1. Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots 20, Rams 17
The start of the Patriots’ dynasty is at the Super Bowl XXXVI. Also, it is considered to be the end of the Greatest Show on Turf. The Patriots dominated mostly on the span of the game, though Adam Vinatieri’s, now-legendary kick is missed. Thus, New England still would have had the chance to win over time.
1.1 U2
U2 will always be U2. No matter how old they are, they still giving their best in their performances. Thus, the 2002 halftime show is said to be the best in the history of halftime shows. The event took place just four months after the tragic 9/11 happened. The performance of U2 was a perfect mix it breathtaking musicianship and poignant remembrance. In their wonderful tribute, the U2 performed “Where the Streets Have No Name,” while a scrolling list of names of those who perished in the terror attack is shown. Up to this day, their performance shed tears.
2. Super Bowl XLVII: Ravens 34, 49ers 31
There are a lot of memorable moments in the Super Bowl XLVII. The unforgettable of which is the 34-minute power outage that somehow wrecks the momentum of the Baltimore Ravens. After the blackout, the San Francisco 49ers scored 17 unanswered points. Also, they might have the chance to win late in the fourth quarter. However, the Ravens were able to have a 4th-and-goal stop to win successfully. The game was also a match not only for the teams but also for the head coaching brothers John and Jim Harbaugh.
2.1 Beyoncé
Having Beyoncé as a performer is, no doubt, one of the greatest investments. She is not called Queen B for anything. Her stage presence is so excellent that other musicians could not match in her generation. As for the show, it is unique as expected, but Beyoncé did a little bit more by bringing back the Destiny’s Child. Furthermore, she actually paid respect to the event by starting her show with a tribute. Beyoncé played a sound bite of the legendary football coach Vince Lombardi.
3. Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
In this match, this is the second victory of New England in the Super Bowl, and it is a tale of almost two halves. The Carolina Panthers and The Patriots went scoreless for nearly 27 minutes before combining for 24 points on the final four minutes of the first half. The back and forth continued not until Vinatieri hit yet another game-winner with only four seconds left. Also, in this game, the infamous half time wardrobe malfunction occurred.
3.1 Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake
The 2004 halftime event is also one of the most memorable but somehow in a wrong way. As many would remember, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed one of the most smoking act of Justin’s song “Rock Your Body.” However, in the last part of the song, there is a wardrobe malfunction with Janet’s clothes and exposed her breast. Some say that Nelly, P Diddy, and Kid Rock might be.
4. Super Bowl XXXII: Broncos 31, Packers 24
The Super Bowl XXXII was a close one throughout the match. The Green Bay Packers play elbows to elbows against the Denver Broncos. However, Terrell Davis suddenly surfaces and ran for the go-ahead touchdown with the time remaining under two minutes in regulation. Thus, Davis won the MVP honors. Also, this game is memorable for being the one that finally got the monkey off the back of John Elway.
4.1 Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations
The Boyz II Men led the Super Bowl XXXll halftime show in celebration of Motown’s 40th anniversary. Alongside the group are the legends Martha Reeves, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations. Fans shared that the performance is a fun set, considering the Motown theme.
5. Super Bowl LII: Eagles 41, Patriots 33
Super Bowl LII is considered to be one of the best back and forth battles that have been witnessed in the NFL postseason. All in all, there were 74 combined points in regulations. The Patriots did not even kick in the game. This game also has its beautiful moments, just like the Philly Special and Brandon Graham’s strip-sack of Brady, which put the Philadelphia Eagles in the position to win. Also, fans would remember this moment because Nick Foles, who went on to win the Super Bowl MVP, only started because Carson Wentz tore his ACL in the regular season. Thus, with Foles under center, the Eagles became the underdogs to the Patriots. However, they came out lifting the first Philadelphia Lombardi Trophy.
5.1 Justin Timberlake
The 2018 show has been described as energetic performance yet poor technical. Justin Timberlake took the show from a room inside the U.S. Bank Stadium into the crowd of Super Bowl LII. However, the audio is quite disappointing as it garbled at the start of the show. Also, some did not appreciate the Prince tribute and the use of “I Would Die 4 U”.”
6. Super Bowl XXIII: 49ers 20, Bengals 16
In the Super Bowl XXIII, there is no shortage when it comes to drama. Jerry Rice, the receiver of 49ers (finished with 215 yards and a touchdown), dominated the Cincinnati Bengals defense in the duration of the game. However, the Bengals took a lead of 16-13 with just over three minutes of the remaining time. Thus, Joe Montana happens to calmly move San Francisco 92 yards in 11 players and then threw the go-ahead touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds left in the time.
There are other notable events in this series, aside from the outstanding 49ers drive. The Bengals defensive lineman Tim Krumrie who has a broken leg and the Steve Wallace, who is the 49ers offensive tackle who has a fractured ankle, suffered significant injuries in the first quarter. Also, the Super Bowl XXIII marked the final time of Bill Walsh for coaching San Francisco.
6.1 Be Bop Bamboozled
In the 1989 Super Bowl halftime, the show was called the “Be Bop Bamboozled in 3-D.” Critics shared that it is one of the weirdest shows in the history of the Super Bowl. It featured Elvis Presto that was played by the then Solid Gold dancer Alex Cole, alongside with hundreds of South Florida-area dancers and performers. Many have wondered, that no Elvis song was played during that time, considering that impersonation. Among the scenes, computer-generated 3-D images were shown. Also, prior to the game, Coca-Cola gave 3-D glasses for the viewers to use. Thus, during the show, the primary sponsor, which is Diet Coke, aired its first commercial in 3D.
7. Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
There was a buildup thrived for the Super Bowl XLIII. The Pittsburgh Steelers were focused on their record sixth Lombardi Trophy. In the dusk, if his career, Quarterback Kurt Warner led the Arizona Cardinals to its first championship game. However, the Steelers ended up winning a touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes in the remaining 35 seconds time. It came after the Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald scored a go-ahead 64-yard touchdown with less than three minutes remaining. Thus, the tightrope catch near the end of regulation is tagged as one of the best plays in Super Bowl history. As well as James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown with no time on the clock just before the halftime.
7.1 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
In general, the Super Bowl XLIII is fantastic. It is one of the most exciting championship games between the Steeler and the Cardinals. Ass for the halftime show, yes! It went well with the match. The performance of The Boos that was the high point of the classic era that gave the audiences a great break from the game. It looks like Springsteen is on a mission to get everyone out of their seats, and his goal was accomplished.
8. Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams 23, Titans 16
Nearing the end of his career, Warner took the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. He was just getting started when he was able to win one for the St. Louis Rams in XXXIV. But Warner was never supposed to be the guy who would do it. He took over after Trent Green was lost for the season due to an injury. However, the former Arena Football League stood out and went on to perform the Greatest Show on Turf along with receivers Az-Zahir Hakim, Torry Holt, and Isaac Bruce and running back Marshall Faulk.
As follows, the match required every bit of Warner’s 414-yard, two-touchdown MVP performance to beat to destroy the Tennessee Titans in one of the most competitive Super Bowls ever. Also, the game-saving tackle of Mike Jones on Kevin Dyson as time is running out remains one of the top plays in the history of the championship.
8.1 Phil Collins, Enrique Iglesias, and Christina Aguilera
The 2000 halftime performance showcased a massive lineup of the artist. It has Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, and Enrique Iglesias. However, the show ended up being a Disney-produced show about the “Tapestry of Nations.” Also, Phil Collins is stuck doing one of the songs he wrote for “Tarzan.” As for Iglesias and Aguilera, they did a duet called “Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand.”
9. Super Bowl XXV: Giants 20, Bills 19
This next entry is memorable for its other reasons aside from the unforgettable miss. The 135-yard, one-touchdown performance in a losing effort of Thurman Thomas will never be forgotten. It is marked as the first of four straight title appearances and losses for Buffalo. Also, it was the second Super Bowl victory for the head coach of Giant Bill Parcells and the last for Bill Belichick as the defensive coordinator of New York. Bill Belichick was then hired as head coach for the Cleveland Browns right after the Super Bowl, and then he went on to join the Patriots years later.
9.1 New Kinds On The Block
The Super Bowl XXV halftime was performed by New Kids on The Block, together with Warren Moon, 2,000 local children, Disney characters, and audience card stunt. The show was produced by The Walt Disney Company and sponsored by Walt Disney World and The Coca-Cola Company. During the show, the artists featured songs like It’s a Small World After All, We Are the World, I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing, Step by Step, and This One’s For The Children.
10. Super Bowl III: Jets 16, Colts 7
Super Bowl III is a higher game for what it represented compared to what happened on the field. Of course, the 16-7 defensive battle has its bright moments. The eventual MVP Joe Namath did not even attempt a pass in the fourth quarter. Thus, this is still considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports. Also, at the time, the NFL was seen to be the superior league to the fledgling AFL. Aside from this, Namath’s infamously guaranteed victory for the AFL’s New York Jets. The Jets was able to have a 13-0 lead over the Baltimore Colts into the fourth quarter.
10.1 Florida A&M University and Miami area High School Bands
During this time, halftime performances are not yet filled with huge celebrity names. In the Super Bowl III, which is held in the Miami Orange Bowl, on January 12, 1969, that theme of the show is America Thanks. The performers came from Florida A&M University and Miami area High School Bands. Nonetheless, the performers still gave the viewers a homey feel.
11. Super Bowl LI: Patriots 34, Falcons 28
When you say the phrase “28-3,” most football fans would know that you are referring to Super Bowl LI. In this game, the Patriots faced a deficit in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons. However, the Patriots were able to storm back and win in the overtime. This game is also unforgettable, mostly because of two things. It is either the greatest comeback of all time or the most fabulous choke job of all time. According to experts, the Falcons mismanaged the clock in the fourth quarter. Yet, it is also notable that Brady made a comeback of 466 passing yards and James White 139 yards from scrimmage and three TDs.
11.1 Lady Gaga
The production of Lady Gaga is known to be energetic and unique. She kicked it odd by jumping off of Reliant Stadium, which is totally awesome. Everything that came after is a performance that a typical Lady Gaga would do in her concerts. It is one of the most substantial shows in the halftime. Others commented that Lady Gaga could have done something different, as fans are expecting something more.
12. Super Bowl XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14
For Patriots fans, Super Bowl XLIII will never be forgotten. It is supposed to be the year that the Patriots have the opportunity to produce a perfect season, as the team went 16-0 in the regular season. However, the Giants are driven with their defense and a strategy. According to commentators, the Giants harassed Brady throughout the game while holding Tandy Moss to just 62 receiving and one touchdown. But it still took some clutch play from Giants quarterback Eli Manning to deliver the go-ahead score. As follows, with just over a minute of time remains in the game, Manning was able to break free of the Patriots pass rush and launched a ball that David Tyree caught by pinning it against his helmet. After four plays, Manning found Plaxico Burress and finished with the winning score.
12.1 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
In the 2008 show, it is said to be more concerned with performed rather than an exhibition. Tom Petty opened the halftime show of Super Bowl XLII, performing the all-time hit “I Won’t Back Down,” and “American Girl.” The performance of Petty nailed all the hits and gave the audience a solid show.
13. Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24
In Super Bowl XLIX, it almost covered everything that fans would want to see in a title game. The season has a place in history, most memorable sporting plays of all time, and the furious comeback. The Seattle Seahawks and The Patriots are aggressively determined to win the match. The Patriots were finding ways to prove that it was not over after winning their first title since the 2004 season. Thus, when the Seahawks carried a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter, it appeared that the team would come out on top. But the Patriots alongside Brady racked up 14 points in the fourth quarter. The Patriots then sealed the game when the Seahawks decided to pass from the 1-yard line instead of passing the ball to Marshawn Lynch.
13.1 Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott
The 2015 halftime show is something that is symbolic at its time. The performance of Katy Perry was kind of weird, loud, and quite intended for the internet to latch onto a viral moment. Also, a meme called was born after the show. But when it comes to performance, Katy Perry gave it all, especially Lenny Kravitz joined her. However, Missy Elliott strutted out in a surprise appearance. The crowd went crazy over Elliot. Notably, she did not steal the show. She commandeered it.
14. Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17
In the Super Bowl XXVII, the game could have been 59-17. However, Don Beebe manage to chase down Leon Lett in the latter part of the game, the stop the Cowboys for scoring again. If not, it might have been quite embarrassing that Jim Kelly getting hurt (which he was replaced by Frank Reich) and Tory Aikman went for a 22 for 30 for 273 yards, and four touchdown passes. This game is also considered to be the kick start of the Cowboys dynasty in the ’90s.
14.1 Michael Jackson
1993, the halftime show is labeled as the one that started all. Arguably it is! The show was performed by Michael Jackson. During this year, the King of Pop was slowly coming to an end. However, MJ did not stop to give a halftime performance that the fans truly deserve. It is considered to be the must-watch show. The children’s choir performed “We Are The World,” and was followed by MJ’s dramatic “Heal the World” performance. It is one of the greatest accomplishments of MJ’s career and was later reenacted at his memorial at the Staples Center.
15. Super Bowl XXVI: Washington Redskins 37, Buffalo Bills 24
In the Super Bowl XXVI, the Redskins was able to defeat the Bills with a 37-24 score. The Redskins then became the fourth team following the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers to win three Super Bowls. As for the Bills, the became the third team, following Minnesota Vikings (Super Bowls VIII and IX) and the Denver Broncos (Super Bowls XXI and XXII) to lose back to back in the Super Bowl.
15.1 Gloria Estefan
The Super Bowl XXVI halftime show gave the audience a chance to witness one of the greatest artists, Gloria Estefan. She performed alongside Olympic Figure skaters Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill, the University of Minnesota Marching Band, and the members of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team. Estefan played songs such as Live for Loving You and Get on Your Feet.
16. Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants 39, Denver Broncos 20
John Elway and the Broncos were about to take the 10-7 lead into the second quarter of the Super Bowl XXI. However, the Giants ripped off 26 unanswered points behind their excellent team player Phil Simms. He led the Broncos for 268 yards and three touchdowns, before swiftly striking the “I’m going to Disney World!” phrase.
16.1 George Burns and Mickey Rooney
Another Super Bowl halftime show that has been produced by The Walt Disney Company is the Super Bowl XXI. The show has the theme of Salute to Hollywood’s 100th Anniversary – The World of Make-Believe and performed by George Burns, Mickey Rooney, Grambling State University, and USC Marching Bands, Southern California-area high school drill teams and dancers and, Disney characters. The setlist includes songs such as What a Feeling (Theme from Flashdance), That’s Entertainment, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and When You Wish Upon a Star.
17. Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10
The Bears were able to defeat the Patriots with a score of 46-10. The Bears captured their first NFL championship since 1963. It is three years after the birth of the Super Bowl. The match happened on January 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. During this game, it was estimated to have 92.57 million viewers. Also, the previous Super Bowl MVPs were honored during the pregame ceremonies.
17.1 Up with People
Dated January 26, 1986, the Super Bowl XX halftime also did not have any huge names from the entertainment industry. However, the theme of the show, which is Beat of the Future, was performed by Up with People. The group is known for their projects and how they influenced the youth mostly through music.
18. Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
In Super Bowl XXVIII, the Cowboys defeated the Bills for their second straight years with a score of 30-13, and it is the fourth time that the team won in the Super Bowl history. With their win, Cowboys was able to tie the San Francisco 49ers, and the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins. As follows, the Cowboys was able to finish with 12-4 regular-season record, despite that fact that their key player was not present in the games due to injuries.
18.1 Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, The Judds
The Super Bowl XXVIII has a theme of Rockin’ Country Sunday. The show was stunned by different performers such as Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds. The halftime show was produced by the Select Productions. Thus, the artists performed songs such as Tuckered Out by (Clint Black, It’s a Little Too Late by Tanya Tucker, T-R-O-U-B-L-E by Travis Tritt, No One Else on Earth by Wynonna Judd, Love Can Build a Bridge byThe Judds, alongside the other artists and special guests for the final verse.
19. Super Bowl LIII: New England Patriots 13, Los Angeles Rams 3
The New England Patriots defeated the National Football Conference champion, Los Angeles Rams. The game ended with a 13-3 score. The match was held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 3, 2019. It was the first Super Bowl to be played in the said stadium and the third time that was held in Atlanta. Thus, according to sources, the Super Bowl LIII was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl game in the history after the 14–7 that happened in Super Bowl VII.
19.1 Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi
In 2019, halftime show, it is also filled with big names in the music industry. Fans witnessed the performance of Travis Scott, Big Boi, and Maroon 5. However, many commented that Maroon 5 was just Maroon Fine. They claimed that the group is too safe or bland for the halftime show. Adam Levine collaborated with ATLien Big Boi, and Travis Scott. Yet people shared that the band plays it safe playing their greatest hits.
20. Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins 14, Washington Redskins 7
The Dolphins were able to defeat the Redskins with a score of 14-7 (second lowest-scoring Super Bowl). The Dolphins, however, became the first and still the only team in the history of NFL to complete the undefeated season. They also remain the only Super Bowl champion to win despite the fact that they have been shout out in the second half of the fame. In the season, the Most Valuable Player was awarded to the Dolphins safety Jake Scott. He became the second defensive player in the history of Super Bowl to earn the Super Bowl MVP award.
20.1 University of Michigan Marching Band & Woody Herman & Andy Williams
The 1973 halftime show was produced by Tommy Walker, who is a football player himself and a musician as well. The theme was “Happiness Is” and performed by the University of Michigan Marching Band, Woody Herman, Andy Williams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Part of their setlist is the Put on a Happy Face, La Virgen de la Macarena, This Land Is Your Land, by University of Michigan Marching Band, Marmalade, Molasses & Honey, and People by Andy Williams.
The NFL is part of the American culture, and for some, it is a tradition passing it down to generations. Fans would always look forward to the matches and halftime shows. Thus, athletes and artists would always give their best to give people what they deserve.