The History of the Super Bowl and its Traditions

Image Courtesy of USA Today

By Zachary Lichter

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX on February 9 in New Orleans. The Super Bowl is the biggest and most watched sporting event in all of American sports, with millions of people coming together to watch the “big game” on the second Sunday in February, and whether someone is a football fan or not, the Super Bowl has something for everyone.

Unlike the World Series, National Basketball Association Finals, and the Stanley Cup there exist many Super Bowl traditions: Commercials, halftime shows, neutral sites, and watch parties are among the many that have made this game so great. But one must ask: what makes the Super Bowl so great and where did these traditions come from?

Ethan Strohmetz, a senior politics major, commented on what he loves about the Super Bowl.

“I like the Super Bowl because of the energy and suspense of the game,” Strohmetz said. “However, I am much more excited about the Super Bowl when the Eagles are playing because of how much I like the Eagles. One game I really remember is the Eagles versus Patriots Super Bowl in 2018, especially the fourth quarter, where the Patriots almost had the opportunity to send the game into overtime but the Eagles were able to stop them.”

David Fritz III, a senior accounting major, commented on what makes the Super Bowl unique.

“The Super Bowl is only one game and not a whole series,” Fritz said. “It gives the game more weight and gravitas, which makes the wall and buildup to the game more exciting.”

The origin of the Super Bowl began in 1960 when the American Football League (AFL) was created after a group of businessmen wanted their own individual football teams. Pete Rozelle, the National Football League (NFL) Commissioner wanted to expand his league by creating an alternative football league so there could be a championship game at the end of the season. This idea left owners feeling frustrated because they wanted a league without restrictions.

In 1966, Rozelle negotiated an agreement with Lamar Hunt, the owner of the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. The NFL and AFL would come together in 1970 and split into two conferences called the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Since Rozelle still wanted to have a championship game between the AFL and NFL champions, they both decided to have a championship game called the “Super Bowl.” They both didn’t like the name because they thought it could’ve been better, but the name “Super Bowl” stuck with sportswriters.

The first Super Bowl took place on January 15, 1967, when the NFL’s Green Bay Packers played the Chiefs in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The game didn’t sell out, however, 65 million viewers watched the game on television which was the most viewers for an American sporting event. Since 1967, the Super Bowl has become more popular over time. Due to the increased excitement about the matchups year after year, the league created a two-week gap between the Conference Championship and the Super Bowl to keep people in suspense.

Since Super Bowl I, many players have come out in and out of this game setting NFL records. For starters, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady sets the Super Bowl record for most appearances, most touchdown passes, most completed passes, and most pass yards. Former New England Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick made the most appearances in the Super Bowl and has the most wins as a head coach.

Every year, people get together and watch the increasingly popular game. This popularity also led to companies spending millions of dollars on making commercials. The first commercial specially made for the Super Bowl aired in 1984 during Super Bowl XVIII when Apple introduced the Macintosh Computer. 

The halftime show also contributes to the appeal of the Super Bowl. Before artists like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, and Kendrick Lamar performed on the “world’s biggest stage,” military or college bands performed their field show during halftime. 

In 1992, Fox president Jamie Kellner kept viewers entertained during the halftime of Super Bowl [insert roman numeral here] by airing a live episode of In Living Color sponsored by Frito Lay. The following Super Bowl, Michael Jackson became the first artist to perform at halftime.

Whether it’s football, food, commercials, or a halftime show, there’s something for everyone at the Super Bowl. Over time, the Super Bowl has made its mark as a cultural event because every year people come together to watch one football game between the best team in the AFC and the NFC. No other sporting event can compete with the Super Bowl’s popularity.