Question: Which team won the first ever Super Bowl?
Show answer
Green Bay Packers.
The first-ever Super Bowl, known at the time as the “AFL-NFL World Championship Game,” was held on January 15, 1967. This historic event saw the Green Bay Packers face off against the Kansas City Chiefs. The game took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
The background to this game lies in the rivalry and eventual merger negotiations between the two major professional football leagues of that era: the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). To determine a true national champion, it was decided that the winning teams of both leagues would meet in a championship game. This culminated in what we now know as the Super Bowl, though the iconic name “Super Bowl” would not officially be used until the third such game.
The Green Bay Packers, under the guidance of their legendary head coach Vince Lombardi, represented the NFL. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by coach Hank Stram, represented the upstart AFL. Though both teams were champions of their respective leagues, the Packers, representing the older, more established NFL, were heavily favored to win.
As the game unfolded, the Packers showcased their dominance. While the Chiefs managed to keep up in the first half, by the second half, the Packers pulled away decisively. The final score was Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10. Bart Starr, the Packers’ quarterback, threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, earning him the honor of being named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
The victory solidified the Packers’ status as one of the NFL’s premier dynasties, and they would go on to win the second Super Bowl the following year as well. Vince Lombardi, whose name is now synonymous with football excellence, further cemented his legacy with this win. Today, the trophy awarded to the Super Bowl champions bears his name: The Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The success and popularity of this championship game paved the way for the eventual merger of the NFL and AFL in 1970, and the Super Bowl has since grown into one of the largest sporting events in the world, watched by millions of fans globally every year.
