The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots faceoff in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday.
It’ll be the 14th time the state of California has hosted what has become sports and entertainment’s single biggest spectacle. Only Florida has hosted it more with 17 big games divvied up between Miami (11), Tampa (five) and Jacksonville.
Below is a ranking of the first 13 Super Bowls played in California:
1 (8th overall). Super Bowl XXXII: Broncos 31, Packers 24
At Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Jan. 25, 1998
MVP: Terrell Davis, RB, Broncos
Even a terrible migraine couldn’t stop Lincoln High’s Davis from becoming the first player in Super Bowl history to rush for three touchdowns. John Elway finally got over the hump after losing his first three Super Bowls, each in an excruciatingly more lopsided fashion.
2 (19). Super Bowl XIV: Steelers 31, Rams 19
At Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 20, 1980
MVP: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Steelers
The 10½-point underdog Rams led 19-17 entering the fourth quarter in front of a Super Bowl-record crowd of 103,985, but a 73-yard touchdown pass from Bradshaw to John Stallworth proved to be the game-winning score. It was Pittsburgh’s fourth Super Bowl win in six years.
3 (20). Super Bowl LVI: Rams 23, Bengals 20
At SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Feb. 13, 2022
MVP: Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams
Matthew Stafford’s TD pass to Kupp with 1:25 left secured the victory in the Rams’ home stadium. It was the perfect ending to Kupp’s historic 2021 season after he became just the fourth player since the 1970 merger to lead the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving TDs (16).
4 (25). Super Bowl VII: Dolphins 14, Redskins 7
At Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 1973
MVP: Jake Scott, S, Dolphins
The Dolphins earned the right to pop champagne on a yearly basis by beating Washington to finish the only perfect season in NFL history. The game also featured one of the league’s biggest follies when kicker Garo Yepremian tried to throw a pass that resulted in a pick-six.
5 (26). Super Bowl XVII: Redskins 27, Dolphins 17
At Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 30, 1983
MVP: John Riggins, RB, Redskins
A decade later, Washington exacts revenge over Miami in a game that features the Super Bowl’s first kickoff return for a TD — a 98-yarder by the Dolphins’ Fulton Walker — and a legendary performance from Riggins. His 43-yard TD rumble on fourth-and-1 sealed the victory.
6 (32). Super Bowl XI: Raiders 32, Vikings 14
At Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 9, 1977
MVP: Fred Biletnikoff, WR, Raiders
Willie Brown’s iconic 75-yard pick-six sealed the deal against Minnesota as the Vikings became the first team to lose four Super Bowls. they’ve never been back. One has to wonder though, what if 40-year-old John Madden never gets hoisted into the air following this victory. Does he still go on to an illustrious career as an NFL color commentator? Does the telestrator ever become a thing? Does Electronic Arts even exist without John Madden Football? Wouldn’t the NFL be like 25% less popular? Thankfully Madden did get hoisted, and we’ll all get to see Nicolas Cage portray him in a David O. Russell film in November. Boom!
7 (34). Super Bowl XIX: 49ers 38, Dolphins 16
At Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto on Jan. 20, 1985
MVP: Joe Montana, QB, 49ers
The game didn’t live up to the hype, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pairing than these two legendary quarterbacks at the height of their super powers. Montana before the injuries started piling up, and Dan Marino before defensive coordinators could adjust.
8 (37). Super Bowl I: Packers 35, Chiefs 10
At Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 1967
MVP: Bart Starr, QB, Packers
Green Bay outscored Kansas City 21-0 in the second half of the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. Imagine having to add a roman numeral every year after that mouthful. Backup Max McGee had seven receptions for 138 yards and two TDs in the win despite partying the night before.
9 (38). Super Bowl 50: Broncos 24, Panthers 10
At Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Feb. 7, 2016
MVP: Von Miller, LB, Broncos
Miller’s 2½ sacks and two forced fumbles helped Peyton Manning retire as a champion in the only non-Roman numeral Super Bowl. Defense may win championships, but it doesn’t always make for the best television. Manning and NFL MVP Cam Newton combined for five turnovers, and were sacked 11 times.
10 (41). Super Bowl XXI: Giants 39, Broncos 20
At Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 25, 1987
MVP: Phil Simms, QB, Giants
Simms completed 22 of 25 passes for a Super Bowl-record 88% completion percentage that included a perfect 10 for 10 in the second half. Big Blue actually trailed 10-9 at the half before the floodgates opened, earning head coach Bill Parcells the first ever Super Bowl Gatorade bath.
11 (45). Super Bowl XXXVII: Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21
At Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Jan. 26, 2003
MVP: Dexter Jackson, S, Buccaneers
The game was likely decided in the offseason when Oakland traded its head coach Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay. Gruden knew the Raiders’ offense inside and out, and a historically good defense knew what to do with the intel. The Bucs set Super Bowl records with five interceptions, including three returned for TDs.
12 (47) Super Bowl XXII: Redskins 42, Broncos 10
At Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego on Jan. 31, 1988
MVP: Doug Williams, QB, Redskins
Trailing 10-0 after the first quarter, Washington became the first team in a Super Bowl to overcome a double-digit deficit by erupting for a record 35 points in the second quarter. Williams threw for 228 yards and four TDs in that quarter alone, and became the first Black starting QB to win the Super Bowl.
13 (55). Super Bowl XXVII: Cowboys 52, Bills 17
At Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 31, 1993
MVP: Troy Aikman, QB, Cowboys
I’m not sure anyone would remember this game if it weren’t for Michael Jackson’s halftime show and Dallas’ Leon Lett being chased down by Buffalo’s Don Beebe to force a fumble. Lett’s inconsequential gaffe overshadowed a defensive performance by the Cowboys that produced a Super Bowl-record nine turnovers.