Nothing kills a vibe worse than a glorious NFL play, like a toe-tapped sideline catch or a 50-yard rush off the edge, called back because of a flag. In the Super Bowl, a yellow flag on the field is even more of a buzzkill.
Some Lombardi Trophy games have had more referee interruption than others, which is why we’ve compiled our list of the NFL teams with the most penalties in a Super Bowl.
As we head into Super Bowl 57, be sure to check out other gridiron content, such as our Super Bowl MVP odds, Super Bowl props and Super Bowl futures pages.
Which team has the most penalties in a Super Bowl?
| Penalties | Team | Super Bowl (Year) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Carolina Panthers | Super Bowl 50 (2016) | Loss |
| 12 | Carolina Panthers | Super Bowl 38 (2004) | Loss |
| 12 | Dallas Cowboys | Super Bowl 12 (1978) | Win |
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | Super Bowl 55 (2021) | Loss |
| 11 | Arizona Cardinals | Super Bowl 43 (2009) | Loss |
| 10 | Seattle Seahawks | Super Bowl 48 (2014) | Win |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | Super Bowl 5 (1971) | Loss |
| 9 | Los Angeles Rams | Super Bowl 53 (2019) | Loss |
| 9 | Atlanta Falcons | Super Bowl 51 (2017) | Loss |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | Super Bowl 35 (2001) | Win |
| 9 | Green Bay Packers | Super Bowl 32 (1998) | Loss |
| 9 | Dallas Cowboys | Super Bowl 13 (1979) | Loss |
The Carolina Panthers are kings of Super Bowl penalties, and they’ve done it on multiple occasions. The Panthers set the record with 12 penalties in their 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots at Super Bowl 38 in 2004. Of course, Carolina wasn’t done there, tying its own record with 12 flags at Super Bowl 50 in 2016, a painful 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos.
The record is technically a three-way tie, as the 1978 Dallas Cowboys also were flagged 12 times in their 27-10 win over the Broncos at Super Bowl 12.
Other squads have come close to the record. The Kansas City Chiefs racked up 11 flags in their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Super Bowl 55 in 2021.
If you’re betting on the Super Bowl, note that, of the 12 teams on our list, the squad with more penalties is 3-9 SU. If the flags start flying in one team’s direction, the odds would suggest you fade them heavily.
Which Super Bowl Had the Most total penalties?
The Cowboys (12) and Broncos (8) combined for 20 penalties at Super Bowl 12 in 1978, setting a Super Bowl penalty record that stood for over a decade and a half. The Panthers (12) and Patriots (8) tied the penalty record at Super Bowl 38 in 2004.
Which Super Bowl Had the fewest Penalties?
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys combined for just two penalties at Super Bowl 10 in 1976. During that contest, a 21-17 Steelers win, not a single penalty was called on Pittsburgh, while Dallas was flagged for 20 yards on two penalties.
Most Penalized Squads in the 2023 Super Bowl Hunt
| Team | Penalties Per Game (Regular Season) |
|---|---|
| New York Giants | 6.24 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 6.12 |
| Buffalo Bills | 5.75 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5.53 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5.29 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 5.29 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5.12 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5.06 |
Typically, teams that commit fewer penalties have better luck in the Super Bowl. With that in mind, watch for squads like the Chiefs and Bengals to play sound football if they make it to the final. On the other hand, the Giants, for example, have made it hard on themselves by committing 6.24 penalties per game. If the G-Men go all the way without correcting their discipline issues, make sure to fade them in the Super Bowl.
Picks by League
Which Team Has The Most Penalties In A Super Bowl?
The Carolina Panthers are kings of Super Bowl penalties, and they’ve done it on multiple occasions. The Panthers set the record with 12 penalties in their 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots at Super Bowl 38 in 2004. Of course, Carolina wasn’t done there, tying their own record with 12 flags at Super Bowl 50 in 2016, a painful 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos.
The record is also technically a three-way tie, as the 1978 Dallas Cowboys also were called for 12 flags in their 27-10 win over the Broncos at Super Bowl 12.
Which Super Bowl Had The Most Total Penalties?
The Cowboys (12) and Broncos (8) accounted for 20 combined penalties at Super Bowl 12 in 1978, setting a Super Bowl penalty record that stood for over a decade and a half. The Panthers (12) and Patriots (8) tied the penalty record at Super Bowl 38 in 2004.
Which Super Bowl Had The Fewest Penalties?
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys combined for just two penalties at Super Bowl 10 in 1976. During that contest, a 21-17 Steelers win, not a single penalty was called on Pittsburgh, while Dallas was flagged for 20 yards on two penalties.
