The Super Bowl is, of course, just a game, but it’s also the culmination of a long trudge for each team and die-hard fans who have pumped their fists with every win and felt queasy with every loss. The Super Bowl is also a cause for shared celebration. It’s a holiday, really. Unifying people in a moment of sport and snack. Because of all of these things, the game is always more memorable than a typical Sunday slugfest. And because of that, we wanted to ask our staff about their favorite Super Bowl memories. So, give them a read and then let us know about your own favorite Super Bowl moment.
Andrew Roberts
My favorite Super Bowl memories usually involve the Bud Bowl for some reason. Budweiser kinda sucks, but I remember being really excited for the fake games between bottles as a young football fan.
Now it’s merely a relic of the past, replaced by cornball celebrity stunts and faux heartwarming tales about dogs, horses with memories, and American heroes.
I’d rather watch the Browns play the Jaguars than any of that. Or just watch John Elway’s helicopter spin on repeat.
Gregg Rosenzweig
Wait, are you saying there’s another game on during the Puppy Bowl?
Jamie Frevele
My dad is a lifelong New York Giants fan, so therefore I am one, too. But I really never followed the NFL until the Giants started inexplicably winning during the 2007 post season [2008?]. My dad was beside himself with joy for those few weeks, and when the Giants won the two games that bookended by birthday, I started watching intently. This sh*t was miraculous. And then: that game. Eli barely escaping a sack and throwing an absolutely ridiculous pass to David Tyree, who caught that ridiculous pass with his head. That final drive.
And that game wasn’t even supposed to happen. It was all insane. A wild card team killed it and made their fans so, so proud. I joked about wanting a XLII tattoo after that game, but eight years later, I still think I want it. To remind myself that the impossible, or at least the improbable can happen.
Spencer Lund
Jason Tabrys
The Super Bowl blackout both gave the 49ers a much-needed reset (that they almost took all the way to victory) and stands out as a humbling moment for a football game that has evolved into a somewhat hollow and needlessly up-teased spectacle. It was also a lot of fun watching announcers scramble to find things to talk about during the chaos.
Also, Don Beebe slapping the ball out of Leon Lett’s hands 78 years ago when the Bills were losing 946-4 in their 17th-straight Super Bowl. That was pretty great.
Andrew Husband
Everyone has a story about where they were and who they were with when Justin Timberlake “accidentally” revealed Janet Jackson’s left boob to the world during the Super Bowl XXXVIII half-time show in 2004. This is one of those, except mine’s a bit different because I didn’t see it happen. That’s because I decided to leave the party I was at and drive to another one during the half-time break. In a former life, I volunteered with a youth group, so the first half of my Super Bowl XXXVIII viewing experience included middle and high school-aged kids and no alcohol. The second half, which promised people my age and plenty of alcohol, was a quick drive away. So, when my time was up, I left in a hurry. Per the unending laughter of my friends when I arrived at the second party, I then realized I didn’t drive fast enough. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Vince Mancini
This is a no-brainer for any Niner fan. Super Bowl XXIII: 34 seconds left. Montana to John Taylor. Montana’s arms raised in a V, good guys win. I may be a little biased, but this is by far the best moment of any Super Bowl and if you disagree with me you are wrong.
So, what’s your favorite Super Bowl memory?
