The Truth Behind Super Bowl’s Roman Numerals—A Legacy of Prestige and Precision

Since Super Bowl V in 1971, the NFL has used Roman numerals to label its biggest annual event, creating an iconic and sophisticated branding strategy. The idea was introduced by Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, who sought to eliminate confusion since the Super Bowl is played in a different calendar year than the regular season.

Beyond clarity, Roman numerals give the event a timeless and prestigious feel, much like the Olympics. The only exception was Super Bowl 50 in 2016, when the league opted for Arabic numerals for a cleaner design. However, the tradition quickly resumed, solidifying Roman numerals as a permanent Super Bowl hallmark.
Source: Economic Times