Super Bowl I
Super Bowl I, held on January 15, 1967, marked the inaugural championship game between the NFL and AFL, featuring the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The event took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and was officially termed the World Championship Game, though it was popularly branded the Super Bowl, a name coined by Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt. Under the leadership of legendary coach Vince Lombardi, the Packers emerged victorious with a score of 35-10, establishing a dominant legacy. This game was significant as it was the beginning of a new era in professional football, setting the stage for the eventual merger of the two leagues in 1970.
The Super Bowl quickly evolved into a cultural phenomenon, with millions tuning in annually to witness the event, which blends sports with entertainment. By the late 1990s, the Super Bowl became one of the most-watched television events in history, consistently drawing over 120 million viewers and generating substantial economic impact through ticket sales and advertising revenue. The event not only celebrated athletic achievement but also became a staple of American culture, showcasing pageantry and celebrity performances alongside the game itself. Overall, Super Bowl I laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most significant sporting events in the United States.
Super Bowl I
The annual football game pitting the National Football League champion against the American Football League champion, first played January 15, 1967. As television propelled football into the spotlight, the Super Bowl became the game’s showcase attraction.
Origins and History
The National Football League (NFL), which was formed in 1922, held off four rival leagues before the American Football League (AFL) began play in 1960. On June 8, 1966, the leagues agreed to merge in 1970, a deal that included an annual World Championship Game. However, NFL teams viewed the AFL teams as upstarts and did not want to lose to teams from a league still considered a rival.
On January 15, 1967, legendary coach Vince Lombardi led his NFL champion Green Bay Packers into Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to take on the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. Though officially the World Championship Game, the contest was dubbed the Super Bowl, a name created by Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, after his daughter’s high-bouncing “Super Ball” toy. Lombardi’s Packers were heavy favorites and did not disappoint, winning 35-10.
The Packers returned to the title contest January 14, 1968, facing the Oakland Raiders in Miami’s Orange Bowl stadium. Again the Packers were favored, and again they triumphed, 33-14.
Just when things looked bleak for the AFL, along came quarterback Joe Namath and his New York Jets in 1969. Namath’s AFL champions were heavy underdogs against the Baltimore Colts in the first game officially named a “Super Bowl.” Before the January 12 game in Miami, the flamboyant Namath guaranteed a Jets win and backed up his vow, leading New York to a 16-7 victory. Namath became an instant celebrity and the AFL had its first world championship, though many in the NFL felt the victory was a fluke, a case of fortune smiling on an inferior team.
The 1969 season champion was determined January 11, 1970, in New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium the final game before the merger. Hunt’s Chiefs triumphed in the AFL’s swan song, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 and ending NFL notions of superiority.
Impact
With the televising of the 1958 NFL championship game, football began to shift from a regional game, in which fans in a few cities cheered for “their” teams, into a national one. That process continued through the 1960’s, and as football became a prominent part of American life, it found the perfect centerpiece for its new television success. The Super Bowl, with its pageantry and heroes, lived up to its name and became an event everyone had to watch.
Subsequent Events
After the leagues merged in 1970, the annual confrontation featured the winners of the two NFL conferences. By 1997, when the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI, various Super Bowls made up seven of the ten most-watched television programs ever, and the game annually was viewed by more than 120 million people. The game also was a financial success by the 1990’s, tickets that cost $12 in 1967 cost more than $100, and commercial airtime that once sold for $85,000 per minute rose to $850,000 per half-minute.
Additional Information
The Super Bowl (1990), a National Football League-produced book, offers detailed descriptions of the first twenty-five Super Bowls. The Official National Football League Record and Fact Book (published annually) includes Super Bowl statistics and records.