The Super Bowl is without question the biggest sporting event of the year, as millions tune in around the world to watch two teams compete for the coveted Lombardi trophy.
While the league has been around for exactly 100 years, the Super Bowl itself didn’t start happening until the 1960s. If you call yourself a real football fan you probably already know that, but if not, it’s time you brush up on your NFL history.. Here are some fun facts about the Super Bowl that you definitely need to know.
Lamar Hunt Came Up With the Name
Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt actually came up with the name “Super Bowl” because of a ball his son and daughter used to play with called “super ball.” According to Lamar Hunt Jr., his dad threw around the name “Super Bowl” during a meeting and it ended up sticking.
One Player, Two Teams
Despite the fact that the Super Bowl has been around for over 50 years, only one player has ever won a championship with two teams — Peyton Manning. Manning won his first Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007 and his second with the Denver Broncos in 2016.
12 Teams Have Never Lifted the Trophy
While many teams have won multiple Super Bowls (we’re looking at you, New England Patriots), there is a sad group of teams that have never lifted the trophy.
The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Minnesota Vikings have all never won.
MVP on the Losing Team
The MVP of the Super Bowl, which is announced after the game is completed and has gone to a member of the winning team every time except for one. When the Dallas Cowboys lost to Baltimore in Super Bowl V, Chucky Howley was actually voted the MVP.
Only One Overtime Victory
This is hard to believe, seeing as many playoff games go to overtime, but the Super Bowl has only gone to overtime once. In fact, the very first time any Super Bowl went into overtime was in 2017 when the Patriots came from behind to defeat the Atlanta Falcons.
Patriots Have Appeared in the Most Super Bowls
Well, no surprise here! Speaking of the Patriots, New England has appeared in more Super Bowls than any other team in history. They have been to a whopping 11 Super Bowls, with nine of their appearances coming under head coach Bill Belichick and former quarterback Tom Brady.
Two Teams Tied For Most Wins
The New England Patriots and the Pittsburg Steelers are actually tied for the most Super Bowl victories. They have each won six.
NFC Winning Streak
Though the AFC has certainly won its fair share of Super Bowls, the NFC went on a 13-Super Bowl game win streak from 1985 to 1997. Finally, in 1998, the Denver Broncos took home the trophy.
Lowest Scoring Game
The lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history was back in 2019 when the Patriots beat the Rams 13-3.