What is the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL), played each year in February. It is the most-watched annual sporting event in the United States.
The first Super Bowl was played in January 1967, when the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs. It began as a game between the champions of two rival leagues, the NFL and the American Football League, which later merged. Today, it is played between the winners of the NFL's two conferences, the AFC and NFC.
Super Bowls are numbered with Roman numerals, such as Super Bowl LX, played in February 2026. The winning team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the coach who won the first two Super Bowls. Games are held at a different stadium each year, chosen years in advance.
More than a game
The Super Bowl is a major cultural event, with parties across the country. Its halftime show features famous musicians, and companies pay millions of dollars for 30-second commercials. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest days of the year for food sales in the US, especially chicken wings.
Did You Know?
The name Super Bowl was suggested by Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, who said he was inspired by a Super Ball toy his children played with.