What is the earliest or first Super Bowl you remember watching? (AFC, NFC)

[echo7tango]

There have been 50 Super Bowls played to date. Super Bowl I was after the 1966 NFL season, and Super Bowl LI (51) is a week from Sunday. What is the earliest or first Super Bowl you remember watching?

That can be a measure of when you started to become a football fan. For me it was Super Bowl VI (6) after the 1971 season, when I was 10 years old. The Cowboys and Roger Staubach completely dismantled the Dolphins and Bob Griese, 24-3. To date, that is still the only Super Bowl where a team failed to score a touchdown. Even the vaunted 1985 Bears with their Buddy Ryan defense gave up a TD to the Patriots and Steve Grogan (or Tony Eason). In Super Bowl IX (9) the Vikings only scored 6 against the Steelers, but that was on a blocked punt and then Fred Cox missed the PAT. That's right, the Vikings offense failed to score a single point, and that's the only time that has ever happened in the big game.

Super Bowl VI was also the first and still only time a team has appeared in 3 straight Super Bowls with at least one win. The Miami Dolphins appeared in Super Bowls 6, 7, and 8, and they won the other two. The Buffalo Bills (or, BiLLLLs) went to 4 straight, 25, 26, 27, and 28, and lost them aLLLL. Alas, if Norwood hadn't been wide right in 25. That's the one they should've won.

Have you been to any Super Bowls? I had a coworker friends who was a Bills fan, and yes, he went to all four. Ouch. - - - I've never been, and don't think I ever will. I'll enjoy them at home on TV, where the beer is cheaper (and better!) and there aren't any rest room lines. Besides, I can watch the commercials, which I like.

Do you have any special Super Bowl memories?

What is the earliest or first Super Bowl you remember watching? There's nothing quite like your very first time, right?


Super Bowl (NFL Season Year) [location]

SB 01 (1966): Green Bay Packers 35 - Kansas City Chiefs 10 [Los Angeles]
SB 02 (1967): Green Bay Packers 33 - Oakland Raiders 14 [Miami]
SB 03 (1968): New York Jets 16 - Baltimore Colts 7 [Miami]
SB 04 (1969): Kansas City Chiefs 23 - Minnesota Vikings 7 [New Orleans]]
SB 05 (1970): Baltimore Colts 16 - Dallas Cowboys 13 [Miami]
SB 06 (1971): Dallas Cowboys 24 - Miami Dolphins 3 [New Orleans]]
SB 07 (1972): Miami Dolphins 14 - Washington Redskins 7 [Los Angeles]
SB 08 (1973): Miami Dolphins 24 - Minnesota Vikings 7 [Houston]
SB 09 (1974): Pittsburgh Steelers 16 - Minnesota Vikings 6 [New Orleans]]
SB 10 (1975): Pittsburgh Steelers 21 - Minnesota Vikings 17 [Miami]
SB 11 (1976): Oakland Raiders 32 - Minnesota Vikings 14 [Pasadena]
SB 12 (1977): Dallas Cowboys 27 - Denver Broncos 10 [New Orleans]]
SB 13 (1978): Pittsburgh Steelers 35 - Dallas Cowboys 31 [Miami]
SB 14 (1979): Pittsburgh Steelers 31 - Los Angeles Rams 19 [Pasadena]
SB 15 (1980): Oakland Raiders 27 - Philadelphia Eagles 10 [New Orleans]]
SB 16 (1981): San Francisco 49ers 26 - Cincinnati Bengals 21 [Pontiac]
SB 17 (1982): Washington Redskins 27 - Miami Dolphins 17 [Pasadena]
SB 18 (1983): Los Angeles Raiders 38 - Washington Redskins 9 [Tampa]
SB 19 (1984): San Francisco 49ers 38 - Miami Dolphins 16 [Stanford]
SB 20 (1985): Chicago Bears 46 - New England Patriots 10 [New Orleans]]
SB 21 (1986): New York Giants 39 - Denver Broncos 20 [Pasadena]
SB 22 (1987): Washington Redskins 42 - Denver Broncos 10 [San Diego]
SB 23 (1988): San Francisco 49ers 20 - Cincinnati Bengals 16 [Miami]
SB 24 (1989): San Francisco 49ers 55 - Denver Broncos 10 [New Orleans]]
SB 25 (1990): New York Giants 20 - Buffalo Bills 19 [Tampa]
SB 26 (1991): Washington Redskins 37 - Buffalo Bills 24 [Minneapolis]
SB 27 (1992): Dallas Cowboys 52 - Buffalo Bills 17[Pasadena]
SB 28 (1993): Dallas Cowboys 30 - Buffalo Bills 13 [Atlanta]
SB 29 (1994): San Francisco 49ers 49 - San Diego Chargers 26 [Miami]
SB 30 (1995): Dallas Cowboys 27 - Pittsburgh Steelers 17 [Tempe]
SB 31 (1996): Green Bay Packers 35 - New England Patriots 21 [New Orleans]]
SB 32 (1997): Denver Broncos 31 - Green Bay Packers 24 [San Diego]
SB 33 (1998): Denver Broncos 34 - Atlanta Falcons 19 [Miami]
SB 34 (1999): St. Louis Rams 23 - Tennessee Titans 16 [Atlanta]
SB 35 (2000): Baltimore Ravens 34 - New York Giants 7 [Tampa]
SB 36 (2001): New England Patriots 20 - St. Louis Rams 17 [New Orleans]]
SB 37 (2002): Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48 - Oakland Raiders 21 [San Diego]
SB 38 (2003): New England Patriots 32 - Carolina Panthers 29 [Houston]
SB 39 (2004): New England Patriots 24 - Philadelphia Eagles 21 [Jacksonville]
SB 40 (2005): Pittsburgh Steelers 21 - Seattle Seahawks 10 [Detroit]
SB 41 (2006): Indianapolis Colts 29 - Chicago Bears 17 [Miami]
SB 42 (2007): New York Giants 17 - New England Patriots 14 [Glendale]
SB 43 (2008): Pittsburgh Steelers 27 - Arizona Cardinals 23 [Tampa]
SB 44 (2009): New Orleans Saints 31 - Indianapolis Colts 17 [Miami]
SB 45 (2010): Green Bay Packers 31 - Pittsburgh Steelers 25 [Arlington]
SB 46 (2011): New York Giants 21 - New England Patriots 17 [Indianapolis]
SB 47 (2012): Baltimore Ravens 34 - San Francisco 49ers 31 [New Orleans]
SB 48 (2013): Seattle Seahawks 43 - Denver Broncos 8 [East Rutherford]
SB 49 (2014): New England Patriots 28 - Seattle Seahawks 24 [Glendale]
SB 50 (2015): Denver Broncos 24 - Carolina Panthers 10 [Santa Clara]
SB 51 (2016): (New England Patriots "at" Atlanta Falcons)
SB 51 (2016): (NFC "at" AFC) [Houston]
SB 52 (2017): (AFC "at" NFC) [Minneapolis]
SB 53 (2018): (NFC "at" AFC) [Atlanta]
SB 54 (2019): (AFC "at" NFC) [Miami]
SB 55 (2020): (NFC "at" AFC) [Inglewood]

[susancruzs]

I've been watching off and on since the first one! My dad liked Lombardi and the Packers even though we lived in Illinois. I followed his lead although we both got caught up in the '85 Bears, what a team! I'm living in Wisconsin now, it is Packers first and hopefully they will make another SB with Rodgers.

I've been a close follower of teams in the North, would be very happy for whichever team does the best any given year. At my age, I can't see all the nonsense spewed out from fans these days. Football is entertainment, it should be enjoyable!

I thought I would like to go to a SB, but waited too long, now the cost is prohibitive so won't happen.

[echo7tango]

Originally Posted by susancruzs

I've been watching off and on since the first one! My dad liked Lombardi and the Packers even though we lived in Illinois. I followed his lead although we both got caught up in the '85 Bears, what a team! I'm living in Wisconsin now, it is Packers first and hopefully they will make another SB with Rodgers.

I've been a close follower of teams in the North, would be very happy for whichever team does the best any given year. At my age, I can't see all the nonsense spewed out from fans these days. Football is entertainment, it should be enjoyable!

I thought I would like to go to a SB, but waited too long, now the cost is prohibitive so won't happen.

A nice story there. And I agree completely, it should be enjoyable! If it isn't, you're taking it too seriously. Get a life.

I just added the poll, if you'd like to vote, Susan.

Edited: looks like you did! Cool.

[mco65]

Susan.. amen about cost prohibitive.. My son is bound and determined to go someday.. i hope he gets to but doubt i will go with him. I have a very good friend of mine (Packer fan) who splurged a few years back and bought a tix for Packers/Steelers SB. it cost him 4 grand and he had to go alone.. but it was a once in a lifetime thing for him so i get it.. but for me, i couldn't go without my son and i couldn't afford for us both to go.. Note, it aint gettin any cheaper either..

The first SB i remember watching was SB IX (Steelers vs Vikings).. it was ugly.. but most of the first 30 SBs were.
The First SB i remember watching end to end was SB X.. I fond memories of that game even though my Cowboys lost.. I was a recent member of the Cowboys bandwagon.. having jumped on just a few games earlier.. my mom got me a COWBOYS rain coat for christmas.. said it was because the COWBOYS were the best team but no doubt it was because the rain coat was on sale for CHEAP.. Anyhoot, i watched the Cowboys beat teh Vikings in the Hail Mary game and then Blow Out the Rams in the NFC Championship game and I have been a Cowboys fan ever since!!! I had a .50cent bet with my dad that the Cowboys would beat the Steelers.. i have not bet on football (with him) since!


One thing i miss about the Super Bowl is the SUN. the first 3 i watched were in the sunlight.. then SBXII was played in a gloomy dome.. and the rest started in daylight but ended i darkness.. its just NOT THE SAME!

[susancruzs]

I do like to take extended vacations and they are costly. However, spending thousands on a few days, can't see it, plus logistics of getting to Milwaukee flying in winter time, etc., and no one would go with me. I travel world wide by myself but to a Super Bowl, would not do it.

My nephew was a Cowboy fan in his youth, which he conveniently forgets! He doesn't follow the NFL, his wife doesn't care for football, doesn't want their 4 boys playing. My sister made him a Cowboys lamp in ceramics, it was so cute. Funny how things change! My niece and her hubby are Lions fans and my other nephew and his son, Vikings fans. They live in far northern Iowa so it is a toss up, Vikes, Bears or Pack stuff in stores. It is funny in the Midwest, hard to find Lions stuff but other NFC North stuff is in all the states!

[DewDropInn]

I can remember the first Superbowl but we didn't watch it. It was blacked out in the Los Angles area. My dad, a huge football fan, went up on the roof to move the outdoor antenna so it would point towards San Diego. It was hoped we could pick up a signal from there. We kids sat in front of the TV and yelled, "Nothing! Nothing! Static! Still Nothing!" up at him. No signal. No picture. Just a lot of interference. We listened to it on the radio instead.

My parents knew Tommy Walker who produced the half-time show at the game. Obviously not well enough, lol. No freebies to the game.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by echo7tango

That can be a measure of when you started to become a football fan.

Not for me, though.
I have a just a passing interest in the game - unless the Steelers are in it!

Family always has it on... so many greats from western PA over the years.
So, I have seen at least bits of all.

[TroutDude]

Not a big NFL fan but I watched SB III because of all the notoriety around Joe Namath. I was 17.

[David A Stone]

I have watched all of them on TV.


Super Bowl IV was the most painfull because this Minnesotan thought Kansas City didn't have a chance ( as did the odds makers)


It wasn't until the 4th quarter that it finally sunk in that the Vikings might actually lose the game.


The Friday before , my foreman ( a Packer fan ) stated he wanted to bet against the Vikings real bad although he new they most likely would win.


He wanted me to take the Vikings but give points.
I don't do that much. I told him I will give 5-1 odds but he has to put up $10 to my $50.


I lost $50 at 1969 wages.............ouch !

[murksiderock]

I was 10 when I saw the Titans lose to the Greatest Show On Turf in '99...

My mom is from Memphis and the Oilers had just relocated to Tennessee and changed their names two years prior, playing that first year in Memphis. I became a Titans fan by default of my mother, whose mother liked the Cowboys, but my mom hates em!

Those contending Titans teams from about 99-04, my very first team and my earliest fond memories of football. To this day, I'll tell you the Titans are my secondary team, my AFC team, I'll always have a very soft spot for the Titans! I became a Redskins fan through the years of growing up in Richmond and Northern Virginia, always was a Champ Bailey fan, so my conversion to Redskins was pretty much complete by '04 (10th grade)...

That Super Bowl 34, though. Outstanding game, McNair's poise on that final drive was the stuff of legend. He probably would have been better if he wasn't hurt so often. One yard short...I remember crying my eyes out at 10 freaking years old and my mom having to console me! Lol...