U2 Super Bowl Halftime Show

WHAT HAPPENED AT SUPER BOWL 2002?

Background

New Orleans had been awarded Super Bowl XXXVI during an owners’ meeting in Kansas City on October 28, 1998, beating San Diego in the bid to host the game.

Super Bowl XV was played between the AFC’s New England Patriots and NFL’s St. Louis Rams on February 3, 2002, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to decide which team would be crowned champions of the 2001 football season.

The Patriots emerged the winners, defeating the Rams by 20-17.

Noteworthy for:

  • Super Bowl XXXVI had originally been scheduled for January 27, 2002; However, as a result of the 2001 terrorist attacks, the season games had been postponed and the Super Bowl was pushed back a week, making it the first Super Bowl in history to be played in February.
  • Super Bowl XXXVI was played under a heightened level of security and was designated a National Special Security Event (NSSE). All Super Bowls since have been allocated this status.

Although the Rams made more significant offensive gains in comparison to the Patriots (427 versus 267), the Rams had successfully built up a 17-3 lead by the third quarter thanks to three St. Louis turnovers. A Patriots’ fumble return was negated by a holding penalty in the fourth quarter, allowing Warner to score a touchdown run before throwing a 26-yard touchdown pass, leaving the game even at 17-17 with 1:30 remaining on the clock. Brady went on the offensive, leading his team down the field and setting up Adam Vinatieri, who kicked a 48-yard field goal within the last few seconds of the game.

Tom Brady was named MVP. During Super Bowl XXXVI he completed 16 of 17 passes, gaining 145 yards, and scored a touchdown.

Key Statistics

Final Score: St Louis Rams (NFC) – 17 Vs. New England Patriots (AFC) – 20
Date: February 3, 2002
Stadium: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
MVP: Tom Brady, Quarterback
Favorite: Rams by 14
Referee: Bernie Kukar
Attendance: 72,922

2002 Super Bowl Performances

Pregame: The show, a tribute to “Freedom” featured the Boston Pops, Barry Manilow, Marc Anthony, Mary J. Blige, and Paul McCartney
Anthem: Mariah Carey accompanied by the Boston Pops (American Sign Language performance by Joe Narcisse)
Coin Toss:
Half time: U2
Halftime theme: Tribute to 9/11 victims
Halftime setlist:

  • “Beautiful Day”
  • “MLK”
  • “Where the Streets Have No Name”

The halftime show was dedicated to the memory of those who had lost their lives in the September 11 terrorist attack. U2’s performance captured the hearts of the nation and was later voted the best halftime show in the history of the Super Bowl (SI.com, 2009). Janet Jackson had originally been scheduled to perform the halftime show; however, due to travel concerns, U2 was selected.