There’s nothing bigger than the Super Bowl. What began as a football game has morphed into a pop-culture phenomenon. The Super Bowl is about more than the two teams competing. It’s about the commercials and ads, and about the halftime show. It’s a spectacle in every sense.
But there was a time when the Super Bowl was a more humble affair. Still, there’s no denying that Americans have always loved their football.
The game is a perfect mix of raw power and intellectual strategy. A high-stakes chess match that requires the strength and determination of gladiators. It seems tailor-made for American audiences.
But now, it’s even more than that. The NFL has become established as a global game. Seemingly everyone knows when it’s Super Sunday.
The Birth and Evolution of the Super Bowl
While the extra pageantry that accompanies the Super Bowl wasn’t there back in the day, there was no doubt the game was going to garner plenty of interest.
In fact, the game that we now recognize as Super Bowl I was dubbed “The Super Nielsen Bowl” by many newspapers.
And those publications were correct. The game, which was broadcast by both CBS and NBC in 1967, drew in more than 51 million viewers.
Just 10 years later, Super Bowl XI brought in 62.05 million viewers. Most of those first 11 Super Bowls had a share around 70, meaning that 70% of all televisions that were in use were watching the Super Bowl.
The Highest-Rated Super Bowls in History
The Most Iconic Super Bowls in History
Believe it or not, the most-watched Super Bowls in history are not always the most memorable. However, a couple stand out as being both highly watched and highly regarded.
Super Bowl XLIX (2015): A classic Super Bowl featuring the dominant “Legion of Boom” Seattle Seahawks defense and the attempted resurgence of the New England Patriots’ dynasty, Super Bowl XLIX is the third-most viewed (114.8 million) Super Bowl in history. The game is also considered one of the best, with the Patriots intercepting Russell Wilson at the goal line in the final seconds.
Super Bowl LI (2017): The first Super Bowl to go to overtime saw Tom Brady and the Patriots complete an improbable comeback against the Atlanta Falcons. Super Bowl LI became known as the “28–3 Game” and the scorebug image became a meme. It is the sixth-most viewed Super Bowl in history, drawing 111.9 million.
On the flipside, there’s one Super Bowl that stands out in a bad way. Despite being one of the most-watched Super Bowls ever, the game was an absolute bore.
Super Bowl XLVIII (2014): The matchup between the Seahawks and Denver Broncos is the fourth-most watched Super Bowl ever, having drawn 112.7 million viewers. Peyton Manning threw a league-leading 55 touchdowns that season, leading the No. 1 offense in football. However, the Broncos were no match for Seattle’s stingy defense, getting blown out 43–8.
The Evolution of Viewership Trends
In short, the Super Bowl is becoming bigger than ever before. Since 2010, the Super Bowl has brought in at least 100 million viewers in all but three years.
Super Bowl LVIII, which took place last year, became the most-viewed broadcast in history.
At this point, the sky is the limit for the NFL. With the league putting a lot of focus into generating fans abroad, there’s no telling how high the ratings for the Super Bowl will look like in 10 years.
It is worth noting that the NFL does have one card up its sleeve to secure a massive rating: Taylor Swift.
Swift is easily the most-requested performer by enthusiasts online and her connection to the Kansas City Chiefs make it seem like a matter of “when” and not “if.”
READ MORE ABOUT THE SUPER BOWL
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Highest-Rated Super Bowls Through the Years.
