Why Is It Called the Super Bowl? Explaining the Term's OriginHome > Entertainment > Celebrity > Sports > NFLSource: Twitter Why Is It Called the Super Bowl A Toy Bouncy Ball Influenced the Event' s NameBy Allison DeGrusheFeb. 11 2022, Published 1:32 p.m. ET On Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, more than 100 million individuals nationwide will tune in to NBC to watch the biggest NFL game of all: the Super Bowl. There's nothing quite like the annual showdown — fans huddle in front of their televisions, experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions ranging from screaming at the top of their lungs to sobbing on the floor.Article continues below advertisement Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities to stuff your face with the most delicious snacks and knock back a drink or two. It's a uniquely American tradition that we hope never fades away. However, the big game was not always been the spectacle it is today; in fact, it took the NFL a few years to even come up with the term "Super Bowl." If you're curious why it's called the Super Bowl, keep reading to learn more about how the name came to be.Source: Getty ImagesArticle continues below advertisement Why is it called the Super Bowl The National Football League emerged in 1920, and for four decades straight, the organization successfully defeated several rival clubs; however, by 1960, the NFL encountered its most ambitious competitor in the American Football League. Eventually, in 1966, the two leagues agreed upon a merger that stated both factions would combine by 1970. As part of the deal, a game was to occur in which each league's best team would compete. At the time, trying to decide what to call the championship game proved tragic; according to Time Magazine, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle suggested the "Big One" and "Pro Bowl," but those names didn't stick for long. He later proposed the "AFL-NFL World Championship Game," which became the official moniker.Article continues below advertisement It was Lamar Hunt who coined the term "Super Bowl" for the final game (based on a super ball that his kids played with).Very appropriate that the franchise he founded is headed back to the big game led by the most impressive quarterback in the NFL. #Chiefs— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 19, 2020 Though that name was good enough, the late Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt came up with the term "Super Bowl." Sports Illustrated reports Lamar's suggestion was "inspired by his son's 'Super Ball' toy." Ultimately, the league owners decided on the "AFL-NFL Championship Game," but Lamar's suggestion remained an option. By 1969, the "Super Bowl" became the official title for the third annual game and every subsequent contest.Article continues below advertisement What does the bowl in Super Bowl mean Now that we've cleared up why the biggest NFL game of the year is called the Super Bowl, there's one more question on our minds: What the heck does "bowl" mean in the Super Bowl? As stated by Dictionary.com, the word bowl began to refer to bowl-like stadiums in the early 1900s. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cincinnati Bengals (@bengals) Article continues below advertisement "The first of these stadiums was built for Yale in 1914, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was soon to follow. Soon enough, football games held in similarly designed stadiums were called bowl games," reads the Dictionary.com entry. The 2022 Super Bowl is right around the corner, so who are you rooting for? Will Joe Burrow lead his team to victory? Or, will Matthew Stafford and the Rams prevail due to their home-field advantage? The Cincinnati Bengals face off against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Feb. 13 on NBC. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. EST.AdvertisementMore from Distractify Want to Sound Like a Football Expert Before the Super Bowl? Here's Our Handy Guide FYI, This Is How the Super Bowl Stadium Is Chosen Every Year Super Bowl Food Ideas From TikTok That Will Totally ~Score~ at Any Game-Day Party Latest NFL News and UpdatesAdvertisementABOUT DistractifyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseDMCASitemapCONNECT with DistractifyLink to Facebook Link to TwitterLink to InstagramContact us by Email Copyright 2022 Distractify. Distractify is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.