Super Bowl XLV

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Unlike most other Super Bowls, this game featured two title-abundant franchises: coming into the game, the Packers held the most NFL championships with 12 (9 league championships prior to the Super Bowl era and 3 Super Bowl championships), while the Steelers held the most Super Bowl championships with 6. The Packers entered their fifth Super Bowl in team history, and became the first 6-seed team in the NFC to compete in the Super Bowl, after posting a 10–6 regular season record. The Steelers finished the regular season with a 12–4 record, and advanced to an, at the time, league record-tying 8th Super Bowl appearance.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Cowboys Stadium was thick with anticipation as the clock ticked down on the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers stood in the huddle, his breath visible in the cool, controlled atmosphere, eyes scanning the defensive formation one last time. He knew this was it—the moment that would define a generation of Packers football. As he broke from the huddle, the stadium noise faded into a singular focus. With a quick snap and a perfect spiral, the ball cut through the night air, finding its target in the end zone. The eruption that followed wasn't just a cheer; it was the sound of history being written in green and gold.

Reader's Guide

Super Bowl XLV was initially dominated by the Packers, jumping to a 21–3 lead before the Steelers cut it to 21–10 just before halftime. Then after the teams exchanged touchdowns, the Steelers cut their deficit to 28–25 midway through the fourth quarter with wide receiver Mike Wallace's 25-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a two-point conversion. The Packers answered with Mason Crosby's 23-yard field goal with 2:07 remaining, and then prevented the Steelers from scoring on their final drive of the game. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named Super Bowl MVP, completing 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Did You Know?

• The broadcast of Super Bowl XLV on Fox averaged about 111 million viewers, breaking the record for the most-watched program in American television history.
• The game's attendance was 103,219, just short of the Super Bowl record 103,985 set in Super Bowl XIV at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
• The Super Bowl XLV halftime show featured the American hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas, with additional performances by Usher and Slash.
• This is the last time either team has advanced to the Super Bowl, despite appearing in a combined five conference championships since then.