Super Bowl Firsts
A collection of interesting facts and figures about the Super Bowl of American football.
- The FIRST Super Bowl game was played on January 15, 1967, as a playoff between the AFL and NFL champions.
- The FIRST player to win the Super Bowl MVP from a losing team was Chuck Howley in 1971.
- The FIRST to team to complete a perfect season was the Miami Dolphins in 1972/1973, finishing the year with a record of 17-0.
- The FIRST time co-winners were awarded the MVP was in 1978 when Randy White and Harvey Martin won.
- The FIRST player to win three Super Bowl MVP awards was Joe Montana (Tom Brady also won his third in 2015).
- The FIRST person not born in the USA to win the MVP was Washington's Mark Rypien (in 1992), who was born in Canada.
- The FIRST wide receiver to be awarded MVP was Lynn Swan of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1976.
- The FIRST Super Bowl to have African-Americans coaching both teams was Super Bowl XLI (2007), with Tony Dungy coaching the Colts and Lovie Smith coaching the Bears.
- The FIRST African-American coach to win a Super Bowl was Tony Dungy (2007).
- The FIRST player to throw for over 400 yards in a single Super Bowl game was St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner in 2000. He threw for 414 yards.
- The FIRST overtime in Super Bowl history was played in 2017. The game was tied at 28 apiece after regulation time.
- The FIRST quarterback in NFL history to win seven Super Bowls was Tom Brady when he led the New Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. Brady was also the FIRST player to win five Super Bowl MVP awards.
- The FIRST team to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium was Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.
- The FIRST woman to officiate a Super Bowl was Sarah Thomas in 2021 (as Down judge).
- The FIRST brothers ever to play against each other in a Super Bowl was Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce in 2023.
- The FIRST time two African American quarterbacks faced off against each other was in 2023.
- The FIRST the first referee to preside over two Super Bowl meetings between the same teams Bill Vinovich who presided ove the Chiefs and 49ers in Super Bowl LIV & LVIII.
Related Pages
- Super Bowl Trivia
- List of Super Bowl Winners
- See other major world sporting events
- Try our Super Bowl Quiz!
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Upcoming Events