Can You Name the Super Bowl Champion From Each of the Last 35 Years?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name the Super Bowl Champion From Each of the Last 35 Years?
Image: WikiCommons via Stephen Luke

About This Quiz

Very few sporting events are as significant as the NFL Super Bowl. It's the ultimate representation of the hard work put in by players in one of America's favorite sports. After all, players constantly preach how individual accolades are great, but there is only one thing they really want, a championship ring on their finger. How well do you know the previous champions of the league, particularly the champions from the last 35 years? Why not see if you can find out with this quiz?

When you think about the last 35 years in the NFL, it's hard to remember which teams dominated each decade, and it's even harder to remember which teams won the Super Bowl, the biggest football game of the year. From the era when the San Fransisco 49ers reigned supreme to the dominance of the New England Patriots, NFL teams constantly rise and fall, and the Super Bowl is the ultimate indicator of who made it to the top. 

Are you ready to score a mental touchdown by acing this quiz on the previous Super Bowl champions from the last 35 years? Then let's go! Hopefully you won't need a Hail Mary!

In 2016, who won Super Bowl LI, the only overtime game in Super Bowl history?
The Patriots
The Falcons
The Dolphins
The Chargers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In Super Bowl LI, the Patriots came back after being down 28-3 in the third quarter to force overtime. The Patriots scored on the first drive of overtime to win the game, completing the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl 50 was Peyton Manning's final game. What team did he win the Super Bowl with?
The Raiders
The Broncos
The Seahawks
The Jets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For most of his career, Peyton Manning was viewed as a regular season quarterback who couldn't win in the playoffs. However, despite those that doubted his skill, Manning won a championship ring, his second, to finish his career.

Which team defeated the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX?
The Colts
The Titans
The Bills
The Patriots
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XLIX ended after Russell Wilson threw an interception on the one-yard line with 26 seconds left on the clock. The play call was criticized by the media and analysts because the Seahawks had one of the best running backs in the game.

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This team ended the Patriots' undefeated season at Super Bowl XLII. Who are they?
The Buccaneers
The Giants
The Jaguars
The Dolphins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 2007 Patriots were looking to be the first team in NFL history to go 19-0. However, the Giants stomped those hopes out by winning Super Bowl XLII 17-14.

Coached by Bill Belichick, who won Super Bowl XXXIX?
The Browns
The Patriots
The Dolphins
The Titans
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before becoming a head coach, Bill Belichick won two Super Bowls as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants. In total, Belichick has eight Super Bowl rings.

Super Bowl XLIV was the first championship for this franchise, led by their quarterback and MVP Drew Brees. Who are they?
The 49ers
The Jets
The Saints
The Panthers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Saints' franchise was so bad at one point that fans wore bags over their heads so they couldn't be seen. That all changed when quarterback Drew Brees came to town, delivering the team its first Super Bowl.

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Tied for most Super Bowls wins of any team in NFL history, who won Super Bowl XLIII?
The Steelers
The Cardinals
The Seahawks
The Texans
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XLIII was the sixth Super Bowl victory for the Steelers' franchise. That puts the team at number one in the NFL in terms of championships (tied with the Patriots as of 2019.)

Super Bowl XXIV was Joe Montana's final championship. Who did he play for?
The Chargers
The Bears
The Dolphins
The 49ers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Throughout his 16-year career, Joe Montana was named to eight Pro Bowls. He was also selected as the NFL MVP twice, in 1989 and 1990.

Jon Gruden won a Super Bowl as the first-year head coach of which team at Super Bowl XXXVII?
The Seahawks
The Bills
The Buccaneers
The Jets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prior to the 2002 season, Jon Gruden was traded from the Raiders to the Buccaneers. Gruden would meet his former team in the Super Bowl, defeating them 48-21.

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Super Bowl XLVI came down to an outstanding catch in the fourth quarter. Who won the game?
The Redskins
The Giants
The Cardinals
The Rams
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Quarterback Eli Manning defeated the Tom Brady-led Patriots in the Super Bowl for the second time in his career. Manning was named the MVP of the game after throwing for 296 yards and a touchdown.

Played at Cowboys Stadium before it became AT&T Stadium, which team won Super Bowl XLV?
The Ravens
The Browns
The Packers
The Bengals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Packers were also the first team to win a championship at Super Bowl I. The team was coached by Vince Lombardi, who the Super Bowl trophy is named after.

Which team defeated the Chicago Bears at Super Bowl XLI?
The Rams
The Bears
The Vikings
The Colts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XLI opened with a 92-yard kickoff return by Devin Hester. It was the fastest scored touchdown in Super Bowl history.

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Super Bowl XXXIV was decided by one yard. Who won the game?
The Rams
The Colts
The Jaguars
The Vikings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1999 Rams' offense was known as "The Greatest Show on Turf." It was led by players like Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce.

In a game that featured two brothers as head coaches, which team won Super Bowl XLVII?
The Falcons
The Lions
The 49ers
The Ravens
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XLVII pitted Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers against John Harbaugh and the Ravens. The game became known as the "Harbaugh Bowl" and the "Harbowl."

Super Bowl XXXII was John Elway's first championship. Who did he play for?
The Broncos
The Ravens
The Colts
The Bears
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prior to Super Bowl XXXII, John Elway was 0-3 in the big game. He was finally able to win near the end of his career after players like Terrell Davis were added to the roster.

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The Seahawks lost their first Super Bowl appearance at Super Bowl XL. Who won the game?
The Browns
The Eagles
The Chargers
The Steelers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The final touchdown of Super Bowl XL came from a wide receiver pass to another wide receiver. It was the first time in Super Bowl history that a wide receiver threw a touchdown pass.

The Super Bowl XXIX winner was 5-0 in Super Bowls. Who won the game?
The Dolphins
The Bills
The Falcons
The 49ers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Steve Young had the nearly impossible job of taking over a 49ers team that won four Super Bowls behind the arm of Joe Montana. Young was finally able to overcome the hump by winning a Super Bowl of his own when the 49ers defeated the Chargers at Super Bowl XXIX.

Led by their backup quarterback, which team won Super Bowl LII in 2017?
The Patriots
The Broncos
The Eagles
The Vikings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Drafted with the second pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Carson Wentz led the Eagles to a playoff spot in 2017 before tearing his ACL in Week 14. He was replaced by Nick Foles, who led the team to a Super Bowl victory.

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Which team won Super Bowl XIX by defeating a Dan Marino-led Miami Dolphins​' team?
The Seahawks
The Bills
The Panthers
The 49ers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ronald Reagan was elected to his second term as president of the United States prior to the 1984-85 Super Bowl. Reagan famously tossed the coin to start the game from the White House using a satellite​.

Led by one of the greatest defenses in NFL history, who won Super Bowl XXXV?
The Eagles
The Falcons
The Ravens
The Panthers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ravens came into Super Bowl XXXV with one of the greatest defenses in NFL history, and it did not disappoint. The Ravens held the Giants to 152 yards of offense, recording five turnovers and four sacks.

Led by Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, which team won Super Bowl XXVI?
The Chargers
The Bears
The Vikings
The Redskins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Redskins have received major criticism for the team's name over the years, which some Native American groups view as racist. However, ownership refuses to change the name because of the tradition tied to the team.

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Which team won the 25th anniversary​ of the Super Bowl?
The Giants
The Falcons
The Jaguars
The Vikings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XXV was decided by a missed last-second field goal from the Buffalo Bills. The play became immortalized as the "Wide Right" kick.

Featuring two teams who went 14-2 in the regular season, which team won Super Bowl XXXIII?
The Texans
The Titans
The Buccaneers
The Broncos
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XXXIII was John Elway's final game in the NFL. Elway was named the MVP of the game after throwing for 336 yards and a touchdown.

Played at the legendary Rose Bowl, which team won Super Bowl XXVII?
The Rams
The Cowboys
The Dolphins
The Buccaneers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cowboys crushed the Bills 52-17 at Super Bowl XXVII. Troy Aikman was named the MVP of the game after throwing four touchdowns to three different receivers.

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Which team defeated the Bengals 20-16 at Super Bowl XXIII?
The Raiders
The Redskins
The 49ers
The Steelers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wide receiver Jerry Rice was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXIII. During the game, Rice caught 11 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. He also holds the record for the most receiving touchdowns.

With an attendance over 100,000, which team won Super Bowl XXI?
The Jets
The Giants
The Falcons
The Lions
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill Parcells was the head coach of the New York Giants during the 1986 season. Parcells was named the AP Coach of the Year in 1986 after leading the team to a 14-2 regular season record.

The Buffalo Bills lost their fourth straight Super Bowl at Super Bowl XXVIII. Who defeated them?
The Giants
The Seahawks
The Cowboys
The Chargers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XXVIII was head coach Jimmy Johnson's final year with the Dallas Cowboys. He decided to leave the team due to disagreements with the owner, Jerry Jones.

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After going 14-2 in the regular season, which team won their 2nd national championship during Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Panthers?
The Patriots
The Eagles
The Jaguars
The Broncos
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XXXVIII pitted the Patriots against the Panthers. During the game, neither team scored in the first or third quarter, yet they managed to put up a combined 61 points.

Super Bowl XXXVI marked the third Super Bowl appearance for both participants. Who won?
The Rams
The Patriots
The Colts
The Ravens
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XXXVI marked Tom Brady's first Super Bowl victory,this time against the Rams. He would continue his winning ways, making it to nine Super Bowls by 2019 and winning six of them.

In a decisive 43-8 win, who soundly defeated the Broncos to win Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014?
The Seahawks
The Bears
The Steelers
The Panthers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Super Bowl XLVIII started with a safety after the football was snapped over the head of quarterback Peyton Manning and into the end zone. Things would not get much better for the Broncos, as they lost the game 43-8.

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With a dominant defense coached by Buddy Ryan, who won Super Bowl XX?
The Vikings
The Bears
The Packers
The Oilers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1985 Chicago Bears went 15-1 in the regular season, losing only to the Miami Dolphins. The Bears' defense only allowed 198 points throughout the entire regular season.

Marcus Allen was named the MVP of Super Bowl XVIII. Which team did he win the game with?
The Raiders
The Giants
The Patriots
The Oilers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Redskins came into Super Bowl XVIII leading the league in fewest rushing yards allowed. However, during the Super Bowl, the Redskins' defense gave up 191 yards on the ground to Marcus Allen.

Despite being favored, the Broncos were dominated at Super Bowl XXII by who?
The Redskins
The Vikings
The Packers
The Oilers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Backup quarterback, Doug Williams, led the Redskins through the playoffs and into Super Bowl XXII. When he took the field at Super Bowl XXII, Williams became the first African American quarterback to start a championship game in the NFL.

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Both teams in Super Bowl XXX were going for their fifth Super Bowl title. Who won?
The Steelers
The Lions
The Cowboys
The 49ers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barry Switzer coached the Dallas Cowboys to a victory at Super Bowl XXX. It was only his second year with the team. However, Switzer left the team two years later after going 6-10 in the regular season.

The Super Bowl XXXI winner was undefeated in Super Bowls at the time of that game. Which team is it?
The Lions
The Packers
The 49ers
The Titans
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Desmond Howard, a return specialist, was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXI. Howard had a combined 244 kickoff and punt return yards during the game.

You Got:
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WikiCommons via Stephen Luke