Since the inception of the Super Bowl back in 1967, the big game has been a ratings juggernaut. TV ratings and how they are measured have evolved over time, especially with the introduction of streaming platforms and devices. However, the raw numbers remain the same. Let’s take a look at the five most-watched Super Bowls in TV history and compare some of their ratings over time.
5 Highest Super Bowl Ratings Through History
Thanks to SportsMediaWatch, we have access to all the TV ratings since the famous Super Bowl 1. And even though there have been some unbelievable games played throughout the more than 50 years of the event, the following five were the most-watched.
Note: we used actual viewership total numbers to put this list together. The TV rating numbers are harder to quantify.
5) Super Bowl LI (51): Average Viewers 111.32 Million
Super Bowl 51 has the distinct honor of being the fifth most-watched Super Bowl. Unfortunately for Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, that means more than 110 million people watched as his team choked away a 28-3 lead to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
The win would give Brady his sixth and final Super Bowl with the Patriots before he went on to win a seventh with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (more on that below). Finding any Super Bowl list without Tom Brady on it a few times would be surprising, and this one is no different.
4) Super Bowl XLVI (46): Average Viewers 111.35 Million
Super Bowl 46 was a rematch of one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time. The New York Giants crawled into the playoffs with a lowly 9-7 record and were facing off against Tom Brady and the 13-3 New England Patriots.
In 2007, during Super Bowl 42, the Giants spoiled the Patriots’ perfect season thanks to an unreal helmet catch that sealed the win. In this game, they once again stopped Brady from winning another Lombardi Trophy and set the record for the lowest regular season record (9–7, win percentage of 56.3%) by a Super Bowl champion.
3) Super Bowl 50: Average Viewers 111.86 Million
Super Bowl 50, a rare non-Roman numeric Super Bowl, was played between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. In one of the most defensive games in Super Bowl history, the Broncos took an early lead and never really looked back. They recorded a whopping seven sacks and forced four turnovers.
Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning decided to retire after the win and was inducted into the Hall of Fame five years later. To really emphasize how defensive this game was, the Super Bowl MVP was actually given to a linebacker, Von Miller.
2) Super Bowl XLVIII (48): Average Viewers 112.19 Million
Surprisingly, an absolute blowout ranks second on the most-watched Super Bowls list. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks faced off back in 2014, and Russell Wilson put on an absolute clinic, defeating Denver 48-8.
Seattle led 22–0 at halftime and ultimately went up 36–0 before allowing Denver’s first and only score on the final play of the third quarter. The 36–0 lead was the largest shutout lead in Super Bowl history by more than 10 points!
What Was The Most Watched Super Bowl of All Time?
Super Bowl XLIX (49) was the most-watched Super Bowl of all time, with an average viewership number of 114.44 million.
The AFC champion New England Patriots defeated the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, 28–24. It is rarely said that NFL games are decided by one play. Usually, it takes a number of circumstances to decide a team’s fate. However, Super Bowl 49 was truly decided by one play.
With the ball basically on the goal line and with nearly no time left on the clock, the Seahawks decided that it would be best to attempt a pass over running the ball. What made the decision so baffling was the running back they had waiting in the wings: Marshawn Lynch.
Lynch had already scored 13 rushing touchdowns that season, leading the NFL. He was all but guaranteed to score the Super Bowl-winning TD. Instead, Russell Wilson threw the ball right into the hands of Patriots CB Malcolm Butler. The play gave Brady yet another Super Bowl victory.