The NFL continues to dominate television, with 93 of the top 100 broadcasts in 2023 being NFL games. The upcoming Super Bowl 2024 is expected to be the most-watched broadcast of the year. Broadcast networks pay massive fees to grab the rights to broadcast games because of the league’s astronomical ratings.
Nielsen ratings measure the viewership percentage of homes watching the Super Bowl. The highest-rated Super Bowls have occurred over several decades and are a testament to the ever-growing popularity of the event. Here are the highest-rated Super Bowls, ranked from No. 10 to No. 1:
10. Super Bowl XVIII (1984), Super Bowl XIX (1985), Super Bowl XLVII (2013) – 46.4
Three Super Bowls – XVIII, XIX, and XLVI – all registered a 46.4 rating. The highest-rated Super Bowl occurred in the early 1980s when the Los Angeles Raiders dominated the Washington Redskins and the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins. Super Bowl XLVII was the first game to feature two brothers coaching against each other – John and Jim Harbaugh, as head coaches of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. The game also experienced a power outage in the third quarter, leading to a 34-minute delay.
9. Super Bowl 50 (2016) – 46.6
Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers was a classic defense versus offense matchup, with the Broncos taking home the victory with a stifling defensive performance. Viewers still tuned in to see the Broncos win, resulting in a 46.6 rating.
8. Super Bowl XLVIII (2014) – 46.7
The Seahawks and Broncos faced each other in chilly MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, offering a different Super Bowl environment as Seattle’s dominant defense led them to a resounding win.
7. Super Bowl XLVI (2012) – 47.0
Super Bowl XLVI pitted the New England Patriots and New York Giants in a thrilling rematch that attracted a 47.0 rating.
6. Super Bowl XIII (1979) – 47.1
Super Bowl XIII saw the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers deliver an exciting game, capturing a high rating of 47.1.
