The Six Greatest Super Bowl Program Covers of All Time

 #6 Super Bowl XVI

Back when cars were still made in Detroit it was hard to think of the city without having thoughts of the motor industry. Shiny hood ornaments work well with the trophy. This is the first of three '80s covers in the list and was far superior to the cover for Detroit's Super Bowl XL.

 #5 Super Bowl XVII

I'm a sucker for art deco so this does it for this for me. I would've expected one of the many Miami-inspired covers to have the definitive art deco artwork but it turned out to be Pasadena.

#4 Super Bowl X

This idea was reworked for the Super Bowl XXXVI following 9/11 but is even more patriotic here. A lovely tribute to the bicentennial. The covers from the '70s were pretty ugly so this was by far the best of the decade.

#3 Super Bowl XXI

I've got a personal attachment to this one. It was the first Super Bowl program to get a localised British edition and could be bought pretty much anywhere in the UK. I remember seeing it advertised in First Down on the Thursday before the game and getting my dad to take me to the shop to get one. As we walked down the street I asked, 'Dad, do you think they'll have it?' just as some guy walked past with a copy. Memories!
Anyway, I love the stylised rose on the logo, the simple reflection of the Rose Bowl sign, the prominence of the trophy and it makes me miss those days when Super Bowls were held in that iconic stadium.

#2 Super Bowl I

Wonderful '60s understatement. Although of course the phrase 'Super Bowl' is nowhere to be seen here. Easily the classiest of all the covers – a real beauty.

#1 Super Bowl XXV

The clear winner. I still remember buying this and being blown away by it when I opened the cover out. It works well as a single page but spread up it is absolutely awesome. All the highlights from the first 24 Super Bowls are there I must've hours poring over the artwork finding new things.
Highlights: the Super Ball that inspired the name of the game next to Bradshaw's helmet, the Vikings bobblehead with the jersey number '00', the yellow ribbon on the Louisiana Superdome postcard, the helmet magents showing order of Super Bowl winners… I could go on forever.
I hope there's another one for Super Bowl L (although I bet the NFL feels the need to add the number '50' so as not to confuse people with the Roman 'L').


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