The Super Bowl returns to the Los Angeles area on Sunday for the first time since 1993. It has been the site of some historic games, some blowout victories and some comical moments.
As the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals prepare for Super Bowl LVI, here is a look back at the seven games played in L.A.
Super Bowl I
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was the site for what was then billed the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, and it pitted the NFL’s Green Bay Packers against the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The game, played on Jan. 15, 1967, was broadcast by both CBS and NBC, and although the Coliseum had a capacity of more than 100,000, only 61,946 attended on a 72-degree day.
The Packers, who had won their second straight NFL championship by defeating the Dallas Cowboys, rolled to a 35-10 victory.
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Marching bands from Grambling State University and the University of Arizona played the national anthem, and trumpeter Al Hirt headlined the halftime show.
Kansas City hung tough in the first half and only trailed 14-10 at the intermission, but Green Bay scored 21 unanswered points to clinch the game.
The first touchdown in Super Bowl history was a one-handed reachback grab by Max McGee that netted 37 yards and gave Green Bay a 7-0 lead.
The first points in #SuperBowl history
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 12, 2022
Max McGee's one-handed reachback stab of a Bart Starr aerial for a 37-yard first quarter #Packers touchdown in Super Bowl I. pic.twitter.com/xWdo7VjCmQ
Super Bowl VII
The Miami Dolphins were actually underdogs against Washington when Don Shula’s unbeaten, untied squad came to the Coliseum on Jan. 14, 1973.
The Dolphins won 14-7, but the game was not that close except for an attempted passing gaffe by Miami kicker Garo Yepremian, who batted the ball into the air after a blocked kick and allowed Mike Bass to return the ball for a touchdown with slightly more than two minutes to play.
“Garo Yepremian lost his head and tried to throw a pass,” NBC announcer Curt Gowdy said.
Miami got touchdowns from Howard Twilley and Jim Kiick and an MVP performance by safety Jake Scott to complete a 17-0 season.
Fun fact: Chris Shula, the current linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Rams, is Don Shula’s grandson. Chris Shula’s father is former Cincinnati Bengals coach Dave Shula.
Super Bowl XI
Pasadena was the venue for the third Super Bowl in the Los Angeles area.
The Rose Bowl attracted 103,438 fans on Jan. 9, 1977, and the Oakland Raiders won their first Super Bowl title with a convincing 32-14 victory in a game played in 58-degree weather.
It was the lone Super Bowl victory for legendary Oakland coach John Madden, and wide receiver Fred Biletknikoff was named the game’s MVP.
In 1977, John Madden gave the @RAIDERS their first Super Bowl win! 🏆#RaiderNation@nflnetwork #AFootballLife pic.twitter.com/buLqEIDbAn
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) September 26, 2017
Super Bowl XIV
The big game returned to Pasadena on Jan. 20, 1980, and for the Rams, it represented the closest any team had come to playing in its home park. The Rams played at the Coliseum but the game was held at the Rose Bowl. A record crowd of 103,985 saw the Pittsburgh Steelers dash the Rams’ hopes with a 31-19 victory.
It was the Steelers’ fourth Super Bowl title of the decade and second in a row.
January 20, 1980. Super Bowl XIV.#Steelers vs. #Rams
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 21, 2014
31-19. We became first team to win 4 Super Bowls. pic.twitter.com/muUBa2uxos
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was a rematch between Miami and Washington, but the outcome was different on Jan. 30, 1993. The game, played after the strike-shortened 1982 season, was won by Washington, 27-17.
The game turned when Washington fullback John Riggins scored a 43-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-1 play and Miami leading 17-13.
Riggins had a Super Bowl-record 166 yards rushing and a game-record 38 carries in front of 103,667 fans.
It was Washington’s first Super Bowl title.
Super Bowl XXI
The New York Giants won their first Super Bowl title at the Rose Bowl in front of 101,063 fans on Jan. 25, 1987.
The Giants, trailing 10-7 after the first quarter, were sparked by defensive end George Martin’s safety when he sacked John Elway in the end zone. That led to 26 unanswered points and a 39-10 victory.
Giants quarterback Phil Simms, who was named the game’s MVP, completed 22 of 25 passes for a Super Bowl an NFL postseason record of 88%.
𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: The best individual postseason performance in @Giants history was Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI
— Lance Medow (@LanceMedow) February 11, 2022
📰Read: https://t.co/qecpZfbPAl pic.twitter.com/INSZ22ASdy
Super Bowl XXVII
The last Super Bowl before Sunday’s game took place at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 31, 1993.
The Dallas Cowboys dominated the game 52-17, handing Buffalo its third straight Super Bowl defeat in front of 98,374 fans. Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman earned MVP honors by throwing four touchdowns.
Winning 31-10 entering the fourth quarter, the Cowboys scored three touchdowns -- and could have had a fourth one if defensive end Leon Lett had held off celebrating for a few seconds.
Lett picked up a fumble after Buffalo quarterback Frank Reich lost the ball and had a clear path to a 64-yard touchdown for a touchdown. However, Lett began to celebrate before reaching the end zone, and Buffalo wide receiver Don Beebe caught up to the lumbering lineman at the 2-yard line and swatted the ball from his hands. The ball rolled out of the end for a harmless touchback.
Spreading positivity with the #Bills day 44:
— Kurt Haumesser (@KurtHaumesser88) May 12, 2020
In 44 days I haven’t done any Super Bowl highlights surprisingly... so here is one of the best from Don Beebe💨 pic.twitter.com/8IctAFT8th
Leon Lett and Don Beebe watch a replay of Lett's famous Super Bowl fumble. I'd have my hands over my face, too. pic.twitter.com/ONSOSTYoYL
— SI Vault (@si_vault) May 21, 2014
Sunday’s game will be played at SoFi Stadium, making it the third venue in the Los Angeles area to host a Super Bowl.
Information from NFL.com, NFL Films, Pro Football Reference and the Pro Football Hall of Fame was used in compiling this report.
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