Long before the Super Bowl became the massive entertainment event it is today—with its spectacular halftime performances, high-budget commercials, and worldwide audience—it began as a relatively modest championship game. On January 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers made football history by becoming the first team to win the Superbowl.
A Championship Before “Super Bowl” Was Even a Term
This championship wasn’t officially called the “Super Bowl” at the time. Instead, the match was named “AFL-NFL World Championship Game,” representing the final between the winner of the National Football League and best team of the American Football League. This historic matchup was designed to settle the debate over which league truly had the best football team.
On one side stood the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, guided by the iconic Vince Lombardi. Their opponents were the Kansas City Chiefs, the AFL champions coached by Hank Stram.
Dominant Green Bay Packers
The first half of the game remained competitive, with Green Bay holding a slim 14-10 advantage heading into halftime. However, the second half showed quite a difference between the two leagues as the Packers’ defense locked down completely, preventing Kansas City from scoring again while their offense added 21 points, which resulted in a 35-10 win for the Green Bay Packers. MVP of that game was quarterback Bart Starr, throwing 250 yards and connecting for two touchdowns. His leadership and accuracy earned him recognition as the Super Bowl’s first MVP.
Start of a legacy
Winning the first Super Bowl wasn’t just another trophy for Vince Lombardi and the Packers. It set the tone for what the NFL would become: a league built on excellence and fierce competition. It’s fitting that the championship trophy would eventually bear Vince Lombardi’s name, honoring the coach whose team captured that historic first title.
More than just a game
The Green Bay Packers’ victory in the first Super Bowl was more than just a game — it was the start of a tradition that would capture the hearts of millions around the world. From humble beginnings to the global spectacle it is today, it all started with Lombardi’s Packers lifting the first trophy.
Fun Facts About Super Bowl I
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Two Networks, One Game: Super Bowl I is the only Super Bowl ever broadcast simultaneously by two networks—NBC and CBS—because the NFL and AFL each had their own television contracts at the time.
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Ticket Prices: The average ticket price was around $12, and despite that low cost, the game was not a sellout!
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No “Super Bowl” Name Yet: The term “Super Bowl” wasn’t officially used until Super Bowl III. Initially, it was just called the “AFL-NFL World Championship Game.”
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Halftime Show: Unlike today’s superstar performances, the halftime show at Super Bowl I featured the University of Arizona and Grambling State University marching bands.
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The MVP’s Irony: Bart Starr, the MVP, admitted after the game that he didn’t even know there was an MVP award—and he didn’t get the prize (a brand-new car) until days later!
