View source for Super Bowl IX

{{Short description|1975 Edition of the Super Bowl}}
{{redirect|1975 Super Bowl|the Super Bowl that was played at the completion of the 1975 season|Super Bowl X}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox Super Bowl
| type = sb
| name = IX
| image = Super Bowl IX Logo.svg
| image_size = 200px
| visitor = [[1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]
| visitor_abbr = PIT
| visitor_conf = [[American Football Conference|AFC]]
| home = [[1974 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
| home_abbr = MIN
| home_conf = [[National Football Conference|NFC]]
| visitor_coach = [[Chuck Noll]]
| visitor_record = 10–3–1
| home_coach = [[Bud Grant]]
| home_record = 10–4
| visitor_qtr1 = 0
| visitor_qtr2 = 2
| visitor_qtr3 = 7
| visitor_qtr4 = 7
| visitor_total = 16
| home_qtr1 = 0
| home_qtr2 = 0
| home_qtr3 = 0
| home_qtr4 = 6
| home_total = 6
| date = {{start-date|January 12, 1975}}
| stadium = [[Tulane Stadium]]
| city = [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]
| attendance = 80,997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/results/superbowl|title=Super Bowl Winners|publisher=National Football League|website=NFL.com|access-date=February 4, 2015}}</ref>
| odds = Steelers by 3<ref>{{cite news|last=DiNitto|first=Marcus|title=Super Bowl Betting History – Underdogs on Recent Roll|url=http://linemakers.sportingnews.com/nfl/2015-01-25/super-bowl-betting-history-patriots-vs-seahawks-point-spread-line-vegas-odds|magazine=[[The Sporting News]]|date=January 25, 2015|access-date=February 4, 2015|archive-date=February 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204100054/http://linemakers.sportingnews.com/nfl/2015-01-25/super-bowl-betting-history-patriots-vs-seahawks-point-spread-line-vegas-odds|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/superbowl/history/|title=Super Bowl History|publisher=Vegas Insider|access-date=February 4, 2015}}</ref>
| MVP = [[Franco Harris]], [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]]
| anthem = New Orleans Chapter of the Society for the Preservation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America--Chorus
| coin_toss = [[Bernie Ulman]]
| referee = [[Bernie Ulman]]
| HOFers = '''Steelers:''' [[Art Rooney]] (owner), [[Dan Rooney]] (team administrator), [[Bill Nunn (American football)|Bill Nunn]] (scout), [[Chuck Noll]] (head coach), [[Mel Blount]], [[Terry Bradshaw]], [[Joe Greene]], [[Jack Ham]], [[Franco Harris]], [[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]], [[Donnie Shell]], [[John Stallworth]], [[Lynn Swann]], [[Mike Webster]]<br />'''Vikings:''' [[Bud Grant]] (head coach), [[Carl Eller]], [[Paul Krause]], [[Alan Page]], [[Fran Tarkenton]], [[Mick Tingelhoff]], [[Ron Yary]]
| halftime = "Tribute to [[Duke Ellington]]"<br/>with [[Mercer Ellington]] and<br/>[[Grambling State University]] Band
| network = [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
| announcers = [[Curt Gowdy]], [[Al DeRogatis]], [[Don Meredith]] and [[Charlie Jones (sportscaster)|Charlie Jones]]
| rating = 42.4 <br/><small>(est. 56 million viewers)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/18/historical-super-bowl-tv-ratings/11044|title=Historical Super Bowl Nielsen TV Ratings, 1967–2009 – Ratings|publisher=TVbytheNumbers|access-date=October 9, 2012|archive-date=February 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208213536/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/18/historical-super-bowl-tv-ratings/11044|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| share = 72
| commercial = $107,000<ref>{{cite news|title=Super Bowl Ad Cost: Rates For Commercials Climbs Through The Years|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/02/super-bowl-ad-cost-rates_n_2552083.html|access-date=February 2, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=Huffington Post|date=January 25, 2013}}</ref>
| radio = [[NFL on NBC Radio|NBC Radio]]
| radioannouncers = [[Jim Simpson (sportscaster)|Jim Simpson]] and [[John Brodie]]
| last = VIII
| next = X
}}
'''Super Bowl IX''' was an [[American football]] game played between the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) champion [[1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] and the [[National Football Conference]] (NFC) champion [[1974 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] to decide the [[National Football League]] (NFL) champion for the [[1974 NFL season|1974 season]]. The game was played on January 12, 1975, at [[Tulane Stadium]] in [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]. The Steelers defeated the Vikings by the score of 16–6 to win their first Super Bowl championship.<ref name=ppgfink>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VMdaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6524%2C1423864 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Fink |first=David |title=Super Steelers win! |date=January 13, 1975 |page=1}}</ref>

This game matched two of the NFL's best defenses and two future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] quarterbacks. Led by quarterback [[Terry Bradshaw]] and the ''[[Steel Curtain]]'' defense, the Steelers advanced to their first Super Bowl after posting a 10–3–1 regular-season record and playoff victories over the [[Buffalo Bills]] and the [[Oakland Raiders]]. The Vikings were led by quarterback [[Fran Tarkenton]] and the ''[[Purple People Eaters]]'' defense; they advanced to their second consecutive Super Bowl and third overall after finishing the regular season with a 10–4 record and defeating the [[1974 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] and the [[1974 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] in the playoffs.

The first half of Super Bowl IX was a defensive struggle, with the lone score being the first safety in Super Bowl history when Tarkenton was downed in his own end zone. The Steelers then recovered a fumble on the second-half kickoff and scored on [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]] [[Franco Harris]]'s 9-yard run. The Vikings cut the score, 9–6, early in the fourth quarter by recovering a blocked punt in Pittsburgh's end zone for a touchdown, but the Steelers then drove 66 yards on their ensuing possession to score on [[Larry Brown (tight end, born 1949)|Larry Brown]]'s 4-yard touchdown reception to put the game out of reach.

In total, the Steelers limited the Vikings to Super Bowl record lows of nine first downs, 119 total offensive yards, 17 rushing yards, and no offensive scores (Minnesota's only score came on a blocked punt, and they did not even score on the extra point attempt).  The Steelers accomplished this despite losing starting linebackers [[Andy Russell (American football)|Andy Russell]] and [[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]], who were injured and replaced by [[Ed Bradley (linebacker)|Ed Bradley]] and [[Loren Toews]] for most of the second half.  On the other hand, Pittsburgh had 333 yards of total offense.  Harris, who ran for a Super Bowl record 158 yards (more than the entire Minnesota offense) and a touchdown, was named the Super Bowl's [[Super Bowl MVP|Most Valuable Player]].

==Background==
===Host selection process===
The NFL awarded Super Bowl IX to [[New Orleans]] on April 3, 1973, at the owners' meetings held in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]].<ref name="MH04-04-1973pg163">{{cite news|title=Miami Gets '76 Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117294328/|first1=Ray|last1=Crawford|newspaper=The Miami Herald|page=163|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=April 4, 1973|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref> This was the third time that the Super Bowl was played in New Orleans, after [[Super Bowl IV|IV]] and [[Super Bowl VI|VI]]. Super Bowl IX was originally planned to be held at the [[Louisiana Superdome]], which was under construction at the time of the vote. However, construction delays at the Superdome (which pushed its opening to August [[1975 New Orleans Saints season|1975]]) forced the league to move the game to [[Tulane Stadium]], where the city's previous two Super Bowls were held. This ended up being the last professional American football game played at Tulane Stadium.

For the second time, the owners selected two consecutive Super Bowl host cities at the same meeting. Only three cities submitted bids for the two games. Representatives from New Orleans, [[Miami]], and [[Los Angeles]] each made presentations; all three cities had already hosted the Super Bowl.<ref name="EPHP04-03-1973pg8">{{cite news|title=Expansion Is Given Go-Ahead|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117294132/|first1=Joe|last1=Carnicelli|newspaper=El Paso Herald-Post|page=8|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=April 3, 1973|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref> New Orleans impressed owners with their Superdome plans, and won a unanimous vote to host the game, while Miami was given [[Super Bowl X]].<ref name="TBSM4-04-1973pg27">{{cite news|title=NFL owners award 1975 Super Bowl game to New Orleans' Superdome|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117294855/|first1=Cameron C.|last1=Snyder|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|page=27|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=April 4, 1973|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="OS04-07-1973pg23">{{cite news|title=Super Bowl To New Orleans In 1975|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117293925/|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|page=23|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=April 4, 1973|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref>

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
{{main|1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season}}

Pittsburgh advanced to their first Super Bowl and was playing for a league championship for the first time in team history. Their 73-year-old owner [[Art Rooney]] founded the Steelers as a 1933 NFL [[expansion team]], but suffered through losing seasons for most of its 42-year history and had never made it to an NFL championship game or a Super Bowl. But in 1969, Rooney hired [[Chuck Noll]] to be the team's head coach and its fortunes started to turn following a disastrous 1–13 first year under the future Hall of Fame coach.

Noll rebuilt the Steelers through the [[NFL draft]], selecting defensive tackle [[Joe Greene]] and defensive end [[L. C. Greenwood]] in his first season as head coach. In 1970, Noll drafted quarterback [[Terry Bradshaw]] and cornerback [[Mel Blount]]. In 1971, linebacker [[Jack Ham]], defensive tackle [[Ernie Holmes]], defensive end [[Dwight White]], and safety [[Mike Wagner]] were selected by the team. Fullback [[Franco Harris]] was drafted in 1972. And in 1974, the Steelers picked linebacker [[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]], center [[Mike Webster]] and wide receivers [[Lynn Swann]] and [[John Stallworth]], and signed safety [[Donnie Shell]] as a free agent. Bradshaw, Webster, Swann, Stallworth, and Harris ended up being [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] players on offense, while the others formed the core nucleus of their "Steel Curtain" defense, including future Hall of Famers Greene, Ham, Blount, Lambert and Shell.

But en route to Super Bowl IX, the Steelers had started the regular season slowly, as Bradshaw and [[Joe Gilliam]] fought to be the team's starting quarterback. Gilliam had started for the first four games of the season, but Noll eventually made Bradshaw the starter. Although Bradshaw ended up completing only 67 out of 148 passes for 785&nbsp;yards, 7 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, he helped lead the team to a 10–3–1 regular-season record. The Steelers' main offensive weapon, however, was running the ball. Harris rushed for 1,006&nbsp;yards and five touchdowns, while also catching 23 passes for 200&nbsp;yards and another touchdown. Running backs [[Rocky Bleier]], [[Preston Pearson]], and [[Steve Davis (running back)|Steve Davis]] also made important contributions, gaining a combined total of 936&nbsp;yards and eight touchdowns.  Receiver [[Lynn Swann]] returned 41 punts for league-leading 577 yards and a touchdown.

But the Steelers' main strength during the season was their staunch "Steel Curtain" defense, which led the league with the fewest total yards allowed (3,074) and the fewest passing yards allowed (1,466). Greene won the [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award]] for the second time in the previous three seasons, and he and [[L. C. Greenwood]] were named to the [[Pro Bowl]]. Both of the team's outside linebackers, Ham and [[Andy Russell (American football player)|Andy Russell]], had been also selected to play in the Pro Bowl, while Lambert already had two interceptions for 19&nbsp;yards in his rookie year. In the defensive backfield, Blount, Wagner, and [[Glen Edwards (safety)|Glen Edwards]] made a strong impact against opposing passing plays.

===Minnesota Vikings===
{{main|1974 Minnesota Vikings season}}

The Vikings came into the season trying to redeem themselves after a one sided [[Super Bowl VIII]] loss after which they became the first team to lose two Super Bowls (the other loss was in [[Super Bowl IV]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl VIII - Minnesota Vikings vs. Miami Dolphins - January 13th, 1974 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197401130mia.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Minnesota's powerful offense was still led by veteran quarterback [[Fran Tarkenton]], who passed for 2,598 yards and 17 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fran Tarkenton 1974 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TarkFr00/gamelog/1974/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Vikings' primary offensive weapon was running back [[Chuck Foreman]], who led the team in receptions with 53 for 586 yards and six touchdowns. He was also their leading rusher with 777 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Wide receivers Jim Lash and John Gilliam were major deep threats, having 32 receptions for 631 yards (a 19.7&nbsp;yards per catch average) and 26 receptions for 578 yards (a 22.5 ypc average), respectively. Fullback [[Dave Osborn]] contributed with 514 rushing yards, and 29 receptions for 196 yards. And the Vikings' offensive line, led by future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]] right tackle [[Ron Yary]] and center [[Mick Tingelhoff]], allowed only 17 sacks.

Aided by the "[[Purple People Eaters]]" defense, led by future Hall of Fame defensive linemen [[Carl Eller]] and [[Alan Page]], and future Hall of Fame safety [[Paul Krause (football player)|Paul Krause]], the Vikings won the [[NFC Central]] for the sixth time in the previous seven seasons.  Linebacker [[Jeff Siemon]] had 2 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries.  Minnesota's defense also featured cornerback [[Nate Wright]], who led the team with 6 interceptions, and safety [[Jeff Wright (defensive back)|Jeff Wright]], who had 4.

===Playoffs===
{{Further|1974–75 NFL playoffs}}

For the first time in four years, the [[Miami Dolphins]] were not able to advance to the Super Bowl. While the Steelers defeated the [[1974 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] 32–14 in the first round, the favored Dolphins lost to the [[1974 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] 28–26, giving up Raiders running back [[Clarence Davis]]' 8-yard touchdown reception with 26 seconds remaining in the game with a play now known as ''[[The Sea of Hands]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers - December 22nd, 1974 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412220pit.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 29th, 1974 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412290rai.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The key play in the game occurred when the Dolphins were in control and were leading the Raiders 19–14 midway through the fourth quarter. [[Cliff Branch]] hauled in a 72-yard touchdown pass from Raiders quarterback [[Ken Stabler]] when third-year Dolphin defensive back [[Henry Stuckey]], the man assigned to cover Branch on the play, fell down, and the resultant wide open Branch caught the bomb and sprinted to the end zone. After [[George Blanda]] kicked the PAT, the Raiders led 21–19. Dolphin fans were furious because fan favorite [[Lloyd Mumphord]] was replaced with Stuckey. Mumphord and head coach [[Don Shula]] were involved in a feud at the time, and it is thought that Stuckey was given the starting job for this game because of Shula's and Mumphord's differences of opinion. Afterwards, Stuckey was released in the offseason. Many believed that had Mumphord been in the game, there would have been no "Sea of Hands" play.

Meanwhile, Minnesota allowed only a combined 24 points in their playoff wins against the [[1974 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]], 30–14, and their narrow defeat of the [[1974 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]], 14–10, after their defense stopped an attempted comeback touchdown drive from the Rams on the Vikings' own 2-yard line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - St. Louis Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings - December 21st, 1974 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412210min.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings - December 29th, 1974 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412290min.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Super Bowl pregame news and notes===
Sports writers and fans predicted that Super Bowl IX would be a low scoring game because of the two teams' defenses. The Steelers' "Steel Curtain" had led the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] in fewest points allowed (189) and the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" had only given up 195.

As the NFC was the designated "home team" for the game, by NFL rules at the time the Vikings were required to wear their purple jerseys. Although the league later relaxed the rule from [[Super Bowl XIII]] onwards, the Vikings would've likely worn their purple jerseys anyway, given that they've worn their purple jerseys at home for much of their history aside from a few games in the 1960s, when the NFL was encouraging (but not requiring) teams to wear white at home. This was the only one of the four Super Bowls the Steelers of the 1970s played in that the team wore their white jerseys, and the only Super Bowl the team would wear white at all until [[Super Bowl XL]] 31&nbsp;years later.

This was the first post-merger Super Bowl to not feature an East Division team from either conference. The previous season's Vikings were the only non-East Division team to appear in any of the previous four Super Bowls.

This would be the final Super Bowl to feature the flag style pylons.

===Game conditions===
When the NFL awarded Super Bowl IX to New Orleans on April 3, 1973, the game was originally scheduled to be played at the [[Louisiana Superdome]].<ref name=nosfsfsb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PphfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3162%2C749555 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=New Orleans selected for 1975 Super Bowl |date=April 4, 1973 |page=13}}</ref><ref name="argrchs">{{Cite news |date=April 4, 1973 |title=NFL to argue about rule changes soon |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Em1YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0fcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6462%2C3398024 |work=The Bulletin|via=Google News |location=(Bend, Oregon) |page=13 |agency=UPI}}</ref> By July 1974, construction on the dome was not yet finished, and so the league reverted to Tulane Stadium, home field for [[Tulane Green Wave football|Tulane University]] and the [[1974 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]], and site of Super Bowls [[Super Bowl IV|IV]] and [[Super Bowl VI|VI]]. Dolphins owner [[Joe Robbie]] lobbied the NFL to move Super Bowl IX to the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]], already scheduled to host [[Super Bowl X]], and give New Orleans the January 1976 game, but the proposal was rejected.

This proved to be quite pivotal, because of the inclement conditions (low temperature and the field was slick from overnight rain).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steelergridiron.com/history/historyof9.html|title=Super Bowl IX history|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101145937/http://steelergridiron.com/history/historyof9.html|archive-date=January 1, 2007}}</ref>  This was the last Super Bowl to be played in inclement weather for over thirty years, until [[Super Bowl XLI]] (and that game's weather issues in Miami were based on a driving rain, not the temperature). The game still holds the mark as the second-coldest outdoor temperature for an outdoor game, at a game-time temperature of {{convert|46|F}} (only [[Super Bowl VI]], also played at Tulane Stadium, had a colder game-time temperature, {{convert|39|F}}) and expectations that Super Bowl XLVIII would break these records due to its winter location in outdoor New Jersey did not come to pass.  (Seven Super Bowls - [[Super Bowl XVI|XVI]] in Pontiac, [[Super Bowl XXVI|XXVI]] and [[Super Bowl LII|LII]] in Minneapolis, [[Super Bowl XXVIII|XXVIII]] and [[Super Bowl XXXIV|XXXIV]] in Atlanta, [[Super Bowl XL|XL]] in Detroit and [[Super Bowl XLVI|XLVI]] in Indianapolis - have had colder outdoor temperatures but were played fixed-roof stadiums, except XLVI at the retractable-roofed [[Lucas Oil Stadium]].)<ref name=pfhoftemp>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/news/super-bowl-game-time-temperatures/|title=Super Bowl Game-Time Temperatures |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref>

The change of venue meant this was not only the last of three Super Bowls played at Tulane Stadium, but the last professional game played in the stadium, which was demolished five years later and replaced for the [[1975 NFL season]] by the [[Louisiana Superdome]], which has hosted every Super Bowl held in New Orleans since.

The circumstances surrounding Super Bowl IX prompted the NFL to adopt a rule prohibiting a new stadium from hosting the Super Bowl following its first regular season. The rule was first invoked in 2018 when construction on [[SoFi Stadium]] for the [[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]] and [[Los Angeles Chargers|Chargers]] in [[Inglewood, California|Ingelwood]], [[California]] fell behind schedule by a year, forcing the NFL to move [[Super Bowl LV]] to Tampa's [[Raymond James Stadium]] and instead playing [[Super Bowl LVI]] at SoFi, which opened for the [[2020 NFL season|2020 season]]. (The first facility to host a Super Bowl in its second season was Miami's [[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]], which opened in [[1987 NFL season|1987]] and hosted [[Super Bowl XXIII]] following the [[1988 NFL season|1988 season]].)

==Broadcasting==
The game was broadcast in the [[United States]] by [[NFL on NBC|NBC]] with [[play-by-play|play-by-play announcer]] [[Curt Gowdy]] and [[color commentator]]s [[Al DeRogatis]] and [[Don Meredith]]. [[Charlie Jones (sportscaster)|Charlie Jones]] served as the event's field reporter and covered the [[Vince Lombardi Trophy|trophy presentation]]; while hosting the coverage was [[NBC News]] reporter [[Jack Perkins (reporter)|Jack Perkins]] and Jeannie Morris (Morris, then the wife of former [[Chicago Bears]] wide receiver and [[WMAQ-TV]] sports anchor [[Johnny Morris (American football)|Johnny Morris]], became the first woman to participate in Super Bowl coverage).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1975/04/21/617271/getting-into-the-picture|title=GETTING INTO THE PICTURE|first=Curry|last=Kirkpatrick}}</ref> Prior to the [[1975 NFL season]], NBC did not have a regular pregame show.

===In popular culture===
''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' on [[CBS]] (which was set in Minneapolis) used this game as a plot line on the episode aired the night before the game. [[Lou Grant (fictional character)|Lou Grant]] taught [[Ted Baxter]] how to bet on football games; yet over the course of the football season, Ted was the one who developed a winning strategy. They pooled their money and finished the regular season in the black. Since Ted's strategy would not work on the Super Bowl game's spread, it was agreed they would not place a bet on the Super Bowl. However Ted was crushed when it was revealed that Lou actually did place a (losing) bet. Lou bet all the season's winnings on the Steelers. At the end of the show, [[Mary Tyler Moore]] announced the following over the credits: "If the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] win the actual Super Bowl tomorrow, we want to apologize to the Pittsburgh team and their fans for this purely fictional story. If on the other hand, they lose, remember, you heard it here first." And, as it turned out, her apology did go into effect.

==Entertainment==
The [[Grambling State University]] Band from north Louisiana performed during both the pregame festivities and the national anthem. Coincidentally, Tulane Stadium hosted the first [[Bayou Classic]] football game between [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]] archrivals [[Grambling Tigers football|Grambling]] and [[Southern Jaguars football|Southern]] seven weeks before the Super Bowl.

During the national anthem, the GSU band was backed by the Mardi Gras Barbershop Chorus under the direction of Dr. Saul Schneider. The halftime show was a tribute to American [[jazz]] [[composer]], [[pianist]] and [[bandleader]] [[Duke Ellington]], also featuring the Grambling State University Band along with Ellington's son [[Mercer Ellington|Mercer]]. Ellington had died the previous May.

==Game summary==
As many predicted, the game was low scoring; both teams failed to score a touchdown or a field goal until the third quarter and ended up with the third lowest total of combined points in Super Bowl history.

===First quarter===
The first quarter of the game was completely dominated by both teams' defenses. After both teams punted on their opening possessions, the Steelers started their second possession on their own 42-yard line. After a false start penalty on Pittsburgh offensive tackle [[Gordon Gravelle]] pushed the team back to their own 37, they advanced into Minnesota territory on an 18-yard run by running back [[Rocky Bleier]]. Two plays later, however, a 10-yard clipping penalty on Pittsburgh pushed the team back to their own 44-yard line, but they got those yards back with a 12-yard pass by quarterback [[Terry Bradshaw]] to wide receiver [[Frank Lewis (American football)|Frank Lewis]] to bring up 3rd-and-9. On the next play, however, defensive tackle [[Alan Page]] sacked Bradshaw for a 7-yard loss, forcing Pittsburgh to punt the ball back to Minnesota. After forcing the Vikings to punt again, this time from their own end zone, the Steelers started their next possession at the Minnesota 44. On 3rd-and-7, Bradshaw completed a 15-yard pass to tight end [[Larry Brown (tight end, born 1949)|Larry Brown]] to put Pittsburgh in scoring position. The drive stalled at the Vikings' 21-yard line, so kicker [[Roy Gerela]] attempted to kick a 37-yard field goal, but he missed it wide left. After another Minnesota punt, which put Pittsburgh on their own 47, the Steelers drove to the Vikings' 16-yard line, aided by a 14-yard run by running back [[Franco Harris]] and an 11-yard run by Bradshaw, but during Gerela's second field goal attempt, a 33-yarder, holder/punter [[Bobby Walden]] fumbled the snap and attempted to run the ball himself before getting tackled by linebacker [[Jeff Siemon]], turning the ball back over to the Vikings and keeping the game scoreless.

In the first quarter, the Vikings were limited to 20 passing yards, no rushing yards, and one first down which occurred on their opening play with a [[Fran Tarkenton]] 16-yard completion to [[John Gilliam]]. The Steelers did slightly better with 18 passing yards, 61 rushing yards, and four first downs.

===Second quarter===
The Steelers forced another Vikings punt to start the second quarter and got the ball back on their own 14. On 3rd-and-4, Bradshaw completed a 21-yard pass to wide receiver [[Lynn Swann]], but this was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty on Swann. On the next play, safety [[Jeff Wright (defensive back)| Jeff Wright]] stripped the ball from Bleier, and safety [[Randy Poltl]] recovered the fumble at the Steelers' 24-yard line. The Vikings failed to capitalize on the turnover, as they could only move the ball 2 yards in their next three plays, and kicker [[Fred Cox]] missed a 39-yard field goal attempt wide right. On their next possession, the Steelers converted a 3rd-and-8 with the longest gain so far in the game, a 22-yard pass from Bradshaw to wide receiver [[John Stallworth]]. Pittsburgh could not get past the Minnesota 45 and were forced to punt, but Walden booted a 39-yarder, and wide receiver [[Sam McCullum]] did not allow the ball to reach the end zone, then failed to make a return and was downed at the Viking 7-yard line by Pittsburgh safety [[Donnie Shell]]. The first score of the game occurred two plays later, when running back [[Dave Osborn]] fumbled a handoff from quarterback [[Fran Tarkenton]] at the 10, and the ball rolled backward into the end zone. Tarkenton recovered the ball in the end zone to prevent a Steelers touchdown, but he was downed by defensive end [[Dwight White]] for a safety, giving Pittsburgh a 2–0 lead. It was the first safety scored in Super Bowl history. The Vikings forced a three-and-out, then got a chance to take their first lead of the game when Tarkenton led them on a 55-yard drive to the Steelers' 25-yard line from their own 20, aided by a pass interference penalty on cornerback [[Mel Blount]] and a 17-yard pass by Tarkenton that was bobbled and caught by running back [[Chuck Foreman]] on 3rd-and-8.<ref name="USA Today Super Bowl IX Play by Play">{{cite news|title=Super Bowl IX play-by-play|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/super/superbowl-ix-plays.htm|work=USA Today|date=January 11, 2002|publisher=USATODAY.com}}</ref><ref name="Pitt Defense Super, 16-6">{{cite news|title=Pitt Defense, Franco's Runs Super, 16-6|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/super-bowl-ix-pitt-defense-franco-runs-super-16-6-article-1.1552404|work=NY Daily News|publisher=nydailynews.com}}</ref> With 1:17 left in the half, Tarkenton threw a pass to wide receiver [[John Gilliam]] at the 5-yard line, but Steelers safety [[Glen Edwards (safety)|Glen Edwards]] broke up the pass as Gilliam caught it, batting the ball high into the air and into the arms of Blount for an interception.

The half ended with the Steelers leading 2–0, the lowest halftime score in Super Bowl history and lowest possible, barring a scoreless tie.

===Third quarter===
On the opening kickoff of the second half, Vikings fullback [[Bill Brown (American football)|Bill Brown]] fumbled the ball on an unintentional squib kick after Gerela slipped on the wet field and only extended his leg halfway for the kick. Steelers linebacker [[Marv Kellum]] recovered the fumble at the Minnesota 30-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Harris moved the ball to the 6-yard line with a 24-yard run. After being tackled by Vikings linebacker [[Wally Hilgenberg]] for a 3-yard loss, Harris scored on a 9-yard touchdown run, giving Pittsburgh a 9–0 lead.

After an exchange of punts, Minnesota got the ball back on their own 20-yard line. On the second play of drive, Tarkenton's pass was deflected behind the line of scrimmage by Pittsburgh defensive end [[L. C. Greenwood]], and bounced back right into the arms of Tarkenton, who then threw a 41-yard completion to Gilliam. Officials ruled Tarkenton's first pass attempt as a completion to himself, and thus his second attempt was an illegal forward pass. After the penalty, facing 3rd-and-11, Minnesota got the first down with Foreman's 12-yard run. Three plays later, Tarkenton completed a 28-yard pass to tight end [[Stu Voigt]] at the Steelers' 45-yard line. But two plays later, White deflected Tarkenton's next pass attempt, and defensive tackle [[Joe Greene]] intercepted the ball, ending the Vikings' best offensive scoring opportunity.

===Fourth quarter===
After an exchange of punts to start the fourth quarter, the Vikings got another scoring opportunity when safety [[Paul Krause (football player)|Paul Krause]] recovered a fumble by Harris on the Steelers' 47-yard line. On the next play, a deep pass attempt from Tarkenton to Gilliam drew a 42-yard pass interference penalty on Pittsburgh safety [[Mike Wagner]] that moved the ball up to the 5-yard line, but once again, the Steelers stopped them from scoring when Foreman lost a fumble that was recovered by Greene. The Steelers failed to get a first down on their next possession and were forced to punt from deep in their own territory. The next play finally got Minnesota on the board. Vikings linebacker [[Matt Blair]] burst through the line to block Walden's punt, and safety [[Terry Brown (American football)|Terry Brown]] recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Cox's extra point attempt hit the left upright, but the Vikings had cut their deficit to 9–6 and were just a field goal away from a tie.

However, on the ensuing drive, the Steelers responded with a 66-yard, 11-play scoring drive that took 6:47 off the clock and featured three successful third down conversions. The first third down conversion was a key 30-yard pass completion from Bradshaw to Larry Brown, who fumbled the ball as he was being tackled by safety [[Jackie Wallace]], and two officials (back judge Ray Douglas and field judge Dick Dolack) initially ruled the ball recovered for the Vikings by Siemon, but head linesman Ed Marion overruled their call, stating that Brown was downed at the contact before the ball came out of his hands. Faced with 2nd-and-15 after an illegal formation penalty, the Steelers then fooled the Vikings' defense with a misdirection play. Harris ran left past Bradshaw after the snap, drawing in the defense with him, while Bleier took a handoff and ran right through a gaping hole in the line for a 17-yard gain to the Vikings 16-yard line. A few plays later, Bradshaw converted a 3rd-and-5 situation with a 6-yard pass to Bleier that put the ball on the Vikings' 5-yard line. The Steelers gained just one yard with their next two plays, setting up 3rd-and-goal from the 4-yard line. On the next play, Bradshaw threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brown, giving the Steelers a 16–6 lead with 3:31 remaining and essentially putting the game away.

Vikings running back [[Brent McClanahan]] returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to the Minnesota 39-yard line, but on the first play of the drive, Tarkenton's pass to Gilliam was intercepted by Wagner. The Steelers then executed 7 consecutive running plays (including a 15-yard run by Harris totaling up to 159 rushing yards for him, which broke [[Larry Csonka]]'s rushing record of 145 yards in [[Super Bowl VIII]]), taking the game clock all the way down to 38 seconds remaining before turning the ball over on downs. The Vikings ran two more plays before the game ended.

Harris finished the game with 34 carries for a Super Bowl record 159 yards and a touchdown; Harris' record stood until the [[1982 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]' [[John Riggins]] rushed for 166 yards in [[Super Bowl XVII]]. Bleier had 65 rushing yards, and two receptions for 11 yards. Pittsburgh finished with a total of 57 rushing attempts, which remains the Super Bowl record through [[Super Bowl LVII]].<ref name="Super Bowl team rushing records">{{cite web|title=Super Bowl Team Records:Rushing|website=[[NFL.com]] |url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/records/superbowls/team/rushing}}</ref> Bradshaw completed nine out of 14 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Tarkenton completed 11 of 26 passes for 102 yards with 3 interceptions, for a passer rating of only 14.1.<ref name="Worse Super Bowl than Peyton Manning in XLVIII">{{cite web|title=Canzano blog: Who had a worse Super Bowl than Peyton Manning?|date=February 3, 2014 |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2014/02/canzano_blog_so_you_think_peyt.html}}</ref> Foreman was the Vikings' top offensive contributor, finishing the game as the team's leading rusher and receiver with 18 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards.

The loss was the Vikings' record-setting third in Super Bowl play. [[Bud Grant]] vented frustration by saying, "There were three bad teams out there - us, Pittsburgh and the officials.”<ref name="Steelers launch dynasty">{{cite web|title=Steelers launch dynasty|website=[[New York Daily News]] |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/super-bowl-ix-curtains-vikings-steelers-launch-dynasty-article-1.1558548|date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> Minnesota, among many negatives to this point in its Super Bowl history of three games, had only two scoring drives on offense, and only three turnovers forced on defense, none of which resulted in any points. The win made the Steelers' Chuck Noll the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl at the time (He was 42 years, 7 days).

===Box score===
{{Americanfootballbox
| bg = #eee
| titlestyle = text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|NFL|year=1974|border=2}};
| title = Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6
| date = January 12, 1975
| time = 2:00 p.m. [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| Road = '''Steelers (AFC)'''
| R1 = 0
| R2 = 2
| R3 = 7
| R4 = 7
| Home = Vikings (NFC)
| H1 = 0
| H2 = 0
| H3 = 0
| H4 = 6
| stadium = [[Tulane Stadium]], [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]
| attendance = 80,997 (tickets sold); 79,065 (actual; 1,932 no-shows)
| weather = {{convert|46|°F|°C}}, cloudy and windy<ref>{{cite news|title=Super Bowl Game-Time Temperatures|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/news/super-bowl-game-time-temperatures/|publisher=[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref>
| referee = [[Bernie Ulman]]
| TV = [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
| TVAnnouncers = [[Curt Gowdy]], [[Al DeRogatis]], [[Don Meredith]], [[Charlie Jones (sportscaster)|Charlie Jones]]
| state = uncollapsed
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart |VisitorName=PIT |HomeName=MIN |state=expanded}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Time=7:11 |Team=PIT |DrivePlays=— |DriveLength=— |DriveTime=— |Type=SafetyOther |Info=−10-yard fumble, [[Fran Tarkenton]] tackled in the end zone by [[Dwight White]] for a safety |Visitor=2 |Home=0}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=3 |Time=13:25 |Team=PIT |DrivePlays=4 |DriveLength=30 |DriveTime=1:24 |Type=RushTD |yards=9 |Runner=[[Franco Harris]] |kickresult=good |Kicker=[[Roy Gerela]] |Visitor=9 |Home=0}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=4 |Time=10:33 |Team=MIN |DrivePlays=— |DriveLength=— |DriveTime=— |Type=Other |Other=[[Terry Brown (American football)|Terry Brown]] recovered blocked punt in end zone, [[Fred Cox]] kick no good (hit left upright) |Visitor=9 |Home=6}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=4 |Time=3:31 |Team=PIT |DrivePlays=11 |DriveLength=66 |DriveTime=6:47 |Type=RecTD |yards=4 |Receiver=[[Larry Brown (tight end, born 1949)|Larry Brown]] |QB=[[Terry Bradshaw]] |kickresult=good |Kicker=Gerela |Visitor=16 |Home=6}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd |Visitor=16 |Home=6}}

==Final statistics==
Sources: [http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/boxscore/sbix NFL.com Super Bowl IX], [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/play_finder.cgi?request=1&super_bowl=1&match=summary_all&year_min=1966&year_max=2016&team_id=pit&opp_id=min&quarter=1&quarter=2&quarter=3&quarter=4&quarter=5&tr_gtlt=lt&minutes=15&seconds=00&down=0&down=1&down=2&down=3&down=4&yg_gtlt=gt&is_first_down=-1&field_pos_min_field=team&field_pos_max_field=team&end_field_pos_min_field=team&end_field_pos_max_field=team&type=PASS&type=RUSH&type=PUNT&type=KOFF&type=ONSD&type=FG&type=XP&type=2PCR&type=2PCP&is_complete=-1&is_turnover=-1&turnover_type=interception&turnover_type=fumble&is_scoring=-1&score_type=touchdown&score_type=field_goal&score_type=safety&is_sack=-1&include_kneels=-1&no_play=0&order_by=yards Super Bowl IX Play Finder Pit], [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/play_finder.cgi?request=1&super_bowl=1&match=summary_all&year_min=1966&year_max=2016&team_id=min&opp_id=pit&quarter=1&quarter=2&quarter=3&quarter=4&quarter=5&tr_gtlt=lt&minutes=15&seconds=00&down=0&down=1&down=2&down=3&down=4&yg_gtlt=gt&is_first_down=-1&field_pos_min_field=team&field_pos_max_field=team&end_field_pos_min_field=team&end_field_pos_max_field=team&type=PASS&type=RUSH&type=PUNT&type=KOFF&type=ONSD&type=FG&type=XP&type=2PCR&type=2PCP&is_complete=-1&is_turnover=-1&turnover_type=interception&turnover_type=fumble&is_scoring=-1&score_type=touchdown&score_type=field_goal&score_type=safety&is_sack=-1&include_kneels=-1&no_play=0&order_by=yards Super Bowl IX Play Finder Min]

===Statistical comparison===
{| class="wikitable"
!
!'''Pittsburgh Steelers'''
!'''Minnesota Vikings'''
|-
|First downs||17||9
|-
|First downs rushing||11||2
|-
|First downs passing||5||5
|-
|First downs penalty||1||2
|-
|Third down efficiency||6/17||5/12
|-
|Fourth down efficiency||0/2||0/0
|-
|Net yards rushing||249||17
|-
|Rushing attempts||57||21
|-
|Yards per rush||4.4||0.8
|-
|Passing – Completions/attempts||9/14||11/26
|-
|Times sacked-total yards||2–12||0–0
|-
|Interceptions thrown||0||3
|-
|Net yards passing||84||102
|-
|Total net yards||333||119
|-
|Punt returns-total yards||5–36||4–12
|-
|Kickoff returns-total yards||3–32||3–50
|-
|Interceptions-total return yards||3–46||0–0
|-
|Punts-average yardage||7–34.7||6–37.2
|-
|Fumbles-lost||4–2||3–2
|-
|Penalties-total yards||8–122||4–18
|-
|Time of possession||38:47||21:13
|-
|Turnovers||2||5
|-
|}

===Individual statistics===
{{col-float|width=50%}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Steelers|border=2|year=1974}};"|Steelers Passing
|-
! 
!C/ATT<sup>1</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!INT
!Rating
|-
|[[Terry Bradshaw]]
|9/14
|96
|1
|0
|108.0
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Steelers|border=2|year=1974}};"|Steelers Rushing
|-
! 
!Car<sup>2</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Yds/Car
|-
|[[Franco Harris]]
|34
|158
|1
|25
|4.65
|-
|[[Rocky Bleier]]
|17
|65
|0
|18
|3.82
|-
|Terry Bradshaw
|5
|33
|0
|17
|6.60
|-
|[[Lynn Swann]]
|1
|–7
|0
|–7
|–7.00
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Steelers|border=2|year=1974}};"|Steelers Receiving
|-
!
!Rec<sup>4</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Target<sup>5</sup>
|-
|[[Larry Brown (tight end, born 1949)|Larry Brown]]
|3
|49
|1
|30
|4
|-
|[[John Stallworth]]
|3
|24
|0
|22
|4
|-
|Rocky Bleier
|2
|11
|0
|6
|2
|-
|[[Frank Lewis (football)|Frank Lewis]]
|1
|12
|0
|12
|4
|-
|}
{{col-float-break|width=50%}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1974|border=2}};"|Vikings Passing
|-
! 
!C/ATT<sup>1</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!INT
!Rating
|-
|[[Fran Tarkenton]]
|11/26
|102
|0
|3
|14.1
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1974|border=2}};"|Vikings Rushing
|-
! 
!Car<sup>2</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Yds/Car
|-
|[[Chuck Foreman]]
|12
|18
|0
|12
|1.50
|-
|Fran Tarkenton
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0.00
|-
|[[Dave Osborn]]
|8
|–1
|0
|2
|–0.13
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1974|border=2}};"|Vikings Receiving
|-
!
!Rec<sup>4</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Target<sup>5</sup>
|-
|Chuck Foreman
|5
|50
|0
|17
|8
|-
|[[Stu Voigt]]
|2
|31
|0
|28
|4
|-
|Dave Osborn
|2
|7
|0
|4
|2
|-
|[[John Gilliam]]
|1
|16
|0
|16
|5
|-
|[[Oscar Reed]]
|1
|–2
|0
|–2
|1
|-
|[[Jim Lash]]
|0
|0
|0
|0
|1
|-
|}
{{col-float-end}}
<sup>1</sup>Completions/attempts
<sup>2</sup>Carries
<sup>3</sup>Long gain
<sup>4</sup>Receptions
<sup>5</sup>Times targeted

===Records set===
The following records were set or tied in Super Bowl IX, according to the official NFL.com boxscore<ref name="Boxscore" /> and the ProFootball reference.com game summary.<ref name="Stats" /> Some records have to meet NFL minimum number of attempts to be recognized.<ref name="Factbook">{{cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2015/07/21/0ap3000000502939.pdf | title=2016 NFL Factbook | publisher=NFL | access-date=November 7, 2016 | archive-date=November 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106030504/http://www.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2015/07/21/0ap3000000502939.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> The minimums are shown (in parentheses). 
 
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=3| Records Set in Super Bowl IX<ref name="Stats">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197501120min.htm |title=Super Bowl IX statistics |publisher=Pro Football reference.com |access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!colspan=3|Passing Records 
|-
|Most attempts, career || 54 || [[Fran Tarkenton]]<br />(Minnesota)
|-
!colspan=3|Rushing Records
|-
|Most yards, game || 158 || rowspan=2|[[Franco Harris]]<br />(Pittsburgh)
|- style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Most attempts, game || 34
|-
|Most rushing yards, game, quarterback || 33 || [[Terry Bradshaw]]<br />(Pittsburgh)
|-
!colspan=3|Combined yardage records <sup>†</sup>
|-
|Combined yardage <br/> Most attempts, game || 35 || rowspan=2|Franco Harris
|-
|Most yards gained, game || 158
|-
!colspan=3|Fumbles
|-
|Most fumbles, game || 2 || Franco Harris
|-
!colspan=3|Defense
|-
|Most safeties, game || 1 || [[Dwight White]]<br />(Pittsburgh)
|-
!colspan=3|Special Teams
|-
|Most punts, career || 17 || [[Mike Eischeid]]<br />(Minnesota)
|-
|Highest average, punt return <br/>yardage, game (3 returns)|| 11.3 yards (3–34) || [[Lynn Swann]]
|-
!colspan=3|Records Tied
|-
|Most completions, career || 29 || rowspan=3|Fran Tarkenton
|-
|Most interceptions thrown, game || 3
|- style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Most interceptions thrown, career || 4
|-style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Most receptions, career || 10 || [[Chuck Foreman]]<br />(Minnesota)
|-
|Most fumbles, career || 2 || Franco Harris<br/>Fran Tarkenton 
|}

* † This category includes rushing, receiving, interception returns, punt returns, kickoff returns, and fumble returns.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/records/superbowls/player/combined |title=Super Bowl definitiona |website=[[NFL.com]] |access-date=November 16, 2016 |archive-date=May 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504102907/http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/records/superbowls/player/combined |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ‡ Sacks an official statistic since Super Bowl XVII by the NFL. Sacks are listed as "Tackled Attempting to Pass" in the official NFL box score for Super Bowl II.<ref name="Boxscore">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/boxscore/sbix |title=Super Bowl IX boxscore |website=NFL.com |access-date=November 7, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Historys">{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/super-bowl/ | title=Super Bowl History|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Pro Football Reference]]|access-date=December 6, 2012}}</ref>

{{col-float|width=50%}}
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=3|Team Records Set<ref name="Stats" />
|- 
|Most Super Bowl losses ||3 ||rowspan=2| Vikings
|-
|Most consecutive Super Bowl losses|| 2 
|-
!colspan=3|Scoring
|-
|Most safeties, game || 1 || Steelers
|-
!colspan=3|Net yards
|-
|Fewest net yards, <br/>rushing and passing || 119 || Vikings 
|-
!colspan=3|Rushing
|-
|Most rushing attempts || 57 ||  Steelers 
|-  
|Fewest rushing yards (net) || 17|| Vikings 
|-
|Lowest average gain<br/> per rush attempt || 0.8 || Vikings <br/> (17–21) 
|-
!colspan=3|First Downs
|-
|Fewest first downs || 9 || Vikings  
|- 
!colspan=3|Defense
|-
|Fewest yards allowed|| 119 || rowspan=2|Steelers 
|-
|Most safeties, game || 1 
|-  
!colspan=3|Punt returns 
|- 
|Most yards gained, game || 36 || Steelers 
|-
!colspan=3|Records Tied
|- 
|Most Super Bowl appearances ||3 || rowspan=6| Vikings
|-    
|Fewest points, first half || 0  
|-
|Fewest rushing touchdowns || 0  
|-
|Fewest passing touchdowns || 0
|-
|Fewest first downs rushing || 2
|- style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Fewest times sacked  || 0      
|-
|Fewest sacks made || 0 ||  rowspan=6|Steelers 
|-
|Most punt returns, game || 5  
|}

Turnovers are defined as the number of times losing the ball on interceptions and fumbles.

{{col-float-break|width=50%}}

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=4|Records Set, both team totals<ref name="Stats" />
|-
! !!Total !!Steelers!!Vikings 
|-
!colspan=4|Points  
|-align=center  
|align=left|Fewest points scored, first half  || 2 || 2 || 0  
|- 
!colspan=4|Net yards, Both Teams
|-align=center
|align=left|Fewest net yards,<br/> rushing and passing || 452 || 333 || 119  
|-
!colspan=4|Rushing, Both Teams
|-align=center
|align=left| Most rushing attempts || 78|| 57 || 21  
|- 
!colspan=4|Passing, Both Teams 
|-align=center
|align=left| Fewest passes completed ||20 ||9 || 11  
|-
!colspan=4|First Downs, Both Teams
|-align=center
|align=left| Fewest first downs, passing|| 10|| 5 || 5   
|-
!colspan=4|Fumbles, Both Teams
|-align=center
|align=left| Most fumbles|| 7 || 4 || 3     
|- 
!colspan=4|Punt returns, Both Teams 
|-align=center
|align=left|Most punt returns, game || 9 || 5 || 4  
|-align=center
|align=left|Most yards gained, game || 48 || 36 || 12  
|-
!colspan=4|Records tied, both team totals 
|-align=center 
|align=left| Fewest (one point) extra points || 2 || (2–2) || (0–1)  
|-align=center 
|align=left| Fewest field goals made || 0 || 0 || 0  
|-align=center
|align=left| Fewest rushing touchdowns || 1 || 1 || 0  
|-align=center  
|align=left|  Fewest times sacked  || 2 || 2 || 0  
|-align=center
|align=left| Most fumbles lost|| 4 || 2 || 2  
|-align=center
|align=left|  Most punts, game|| 13 || 7 || 6   
 |}
{{col-float-end}}

==Starting lineups==
Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Super Bowl IX–National Football League Game Summary|url=http://www.nflgsis.com/1974/Post/03/12535/Gamebook.pdf|publisher=National Football League|website=NFLGSIS.com|date=January 12, 1975|access-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref>

{{hilite |Hall of Fame‡|#FFCC00}}

{| class="wikitable"
! width="150px" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Steelers|border=2|year=1974}};" | Pittsburgh !! Position !! width="150px" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1974|border=2}};" | Minnesota
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | '''Offense'''
|-
| [[Frank Lewis (American football)|Frank Lewis]] || style="text-align:center;" | WR || [[John Gilliam]]
|-
| [[Jon Kolb]] || style="text-align:center;" | LT || [[Charlie Goodrum]]
|-
| [[Jim Clack]] || style="text-align:center;" | LG || [[Andy Maurer]]
|-
| [[Ray Mansfield]] || style="text-align:center;" | C || bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Mick Tingelhoff]]‡
|-
| [[Gerry Mullins]] || style="text-align:center;" | RG || [[Ed White (American football)|Ed White]]
|-
| [[Gordon Gravelle]] || style="text-align:center;" | RT || bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Ron Yary]]‡
|-
| [[Larry Brown (tight end, born 1949)|Larry Brown]] || style="text-align:center;" | TE || [[Stu Voigt]]
|-
| [[Ronnie Shanklin]] || style="text-align:center;" | WR || [[Jim Lash]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Terry Bradshaw]]‡ || style="text-align:center;" | QB || bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Fran Tarkenton]]‡
|-
|  bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Franco Harris]]‡|| style="text-align:center;" | RB || [[Dave Osborn]]
|-
| [[Rocky Bleier]] || style="text-align:center;" | RB || [[Chuck Foreman]]
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | '''Defense'''
|-
| [[L. C. Greenwood]] || style="text-align:center;" | LE || bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Carl Eller]]‡
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Joe Greene]]‡ || style="text-align:center;" | LT || [[Doug Sutherland (American football)|Doug Sutherland]]
|-
| [[Ernie Holmes]] || style="text-align:center;" | RT || bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Alan Page]]‡
|-
| [[Dwight White]] || style="text-align:center;" | RE || [[Jim Marshall (defensive end)|Jim Marshall]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Jack Ham]]‡ || style="text-align:center;" | LLB || [[Roy Winston]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]]‡ || style="text-align:center;" | MLB || [[Jeff Siemon]]
|-
| [[Andy Russell (American football)|Andy Russell]] || style="text-align:center;" | RLB || [[Wally Hilgenberg]]
|-
| [[J. T. Thomas (cornerback)|J. T. Thomas]] || style="text-align:center;" | LCB || [[Jackie Wallace]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Mel Blount]]‡ || style="text-align:center;" | RCB || [[Nate Wright]]
|-
| [[Mike Wagner]] || style="text-align:center;" | LS || [[Jeff Wright (defensive back)|Jeff Wright]]
|-
| [[Glen Edwards (safety)|Glen Edwards]] || style="text-align:center;" | RS || bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Paul Krause]]‡
|}

==Officials==
* '''Referee: '''[[Bernie Ulman]] #6, second Super Bowl on field (I as head linesman); alternate for VI
* '''Umpire:''' [[Al Conway]] #27, first Super Bowl
* '''Head Linesman:''' [[Ed Marion]] #26, second Super Bowl (V)
* '''Line Judge:''' [[Bruce Alford Sr.|Bruce Alford]] #24, third Super Bowl (II, VII)
* '''Back Judge:''' Ray Douglas #5, first Super Bowl
* '''Field Judge:''' Dick Dolack #31, first Super Bowl
* '''Alternate Referee''': [[Fred Silva]] #81, worked Super Bowl XIV as referee

Bruce Alford was the first official to be honored with three Super Bowl assignments.

Bernie Ulman was the first official to be the referee for a Super Bowl after working a previous Super Bowl at another position. This would not happen again until [[Dick Hantak]] was the referee for [[Super Bowl XXVII]] after serving as back judge for [[Super Bowl XVII]].

''Note: A seven-official system was not used until the {{nfly|1978}} season''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.superbowl.com/ Super Bowl official website]
* {{cite book | title=2006 NFL Record and Fact Book | date=July 25, 2006 | publisher=Time Inc. Home Entertainment | isbn=1-933405-32-5 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/2006nflrecordfac00edit }}
* {{cite book | title=Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League | date=July 25, 2006 | publisher=[[HarperCollins]] | isbn=1-933405-32-5 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/2006nflrecordfac00edit }}
* {{cite book | title=The Official NFL Encyclopedia Pro Football | year=1982 | publisher=NAL Books | isbn=0-453-00431-8}}
* {{cite book | title=The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995 | isbn=0-89204-523-X| last1=News| first1=Sporting| date=February 1995}}
* https://www.pro-football-reference.com – Large online database of NFL data and statistics
* [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/super/superbowl-plays.htm Super Bowl play-by-plays] from [[USA Today]] (Last accessed September 28, 2005)
* [http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/superbowl/2005/superbowl-alltime-odds.htm All-Time Super Bowl Odds]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} from The Sports Network (Last accessed October 16, 2005)
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197501120min.htm Super Bowl IX Box Score] at [[Pro Football Reference]]

{{Super Bowl}}
{{Super Bowl IX}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers}}
{{Minnesota Vikings}}
{{1974 NFL season by team}}
{{NFLC-SuperBowl}}
{{NFL on NBC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Super Bowl 009}}
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers postseason]]
[[Category:Minnesota Vikings postseason]]
[[Category:Super Bowl]]
[[Category:1974 National Football League season]]
[[Category:American football competitions in New Orleans]]
[[Category:1975 in sports in Louisiana]]
[[Category:January 1975 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:1970s in New Orleans]]