The History of the Super Bowl in Los Angeles
Legendary Hall of Famers and record-setting games
Los Angeles has a long and storied history with the Super Bowl, beginning with the very first one in 1967. When SoFi Stadium hosts Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022 it will be the eighth time that LA has hosted the Big Game.
From legendary Hall of Famers and record-setting performances to its biggest crowd ever, read on for the history of the Super Bowl in LA.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Since opening in June 1923, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has become one of the world’s greatest sports venues, home to the USC Trojans, world-class athletes and unforgettable games. The Coliseum has also hosted numerous historic figures and countless special events.
Located at Exposition Park, the Coliseum is the only facility in the world to host two Super Bowls (I and VII), two Olympiads (X and XXIII), one World Series (1959), a Papal Mass, and visits by three U.S. Presidents: John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. The Coliseum will add to this extraordinary legacy in 2028 when LA hosts the XXXIV Olympiad.
The Coliseum was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark on July 27, 1984.
Super Bowl I (Jan. 15, 1967)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was the site of the first-ever AFL-NFL World Championship Game, known around the world today as the Super Bowl. The NFL champion Green Bay Packers defeated the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. The MVP of the game was Green Bay’s Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr. The teams were coached by Hall of Famers Vince Lombardi (Green Bay) and Hank Stramm (Kansas City). Other Hall of Fame Packers included Herb Adderley, Willie Davis, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Henry Jordan, Ray Nitschke, Dave Robinson, Jim Taylor and Willie Wood. Chiefs Hall of Famers included Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Len Dawson and Emmitt Thomas.
Super Bowl VII (Jan. 14, 1973)
The Super Bowl returned to Los Angeles when the Coliseum hosted Super Bowl VII, featuring the AFC champion Miami Dolphins and the NFC champion Washington Redskins. Miami beat Washington 14-7 to become the first and only team in NFL history to complete a perfect, undefeated season with a record of 17-0.
Future Hall of Famers on the Dolphins included Don Shula (coach), Nick Buoniconti, Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little and Paul Warfield. Washington Hall of Famers included George Allen (coach), Chris Hanburger, Sonny Jurgensen and Charley Taylor.
Super Bowl VII was the first to be televised live in the city in which it was being played.
Rose Bowl Stadium
The home of the UCLA Bruins, Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted five Super Bowls, gold medal matches for two Summer Olympics, two FIFA World Cup Finals, superstar concerts, and "The Granddaddy of Them All" - the annual Rose Bowl Game for which it’s named. Sports Illustrated has named Rose Bowl Stadium the number one venue in college sports and one of the Top 20 Venues of the 20th Century. In August 2019, SI named Rose Bowl Stadium the Greatest Stadium in College Football History: "The history and beauty surrounding the Rose Bowl is the reason why this stadium tops the list."
Rose Bowl Stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark on Feb. 27, 1987.
Super Bowl XI (Jan. 9, 1977)
Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted the Super Bowl five times, beginning with Super Bowl XI in 1977, when the Oakland Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings 32–14. The victory was the first of three Super Bowl titles for the Silver and Black.
Oakland wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff was named MVP, but the game's most memorable play was made in the fourth quarter by Raiders defensive back Willie Brown - his iconic 75-yard pick-six was named the 61st greatest play in NFL history.
Future Hall of Famers
- Raiders: Al Davis (owner/general manager), John Madden (head coach), Tom Flores (assistant coach), Fred Biletnikoff, Willie Brown, Dave Casper, Ray Guy, Ted Hendricks, Art Shell, Ken Stabler, Gene Upshaw
- Vikings: Bud Grant (head coach), Carl Eller, Paul Krause, Alan Page, Fran Tarkenton, Mick Tingelhoff, Ron Yary
Super Bowl XIV (Jan. 20, 1980)
At Super Bowl XIV, a record crowd of 103,985 watched the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-19. The Rams were huge underdogs, but they led the Steelers 19-17 at the start of the fourth quarter. The Rams were held scoreless while the Steelers scored twice, including MVP Terry Bradshaw's famous 73-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Stallworth. The lead changed a record seven times during the surprisingly competitive game.
With their victory, the Steelers became the only team in NFL history to win four Super Bowls in six years. Super Bowl XIV marked the first time the game was held in the home market of one of the participating teams.
Future Hall of Famers
- Rams: Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood
- Steelers: Art Rooney (owner), Bill Nunn (administrator), Dan Rooney (team administrator), Chuck Noll (head coach), Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Donnie Shell, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, Mike Webster
Super Bowl XVII (Jan. 30, 1983)
In a rematch of Super Bowl VII at the LA Coliseum, the Washington Redskins avenged their loss to the Miami Dolphins with a 27-17 win - Washington's first Super Bowl title and the franchise's first NFL Championship in 40 years.
On 4th-and-1, with 10 minutes left in the game and Washington trailing 17-13, running back John Riggins steamrolled Dolphins cornerback Don McNeal and scored the go-ahead touchdown. Riggins was named MVP and his 43-yard run was named the 5th Greatest Super Bowl Play and ranked No. 20 in the NFL's 100 Greatest Plays.
Future Hall of Famers
- Dolphins: Don Shula (head coach), Dwight Stephenson
- Redskins: Bobby Beathard (general manager), Joe Gibbs (head coach), Russ Grimm, Art Monk, John Riggins
Super Bowl XXI (Jan. 25, 1987)
LA's sixth Super Bowl featured the Phil Simms-led New York Giants versus John Elway's Denver Broncos. The first half was tight - the Broncos led the favored Giants 10-9, the closest halftime margin in Super Bowl history. The Giants scored a record 30 points in the second half to win their first Super Bowl with a final score of 39-20. Simms was named MVP and his 88% completion percentage (22 of 25) broke Super Bowl and NFL postseason records.
Future Hall of Famers
- Broncos: Pat Bowlen (owner), Stan Jones (assistant coach), John Elway
- Giants: Wellington Mara (owner/administrator), George Young (general manager), Bill Parcells (head coach), Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor
Super Bowl XXVII (Jan. 31, 1993)
Former UCLA Bruin Troy Aikman led the Dallas Cowboys to a dominating 52-17 win over the Buffalo Bills. Aikman threw four touchdowns and was named MVP. Aikman's UCLA teammate, Cowboys linebacker Ken Norton Jr. earned the first of his three consecutive Super Bowl rings - the only player in NFL history to do so.
One of the most infamous plays in Super Bowl history took place late in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys were cruising to victory when Dallas defensive lineman Leon Lett picked up a fumble and was on his way to an easy score. When he "tried to do a Michael Irvin" and slowed down at the 10-yard line, Bills wide receiver Don Beebe knocked the ball out of Lett's outstretched hand to prevent the touchdown.
Michael Jackson's headlining performance kickstarted the now-familiar trend of superstars appearing at halftime.
Future Hall of Famers
- Bills: Ralph Wilson (owner), Bill Polian (general manager), Marv Levy (head coach), Jim Kelly, James Lofton, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas
- Cowboys: Jerry Jones (owner), Jimmy Johnson (head coach), Troy Aikman, Charles Haley, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith
