaled, brought San Francisco its fifth and most recent world championship.
Impressively done in two different stints, Kurt Warner lays claims to being one of the most prolific passers in Super Bowl history. Leading the 1999 Rams to a world title as the driving force of “The Greatest Show on Turf”, his MVP performance of Super Bowl XXXIV featured what was at the time, a record performance of 414 passing yards. Following it up with a close loss in what would be the Patriots’ first ever title at Super Bowl XXXVI, Warner racked up 365 yards in that outing and came within an Adam Vinatieri field goal of hauling in his second Lombardi Trophy. Warner would then have a career resurgence with Arizona and would lead the Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII where he would tack on 377 more yards in a razor thin loss to Pittsburgh.
With one of the most celebrated runs in the history of the NFL, Marcus Allen’s Super Bowl XVIII scamper and surrounding performance remains one of Super Bowl Sunday’s best individual efforts. Allen totaled a then-record 191 yards on the ground and found the end zone twice in the Raiders 38-9 victory over the Redskins, including the aforementioned dash (that at the time was a Super Bowl milestone of 74 yards). With this achievement, Allen became just the third player to win both college football’s Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP honors, still sitting as one of just four men to do so.
The Super Bowl is the showcase of football legends, and in addition from the plethora of memorable plays and moments provided by so many great players for over five decades, there are a select few who have cemented themselves into the record books.
Here are some of the most significant leaders and record holders in the history of the Super Bowl:
| Passing TD | Passing Yards | Passing Completions | Rush TD | Rush Yards | Rush Avg. | Receiving TD | Receiving Yards | Receptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Brady (18) | Tom Brady (2,838) | Tom Brady (256) | Emmitt Smith (5) | Franco Harris (354) | Marcus Allen (9.6) | Jerry Rice (8) | Jerry Rice (589) | Jerry Rice (33) |
| Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions | Kickoff Return Yards | Long. Kickoff Return TD | FG Made | FG Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Wagner (22) | L.C. Greenwood (5) | Chuck Howley/Rod Martin/Larry Brown (3) | Fulton Walker (283) | Jacoby Jones (108) | Adam Vinatieri / Stephen Gostkowski (7) | Adam Vinatieri (10) |
Arguably the most important Super Bowl result to ever occur, the New York Jets pulled of the NFL’s all-time greatest upset in the third installment of the event. As 18-point under dogs taking on the Baltimore Colts in 1969’s Super Bowl III, there was already enough reason to completely rule out the then- AFL’s Jets’ shot at victory. After the AFL went down to Lombardi’s Packers in the first two Super Bowls and with the Colts serving as one of the best NFL clubs of the era, practically nobody expected quarterback Joe Namath’s guarantee to win the game days prior to actually come to fruition. The contest was far from thrilling and despite having a very limited day statistically, Namath’s management of the game coupled with running back Matt Snell’s 161 total yards of offense made his promise a now-celebrated part of sports history. The monumental 16-7 upset changed the narrative on the AFL from that point onward, with a new sense of legitimacy surrounding the league all the way up to the finalization of its merger with the NFL in 1970.
With the Miami Dolphins taking a 17-13, fourth quarter lead over the Redskins, Washington head coach Joe Gibbs decided to put his future hall of fame rusher to use as power back John Riggins was fed the ball up the middle to wear down the Dolphins defense. The breaking point came with just over ten minutes remaining, as with the contest up for grabs and Washington facing a key fourth -and-1 from the Miami 43, Gibbs elected to go for it. After receiving the handoff from quarterback Joe Theismann, Riggins pressed the line of scrimmage and looked to bounce into the open field. He was then met by Dolphins corner Don McNeal, who saw his tackle attempt broken as Riggins effortlessly shook off the defender to go untouched the rest of the way. The 43-yard touchdown run helped seal the deal for the evening and led to the first of three rings for Gibbs and Washington.
Now a staple of football lore, 49ers quarterback Joe Montana prepared to drive his offense down the field with 3:10 remaining in regulation. Trailing the Cincinnati Bengals 16-13 and starting at their own 8, Montana calmly picked the Bengals apart as San Francisco hauled its way to the Cincinnati 10-yard line with 39 ticks of the clock left. With a quick drop back and throw, Montana zipped the ball over the middle to receiver John Taylor in the back of the end zone. The score resulted in San Francisco’s third world championship and would serve as the final game of hall of fame head coach, Bill Walsh. This moment is also immortalized due to its connection with late, comedic actor John Candy. While in the huddle at the start of the drive, Montana famously pointed the film star out in the stands to his teammates with the quote “Look, isn’t that John Candy?” The quote and relaxed demeanor associated with it have since become synonymous with Montana’s reputation as “Joe Cool”.
After a hard-fought slug fest between Bill Parcells’ Giants and Marv Levy’s Bills, the game had come down to a deficit of one point with quarterback Jim Kelly and the Buffalo offense attempting to drive down the field with 2:16 remaining. They were able to advance to the Giants’ 29-yard line, electing for a field goal attempt with eight seconds remaining on the clock. Bills kicker Scott Norwood lined up to split the uprights and bring Buffalo the Lombardi Trophy in a 47-yard attempt that was believed to be marginally within his range. Despite having the distance, Norwood’s kick sailed wide right past the goal post with four seconds left in regulation. The Giants would win 20-19, with this result being the closest Super Bowl final score ever and serving as the second title in five years for Parcells and New York while the first of four losses in the titular game for Buffalo.
With a reputation of not only coming up short in the big game but getting blown out of the building in the process, John Elway and the Denver Broncos flipped the script against the defending world champion Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre. With a tied game in the third quarter, Denver was in scoring position facing a 3rd- and-six from the Packers’ 12-yard line. Initially dropping back to pass, the 37-year old Elway then took off with his legs, making his way to the seven-yard line. Realizing he was a yard short of moving the chains, the veteran would then make a courageous dive forward in an attempt to pick up the first down. In mid-air, he was met by three Green Bay defenders, spinning Elway completely around in helicopter-like fashion above the ground before landing at the fourth with the ball intact. With a fresh set of downs, Denver would capitalize off of Terrell Davis’ score two plays later and take the 24-17 lead. They’d score once more to secure their first ever Super Bowl title in the 31-24 win. Late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen would highlight this with his famous “This one’s for John” quote in the post-game trophy presentation. Denver, Elway, and head coach Mike Shanahan would go on to repeat as champs the following season.
After falling behind 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams in the late moments of Super Bowl 34 as Kurt Warner found Isaac Bruce for a deep touchdown, the Tennessee Titans quickly worked their way down the field. With the help of quarterback Steve McNair’s scrambling ability, the Titans were able to drive to the Rams’ 10-yard line with six seconds remaining. On the next play, McNair delivered a quick slant to receiver Kevin Dyson who found separation over the middle. St. Louis linebacker Mike Jones quickly positioned himself to make the play and executed a textbook tackle on Dyson inside the 3-yard line, wrapping up the wideout’s legs as he made his way to the end zone. While going down, Dyson extended the ball as far as he could towards the goal line with the final seconds ticking away; it was to no avail. Also known as “The Tackle”, a few more inches would have sent the contest into overtime, yet the result was a championship victory for the Rams and head coach Dick Vermeil.
Trailing 14-10 to the Patriots and driving with under two minutes in regulation, Giants quarterback Eli Manning faced a critical 3rd and 5 from New York’s 44-yard line. After escaping the grasp of a swam of New England defenders, Manning heaved a pass to Giants’ backup receiver and special teams player David Tyree (who had caught a touchdown pass from Manning earlier in the game),who miraculously caught the ball and pinned it against his helmet while being dragged down by Patriots’ safety Rodney Harrison. The 32-yard gain for a first down would pay off four plays later, when Manning connected with wide out Plaxico Burress in the end zone for the 17-14 game winner, spoiling what would have been a 19-0 perfect season for the Patriots.
For nearly its entirety, Super Bowl 43 was an instant classic. Featuring memorable plays like Steelers linebacker James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown and stellar performances such as Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald’s 127-yard, 2-touchdown night, both Pittsburgh and Arizona went blow-for-blow until the final whistle blew. After an Arizona safety set up Fitzgerald’s second score of 64 yards, the Cards had the 23-20 lead with 2:37 left. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would then rise to the occasion, driving the Steelers down to the Cardinals’ 6-yard line after finding receiver Santonio Holmes for a 40-yard gain. A couple plays later, the ball was back in Holmes’ hands, as Roethlisberger darted a perfectly thrown pass in the back corner of the endzone. Fulling extending his arms while keeping both feet planted in bounds, Holmes secured the catch for a touchdown with 35 seconds to go. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner would attempt to counter punch yet again as the final seconds ticked away, but after coughing up the ball on a strip-sack, the Steelers recovered and locked in their sixth and most recent Super Bowl victory.
In a back-and-forth affair between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, Tom Brady and the Pats took the 28-24 lead when the quarterback found receiver Julian Edelman for an easy three-yard touchdown with 2:02 left in regulation. Then, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson countered with a huge throw down the right sideline that was initially bobbled and then amazingly caught by wideout Jermaine Kearse at the New England 5 for a 33-yard gain. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch worked his way up to the 1-yard line the next play, setting up one of the most shocking conclusions ever seen on Super Bowl Sunday. With :26 on the clock, it seemed logical that the next play would be Lynch up the gut again. Instead, Wilson dropped back and threw a quick slant to the goal line. The play was meant to work as a pick on New England’s secondary to create an opening for the throw, but little-known corner Malcolm Butler diagnosed it perfectly and made the jump on Wilson’s pass, snagging a brilliant-timed interception with 20 second to go. From their 1-yard line, the Patriots drew the ‘Hawks offsides to avoid the threat of a safety and secured their fourth world championship, with this being their first in a decade.
Up until the 2:06 mark of the 3rd quarter in the 51st edition of the event, New England’s quest for a fifth Lombardi Trophy seemed like a lost cause. With a 28-3 lead, the Atlanta Falcons and all spectators had every reason to believe that this was the Falcons’ moment. That all changed when Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower strip-sacked Atlanta quarterback (and that season’s MVP) Matt Ryan for a New England turnover, and the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history was then set in motion. Despite struggling mightily in the game up to that point, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady orchestrated a 25-point surge which eventually led to a score by running back James White and an ensuing 2-point conversion from pass to slot receiver Danny Amendola. This knotted the game 28-28 with just under a minute left in regulation. The game would then become the first and only Super Bowl to make it to an overtime period where the Patriots would again put the ball in the arms of White, who from the Atlanta 2-yard line, put a bow on it. With the 34-28 final, Brady became the first player to ever capture Super Bowl MVP honors four times.
All time, the NFC edges out the AFC with a mark of 27-26 in the first 53 Super Bowl contests.
Looking at the gambling fallout, the betting favorites have gone 35-17 straight up in the game, with a record of 28-20-2 against the number. The biggest upset came in the form of the New York Jets, who were 18-point dogs against the Baltimore Colts in 1969’s Super Bowl III.
Interestingly, there have only been six occasions with a favorite winning the game but failing to cover the spread. To go along with that, only two Super Bowls have ended right on the number, with pushes taking place in 1997 and 2000.
Totals play their role as well, as NFL scoring has become far more sophisticated. Due to this, “over/under” bets are as popular as ever with final combined scores currently the highest they have ever been.
Yet another close trend, the over has hit in 27 of the 53 Super Bowl outings. 25 contests have finished beneath the posted mark. The largest total points ever scored in a Super Bowl went down in 1995 when the San Francisco 49ers blew out the San Diego Chargers 49-26 for a combined 75 points in Super Bowl 29.
That win by San Francisco served as more than just a successful over bet, as it was just one of two losses the books have taken on the game since handle first was tracked in the early 90s.
The second-largest came just two years ago, when the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots combined for 74 points in the Eagles’ 41-33 victory.
It was that very contest that set the all-time record for Super Bowl handle as well, generating a mind boggling $158.6 million on the game.
In fact, up until last season’s contest between the Patriots and the Rams, the sportsbooks had cleaned up the three prior years in record-breaking fashion, with last year’s installment still finishing second all time.
| GAME | OUTCOME | PROFIT |
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl 52 | Eagles def. Patriots (41-33) | $158.6 M |
| Super Bowl 53 | Patriots def. Rams (13-3) | $145.9 M |
| Super Bowl 51 | Patriots def. Falcons (34-28) | $138.5 M |
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