The Kansas City Chiefs joined the elite ranks of super bowl winners in 2024, marking the 57th chapter in football's greatest championship story.
Throughout these decades, the Super Bowl has transformed from a simple championship game into America's biggest sporting spectacle. This complete list of super bowl winners showcases legendary teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and San Francisco 49ers who have dominated different eras of the sport.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Initially, the Green Bay Packers made history by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the first-ever AFL-NFL World Championship Game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum [1].
The matchup featured the NFL champion Packers, who entered after defeating the Dallas Cowboys, against the AFL champion Chiefs, who had overcome the Buffalo Bills [2]. During the first half, the game remained competitive with the Chiefs keeping pace, trailing only 14-10 at halftime [1]. Subsequently, the Packers dominated the second half, outscoring Kansas City 21-0 to secure their victory [3].
Quarterback Bart Starr delivered an outstanding performance, completing 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns [1]. His precise passing and strategic gameplay earned him the first Super Bowl MVP award [4]. Furthermore, veteran receiver Max McGee made crucial contributions, including a difficult 37-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter [3].
The game represented more than just a championship match - it symbolized the first showdown between the two professional leagues since their merger agreement [3]. Notably, the event drew a television audience of 65 million viewers and made history as the only Super Bowl to be broadcast simultaneously on two networks - CBS and NBC [2].
The game's organization was remarkably different from modern standards. For instance, the venue wasn't selected until six weeks before kickoff, and ticket prices topped at $12 [2]. Additionally, the halftime show featured a unique combination of university marching bands, the Anaheim High School drill team, and two rocket men with jet packs [2].
Game Statistics | Packers | Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
Total Yards | 358 | 239 |
Rush Yards | 130 | 72 |
Pass Yards | 250 | 228 |
First Downs | 21 | 17 |
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At the Orange Bowl in Miami, the Green Bay Packers solidified their dynasty status by defeating the Oakland Raiders 33-14 [6], becoming the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls.
The Packers entered the game as 14-point favorites [6] despite having a less dominant regular season record of 9-4-1 [6]. The Raiders, nonetheless, brought an impressive 13-1 regular season record [6] to Miami. Green Bay demonstrated their superiority early, building a 13-0 lead through Don Chandler's field goals and a 62-yard touchdown pass from Bart Starr to Boyd Dowler [7].
Particularly significant was this being Lombardi's final game as Packers' head coach [8]. His departure marked the end of an era that included:
Five NFL championships
A remarkable 89-29-4 regular-season record
Three consecutive NFL titles (1965-1967)
The game's decisive moments unfolded through several key plays:
Quarter | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
1st | Chandler's 39-yard field goal | 3-0 |
2nd | Dowler's 62-yard TD reception | 13-0 |
4th | Adderley's 60-yard interception return | 33-7 |
Bart Starr earned his second consecutive Super Bowl MVP award, completing 13 of 24 passes for 202 yards [6]. Moreover, the Packers' defense proved formidable, allowing the Raiders only two touchdown passes from quarterback Daryle Lamonica [6].
The victory altogether marked the Packers' third consecutive world championship [6], a feat that remains unmatched in NFL history [8]. The game concluded with the iconic image of players carrying Lombardi off the field after his ninth straight playoff victory [6].
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In a historic upset that changed professional football, the New York Jets secured their place among super bowl winners by defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 16-7 at Miami's Orange Bowl [9].
The Jets dominated the game through strategic offense and solid defense. Matt Snell rushed for 121 yards on 30 carries [10], while Joe Namath completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards [11]. The team's defense proved exceptional, forcing five turnovers [12]. Key game statistics showcase the Jets' superiority:
Category | Jets | Colts |
|---|---|---|
Time of Possession | 36:10 | 23:50 |
Total Yards | 337 | 324 |
Turnovers | 1 | 5 |
Three days before kickoff, Namath made what became football's most famous prediction. At the Miami Touchdown Club, he boldly declared, "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it" [13]. The Jets entered as 18-point underdogs [12], yet Namath's confidence proved justified as he orchestrated a masterful offensive performance.
The victory marked several significant milestones:
First AFL team to win a Super Bowl [9]
First time the title "Super Bowl" was officially recognized [9]
Namath became the first MVP without scoring or throwing a touchdown [13]
The Jets' triumph obviously validated the AFL's competitiveness, consequently leading to increased discussions about the NFL-AFL merger [12]. Indeed, this game became recognized as one of the greatest upsets in professional sports history [13].
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Under cloudy skies at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, the Kansas City Chiefs secured their place in football history by defeating the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 [14].
The Chiefs' defense dominated the game, limiting Minnesota's offense to merely 67 rushing yards [15]. The game statistics showcase Kansas City's superiority:
Category | Chiefs | Vikings |
|---|---|---|
Total Yards | 273 | - |
Pass Yards | 122 | - |
Rush Yards | 151 | - |
First Downs | 18 | - |
Quarterback Len Dawson orchestrated a masterful offensive display, completing 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown [5]. Notably, his performance earned him the coveted Super Bowl MVP title, making him the fourth consecutive winning quarterback to receive this honor [15].
This victory held special significance as the final championship game before the AFL-NFL merger [15]. The Chiefs entered as 13.5-point underdogs [15], yet their triumph accomplished several remarkable feats:
Squared the Super Bowl series between AFL and NFL at two games apiece [16]
Validated the AFL's competitiveness before the merger
Marked the first time NFL Films miked up a head coach (Hank Stram) during a Super Bowl [15]
Certainly, the Chiefs' innovative formations and strategies, designed by Coach Stram, proved effective in disrupting the Vikings' defensive timing [15]. The attendance surpassed 80,000 [17], accordingly demonstrating the growing popularity of professional football's championship game.
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The Orange Bowl in Miami witnessed a historic clash as the Baltimore Colts secured their place among super bowl winners with a dramatic 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys [3].
In a tightly contested battle, Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with just five seconds remaining sealed the victory for Baltimore [3]. The game featured several momentum shifts, notably when Johnny Unitas connected with John Mackey for a spectacular 75-yard touchdown [18]. Nevertheless, Unitas later left the game due to a rib injury, completing only 3 of 9 passes for 88 yards and one touchdown [19].
This championship marked a significant milestone as the first Super Bowl following the AFL-NFL merger [3]. The game showcased two powerhouse teams:
The game earned its nickname "Blunder Bowl" due to unprecedented mistakes [3]:
Category | Statistics |
|---|---|
Total Turnovers | 11 (Super Bowl record) [3] |
Colts Turnovers | 7 (Most by a winner) [3] |
Cowboys Penalties | 10 (133 yards) [3] |
Ultimately, Chuck Howley of the Cowboys became the first and only player from a losing team to win Super Bowl MVP, after making two interceptions [20]. The victory notably helped Baltimore overcome their previous Super Bowl III disappointment, solidifying their legacy among past super bowl winners [3].
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_I
[2] - https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-first-super-bowl
[3] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_V
[4] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Starr
[5] - https://www.ringsforchamps.com/blogs/news/super-bowl-iv-the-kansas-city-chiefs-victory-and-mvp-len-dawsons-historic-performance
[6] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_II
[7] - https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196801140gnb.htm
[8] - https://www.nfl.com/news/america-s-game-lombardi-s-final-season-as-packers-coach-09000d5d818eee25
[9] - https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/football-history/1960-1979/1969/
[10] - https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196901120clt.htm
[11] - https://www.fanhospitality.com/super-bowl-history/super-bowl-1969
[12] - https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/top-super-bowl-moments-joe-namath-new-york-jets-guarantee-breakdown
[13] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_III
[14] - https://pro-football-history.com/game/10866/1969-minnesota-vikings-vs-kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl-score-7-to-23
[15] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_IV
[16] - https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2010/02/news-len-dawson-earns-mvp-honors-in-super-bowl-iv/
[17] - https://www.givemesport.com/nfl-super-bowl-championship-game-origins/
[18] - https://www.colts.com/video/super-bowl-v-baltimore-colts-quarterback-johnny-unitas-75-yd-td-to-tigh-20314319
[19] - https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/john-unitas-super-bowl-stats
[20] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl
