Professional football was founded in 1920 when the American Professional Football Association (APFA) was established. This league featured ten teams, but was quickly dissolved after only two seasons. The APFA was reorganized into the National Football League (NFL) in 1922 and the first championship game was played in 1933. A rival league wasn’t created until 1960 when the American Football League (AFL) was formed. This league was so successful, that they agreed to merge with the NFL in 1966. The merger provided for a championship game for the best team of the AFL to play the best team of the NFL. This game came to be known as the Super Bowl, which is the most watched annual sporting event in America.

The first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967. The game featured the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL and the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. The Packers won by a score of 35-10 in a game that attracted 51.18 million viewers.

Sunday, February 1^st will be the 49^th Super Bowl featuring the Patriots and the Seahawks. The game will be held in Arizona and feature Katy Perry as the halftime show. So far, the Patriots have appeared in eight Super Bowls, winning three in 2001, 2003, and 2004. This will be the Seahawks second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, a feat accomplished only one other time by the New England Patriots.

So, if you are planning on watching the Super Bowl, make sure to tune in to NBC by 6:30 so you can catch all of the action.