Home

 › 

Featured

 › 

Sports

 › 

Every Super Bowl Ranked From Least to Most Watched

Every Super Bowl Ranked From Least to Most Watched

When the Kansas Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles meet on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to decide the champion of the National Football League in Super Bowl LVII, more than 100 million people will be watching. 

To determine the most-watched Super Bowls, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from Nielsen and Sports Media Watch. Super Bowls were ranked based on total reported television audience. Official results and MVP awards came from ESPN.

The Super Bowl has been America’s biggest party day of the year for decades, where bowls of chili, plates of buffalo wings, trays of sliders, buckets of guacamole, and gallons of beer are consumed. It didn’t start out that way. When the game was first played in 1967, just 26.8 million people, watching on two networks, saw the old-guard Green Bay Packers of the NFL demolish the upstart Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL, 35-10. Viewership soared 46% the following year to 39.1 million.

Interest has steadily grown over the years, despite the fact some of the games were mismatches, buoyed by the debut of memorable commercials and halftime shows featuring such acts as Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and the Rolling Stones. (See who has performed at every Super Bowl halftime show.)

The best games tend to garner the highest television ratings, as viewers quickly tune out if the action is less than exciting. Seven of the 12 highest-viewed Super Bowls were games decided by six points or less. 

The 10 most-watched Super Bowls have all been since 2010. And sorry, haters of the New England Patriots – that six-time Super Bowl champion team has been in four of the most-viewed title games of all time. (On the other hand, these are the 12 NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl.)

Source: Robert Riger / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

56. Super Bowl I (1967)
> Total television viewership: 26.8 million
> Result: Green Bay (35), Kansas City (10)
> MVP: Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

55. Super Bowl II (1968)
> Total television viewership: 39.1 million
> Result: Green Bay (33), Oakland (14)
> MVP: Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

54. Super Bowl III (1969)
> Total television viewership: 41.7 million
> Result: New York Jets (16), Baltimore (7)
> MVP: Joe Namath, QB, New York Jets

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

53. Super Bowl IV (1970)
> Total television viewership: 44.3 million
> Result: Kansas City (23), Minnesota (7)
> MVP: Len Dawson, QB, Kansas City

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

52. Super Bowl V (1971)
> Total television viewership: 46.0 million
> Result: Baltimore (16), Dallas (13)
> MVP: Chuck Howley, LB, Dallas

Source: Cards84664 / Wikimedia Commons

51. Super Bowl VIII (1974)
> Total television viewership: 51.7 million
> Result: Miami (24), Minnesota (7)
> MVP: Larry Csonka, FB, Miami

Source: Nate Fine / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

50. Super Bowl VII (1973)
> Total television viewership: 53.3 million
> Result: Miami (14), Washington (7)
> MVP: Jake Scott, S, Miami

Source: Sylvia Allen / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

49. Super Bowl IX (1975)
> Total television viewership: 56.1 million
> Result: Pittsburgh (16), Minnesota (6)
> MVP: Franco Harris, RB, Pittsburgh

Source: Focus On Sport / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

48. Super Bowl VI (1972)
> Total television viewership: 56.6 million
> Result: Dallas (24), Miami (3)
> MVP: Roger Staubach, QB, Dallas

Source: Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons

47. Super Bowl X (1976)
> Total television viewership: 57.7 million
> Result: Pittsburgh (21), Dallas (17)
> MVP: Lynn Swann, WR, Pittsburgh

Source: Nate Fine / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

46. Super Bowl XI (1977)
> Total television viewership: 62.0 million
> Result: Oakland (32), Minnesota (14)
> MVP: Fred Biletnikoff, WR, Oakland

Source: Focus On Sport / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

45. Super Bowl XV (1981)
> Total television viewership: 68.3 million
> Result: Oakland (27), Philadelphia (10)
> MVP: Jim Plunkett, QB, Oakland

Source: Rick Stewart / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

44. Super Bowl XXIV (1990)
> Total television viewership: 73.9 million
> Result: San Francisco (55), Denver (10)
> MVP: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

43. Super Bowl XIII (1979)
> Total television viewership: 74.7 million
> Result: Pittsburgh (35), Dallas (31)
> MVP: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

42. Super Bowl XIV (1980)
> Total television viewership: 76.2 million
> Result: Pittsburgh (31), Los Angeles Rams (19)
> MVP: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh

Source: Getty Images / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

41. Super Bowl XVIII (1984)
> Total television viewership: 77.6 million
> Result: Los Angeles Raiders (38), Washington (9)
> MVP: Marcus Allen, RB, Los Angeles Raiders

Source: Erik Daniel Drost / Wikimedia Commons

40. Super Bowl XII (1978)
> Total television viewership: 78.9 million
> Result: Dallas (27), Denver (10)
> MVP: Harvey Martin & Randy White, DL, Dallas

Source: George Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

39. Super Bowl XXV (1991)
> Total television viewership: 79.5 million
> Result: New York Giants (20), Buffalo (19)
> MVP: Ottis Anderson, RB, New York Giants

Source: Rick Stewart / Getty Images

38. Super Bowl XXVI (1992)
> Total television viewership: 79.6 million
> Result: Washington (37), Buffalo (24)
> MVP: Mark Rypien, QB, Washington

Source: Rick Stewart / Getty Images

37. Super Bowl XXII (1988)
> Total television viewership: 80.1 million
> Result: Washington (42), Denver (10)
> MVP: Doug Williams, QB, Washington

Source: Rick Stewart / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

36. Super Bowl XXIII (1989)
> Total television viewership: 81.6 million
> Result: San Francisco (20), Cincinnati (16)
> MVP: Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco

Source: Getty Images / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

35. Super Bowl XVII (1983)
> Total television viewership: 81.8 million
> Result: Washington (27), Miami (17)
> MVP: John Riggins, RB, Washington

Source: George Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

34. Super Bowl XXIX (1995)
> Total television viewership: 83.4 million
> Result: San Francisco (49), San Diego (26)
> MVP: Steve Young, QB, San Francisco

Source: Al Bello / Getty Images

33. Super Bowl XXXIII (1999)
> Total television viewership: 83.7 million
> Result: Denver (34), Atlanta (19)
> MVP: John Elway, QB, Denver

Source: Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

32. Super Bowl XXXV (2001)
> Total television viewership: 84.3 million
> Result: Baltimore (34), New York Giants (7)
> MVP: Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore

Source: kenlund / Flickr

31. Super Bowl XVI (1982)
> Total television viewership: 85.2 million
> Result: San Francisco (26), Cincinnati (21)
> MVP: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco

Source: George Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

30. Super Bowl XIX (1985)
> Total television viewership: 85.5 million
> Result: San Francisco (38), Miami (16)
> MVP: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco

Source: Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

29. Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)
> Total television viewership: 86.1 million
> Result: New England (24), Philadelphia (21)
> MVP: Deion Branch, WR, New England

Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images

28. Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)
> Total television viewership: 86.8 million
> Result: New England (20), St. Louis (17)
> MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England

Source: George Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

27. Super Bowl XXI (1987)
> Total television viewership: 87.2 million
> Result: New York Giants (39), Denver (20)
> MVP: Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants

Source: Rick Stewart / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

26. Super Bowl XXXI (1997)
> Total television viewership: 87.9 million
> Result: Green Bay (35), New England (21)
> MVP: Desmond Howard, KR, Green Bay

Source: Tom Hauck / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

25. Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)
> Total television viewership: 88.5 million
> Result: St. Louis (23), Tennessee (16)
> MVP: Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis

Source: Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

24. Super Bowl XXXVII (2003)
> Total television viewership: 88.6 million
> Result: Tampa Bay (48), Oakland (21)
> MVP: Dexter Jackson, CB, Tampa Bay

Source: Donald Miralle / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

23. Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004)
> Total television viewership: 89.8 million
> Result: New England (32), Carolina (29)
> MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England

Source: George Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

22. Super Bowl XXVIII (1994)
> Total television viewership: 90.0 million
> Result: Dallas (30), Buffalo (13)
> MVP: Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas

Source: Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

21. Super Bowl XXXII (1998)
> Total television viewership: 90.0 million
> Result: Denver (31), Green Bay (24)
> MVP: Terrell Davis, RB, Denver

Source: Harry How / Getty Images

20. Super Bowl XL (2006)
> Total television viewership: 90.8 million
> Result: Pittsburgh (21), Seattle (10)
> MVP: Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh

Source: Rick Stewart / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

19. Super Bowl XXVII (1993)
> Total television viewership: 91.0 million
> Result: Dallas (52), Buffalo (17)
> MVP: Troy Aikman, QB, Dallas

Source: Focus On Sport / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

18. Super Bowl XX (1986)
> Total television viewership: 92.6 million
> Result: Chicago (46), New England (10)
> MVP: Richard Dent, DE, Chicago

Source: Donald Miralle / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

17. Super Bowl XLI (2007)
> Total television viewership: 93.2 million
> Result: Indianapolis (29), Chicago (17)
> MVP: Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis

Source: George Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

16. Super Bowl XXX (1996)
> Total television viewership: 94.1 million
> Result: Dallas (27), Pittsburgh (17)
> MVP: Larry Brown, CB, Dallas

Source: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

15. Super Bowl LV (2021)
> Total television viewership: 95.2 million
> Result: Tampa Bay (31), Kansas City (9)
> MVP: Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay

Source: Harry How / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

14. Super Bowl XLII (2008)
> Total television viewership: 97.5 million
> Result: New York Giants (17), New England (14)
> MVP: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Source: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

13. Super Bowl LIII (2019)
> Total television viewership: 98.2 million
> Result: New England (13), Los Angeles Rams (3)
> MVP: Julian Edelman, WR, New England

Source: Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

12. Super Bowl XLIII (2009)
> Total television viewership: 98.7 million
> Result: Pittsburgh (27), Arizona (23)
> MVP: Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh

Source: Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

11. Super Bowl LVI (2022)
> Total television viewership: 99.2 million
> Result: Los Angeles Rams (23), Cincinnati (20)
> MVP: Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

10. Super Bowl LIV (2020)
> Total television viewership: 100.5 million
> Result: Kansas City (31), San Francisco (20)
> MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City

Source: Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

9. Super Bowl LII (2018)
> Total television viewership: 103.4 million
> Result: Philadelphia (41), New England (33)
> MVP: Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia

Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

8. Super Bowl XLIV (2010)
> Total television viewership: 106.5 million
> Result: New Orleans (31), Indianapolis (17)
> MVP: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans

Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

7. Super Bowl XLVII (2013)
> Total television viewership: 108.7 million
> Result: Baltimore (34), San Francisco (31)
> MVP: Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore

Source: Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

6. Super Bowl XLV (2011)
> Total television viewership: 111.0 million
> Result: Green Bay (31), Pittsburgh (25)
> MVP: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay

Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

5. Super Bowl LI (2017)
> Total television viewership: 111.3 million
> Result: New England (34), Atlanta (28)
> MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England

Source: Al Bello / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

4. Super Bowl XLVI (2012)
> Total television viewership: 111.3 million
> Result: New York Giants (21), New England (17)
> MVP: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Source: Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

3. Super Bowl 50 (2016)
> Total television viewership: 111.9 million
> Result: Denver (24), Carolina (10)
> MVP: Von Miller, LB, Denver

Source: Jeff Gross / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

2. Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)
> Total television viewership: 112.2 million
> Result: Seattle (43), Denver (8)
> MVP: Malcolm Smith, LB, Seattle

Source: Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

1. Super Bowl XLIX (2015)
> Total television viewership: 114.4 million
> Result: New England (28), Seattle (24)
> MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England

To top