There is nothing on American TV that matches viewership numbers when it comes to football, and especially nothing in the United States compares to the Super Bowl every season. Each year, the NFL’s championship game surpasses all shows in ratings. It is expected that this year’s Super Bowl viewership will reach historic levels.
In 2025, Super Bowl 59 set a new record with an average of 127.7 million viewers across all platforms. This beat the previous record of 123.7 million from 2024.
How Did the Last Five Super Bowls’ Average Viewership?
• 2025 Super Bowl 59 (Chiefs vs. Eagles): 127.7 million
• 2024 Super Bowl 58 (Chiefs vs. 49ers): 123.7 million
• 2023 Super Bowl 57 (Chiefs vs. Eagles): 115.1 million
• 2022 Super Bowl 56 (Rams vs. Bengals): approximately 112.3 million
• 2021 Super Bowl 55 (Buccaneers vs. Chiefs): 96.4 million
The increase from 2021 to 2025 stands out. In only four years, the average audience grew by over 30 million viewers, which may be partly due to the new initiative from the NFL of going global.
Streaming and expanded measurement changed the math
In addition to the NFL going more global, a major reason for the rising numbers is how viewership is measured for NFL games and, more specifically, the Super Bowl. Nielsen now counts streaming platforms, mobile devices, and out-of-home viewing into the total viewer count.
This is more important than ever since lots of people went away from the traditional cable market and into streaming through apps and using smaller devices.
The Super Bowl also attracts casual viewers who might not watch any other NFL games all year. Just the commercials and halftime show alone attract people who might not usually watch football. With more and more halftime show performers being popular singers worldwide, there will be an uptick in viewership.
Traditional TV ratings have dropped a bit, even though total viewership has gone up. Super Bowl 59 had a 41.7 household rating, meaning 41.7 percent of homes with a TV were watching. That’s down from 43.5 the year before.
Older Super Bowls often had higher ratings because there were fewer channels and entertainment choices. The highest-rated Super Bowl is still the 1982 game between the 49ers and Bengals, which had a 49.1 rating.
Still, more people watch the Super Bowl today than previously, and it’s not particularly close.
The Super Bowl still tops the list of the most-watched TV broadcasts in U.S. history. In recent years, more people have watched the kickoff than live in many European countries.
READ MORE: Top 100 2026 NFL Free Agent Rankings
The Super Bowl now reaches far beyond the United States and spreads across to other countries. In 2024, the NFL reported over 62 million viewers outside the country, with strong growth in Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The total Super Bowl audience often exceeds 150 million worldwide, with some estimates even higher.
The New England Patriots take the field against the Seattle Seahawks at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday in Santa Clara.
You can find all of PFSN’s Super Bowl coverage here.
