The greatest Sports Illustrated Super Bowl covers of all time
No swimsuits though…
4.26pm, 28 Jan 2013
THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ers and Baltimore Ravens will meet in New Orleans and one team will become the 47th NFL Champion of the Super Bowl era.
During that game, somebody will do something that will be captured by a photographer that will land on the cover of next week’s Sports Illustrated.
On the next few pages, we will take a look at how the cover of SI’s Super Bowl issue has evolved over the years. From the simple cover of Max McGee in 1967 to last year’s shot of Eli Manning being protected by his linemen, the covers are a fun look back at the evolution of one of the world’s biggest sporting events and the evolution of the pre-eminent sports magazine.
Sports Illustrated's first Super Bowl cover was amazingly simple
1/25
In one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, SI went with Joe Namath taking a drink of water
2/25
The headline for the Cowboys' first Super Bowl win wasn't very super
3/25
The Steelers first Super Bowl win was Terry Bradshaw's only Super Bowl cover
4/25
In what started a trend for future Steelers Super Bowl wins, this cover showed Lynn Swann making his famous falling down catch
5/25
Yippeee?
6/25
Another great Steelers catch goes on the cover, this time from John Stallworth
7/25
One of the greatest Super Bowl cover photos showed the unlikely Raiders hero celebrating as Joe Theisman looks on helplessly
8/25
It was fitting that the Bears defense was featured after their Super Bowl win
9/25
Doug Williams' performance changed the perception many had of African-American quarterbacks
10/25
This was the 49ers third Super Bowl win and Joe Montana had yet to appear on a Super Bowl cover
11/25
The fourth win was the charm, and check out that vertical leap!
12/25
Interesting that Sports Illustrated chose not to show Scott Norwood after his 'Wide Right' field goal miss
13/25
We really start seeing a more modern SI cover in 1994. Two years later Emmitt Smith would get the rare second SI Super Bowl cover with headline 'SUPERBOYS'
14/25
Notice that Desmond Howard is looking for defenders on the jumbotron
15/25
John Elway final got over the hump. The next year he went back-to-back in the Super Bowl and on the cover
16/25
The Rams and Kurt Warner were one of the more incredible Super Bowl stories
17/25
The Ravens won this Super Bowl with defense, although this play is probably a penalty in today's game
18/25
And the very next year, SI's cover showed another hit that would be illegal today
19/25
Tom Brady's second Super Bowl win got him on the cover
20/25
Some think he needs more, but Peyton Manning does have one ring and one Super Bowl cover
21/25
David Tyree's miracle catch helped upset the 18-0 Patriots
22/25
And yet another incredible catch by a Steeler in the Super Bowl
23/25
Drew Brees celebrates the Saints' win with his son
24/25
Eli Manning cemented his spot in history with his second Super Bowl
The greatest Sports Illustrated Super Bowl covers of all time
THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ers and Baltimore Ravens will meet in New Orleans and one team will become the 47th NFL Champion of the Super Bowl era.
During that game, somebody will do something that will be captured by a photographer that will land on the cover of next week’s Sports Illustrated.
On the next few pages, we will take a look at how the cover of SI’s Super Bowl issue has evolved over the years. From the simple cover of Max McGee in 1967 to last year’s shot of Eli Manning being protected by his linemen, the covers are a fun look back at the evolution of one of the world’s biggest sporting events and the evolution of the pre-eminent sports magazine.
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Aaron Rodgers American Football Andrew Luck Arian Foster Arizona Cardinals Baltimore Ravens Chicago Bears Chris Johnson CJ2K Dallas Cowboys Eli manning Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Megatron Michael Vick New England Patriots New York Giants New York Jets NFL NFL London NFL Wembley Peyton Manning Philadelphia Eagles Ray Rice Redzone RGIII Robert Griffin III San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl Tim Tebow Tom Brady Tony Romo touchdown