The hold that the NFL has on sporting America is only solidified by Super Bowls like this, when good guys win and heroes are rewarded and you feel OK even about the losers. You come away wondering what's not to embrace about something that can be so grandiose yet ultimately so human.

That's what makes the Super Bowl more attractive than ever. A record 144 million people, enticed by all the feel-good stories the NFL produces with such regularity, were expected to watch at least parts of the 41st edition Sunday. The 13 top-rated TV shows of all time are Super Bowls; no doubt this one will grow the list to 14, perhaps even carve out a place on top. This certainly is a platform unprecedented in all of our sports, and though this game may not have been particularly beautiful, the men who emerged as the most distinguished at its end are worthy of a spotlight that extended to 232 countries and territories worldwide.

Surprisingly, given the importance of the game, Superbowl history is rather brief: the first Superbowl championship was held in 1967.

Bowl games are nothing new in football, but the Super Bowl elevated the practice to an American sports tradition. It all started as a way for the champions of the two pigskin leagues of the time, the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL), to determine who really was Number One.

Super Bowl III featured one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history as the New York Jets, behind the guarantee of Joe Namath, defeated the 18-point favorite Baltimore Colts 16–7. Namath, the MVP of the game, and Matt Snell, 121 yards on 30 carries with a touchdown, led the Jets to victory. The win helped solidify the AFL as a legitimate contender with the NFL.

The Super Bowl has been designated a National Special Security Event by the United States Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security every year since Super Bowl XXXVI, which was the first Bowl played following the September 11 attacks. That means that the stadium and surrounding area face increased security measures, especially on gameday..