Super Bowl through the years

As football fans around the country look forward to the excitement of Super Bowl XLIX, The Associated Press is recognizing the game’s rich history with a photo exhibit near the University of Phoenix Stadium, where the big game will be played. “Super Moments, Superstars, Super Game—An Associated Press Exhibit” opens with a reception on Friday, Jan. 9, at Gallery Glendale, 9830 W. Westgate Blvd., in Glendale, Arizona.

Featuring 50 compelling AP images, including a photo from every Super Bowl game since the first in 1967, the exhibit will showcase the trials and triumphs of football’s biggest contest. The 2014 championship was the most-watched television event in U.S. history.

To read more, visit ap.org.

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Super Bowl Football Exhibit

Washington Redskins receiver Charlie Brown (87) spikes the ball after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown, capping the Redskins 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII, Jan. 30, 1983 in Pasadena, Calif. Brown led all receivers with six catches for 60 yards, including this 6-yard touchdown pass from Joe Theismann. Joining Brown are teammates Alvin Garrett (89) and Clarence Harmon (38). (AP Photo)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

Dwight White (78), a member of Pittsburgh’s vaunted “Steel Curtain” defense, chases down Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach in the second quarter of Super Bowl X in Miami, Jan. 18, 1976. The Steelers come-from-behind 21-17 win made this one of the most entertaining games in the first Super Bowl decade. (AP Photo)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

New Orleans Saints quarterback and MVP Drew Brees (9) holds his son Baylen after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV, Feb. 7, 2010 , in Miami. Trailing at halftime, the Saints outscored the Colts 25-7 in the second half, led by Brees, who completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco celebrates with linebacker Ray Lewis after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. Flacco was the game’s MVP, throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Lewis, the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV, was the last remaining member of the 1996 inaugural Ravens team. He retired after this game. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi is carried off the field by team members, including guard Jerry Kramer, right, after the Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Super Bowl II, Jan. 14, 1968, in Miami. After winning the first two Super Bowls, Green Bay would not win the game again until 1997, but the Super Bowl trophy has been named the Vince Lombardi Trophy since the coach’s death in 1970. (AP Photo)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

In a steady rain, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (18) directs his team in the huddle during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears, Feb. 4, 2007, in Miami. Manning was the game’s MVP as the Colts overcame a first-quarter deficit to defeat the Bears 29-17. The Colts only previous Super Bowl win had been 36 years earlier in Super Bowl V, when they called Baltimore home. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

Denver Broncos Knowshon Moreno reaches for a loose ball in the end zone after the snap sailed past quarterback Peyton Manning, left, on the first play from scrimmage in Super Bowl XLVIII, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. Seattle Seahawks Cliff Avril (56) downed Moreno for a safety, instantly setting the tone for the game. The Seahawks never looked back, winning 43-8 for their first Super Bowl championship. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

Oakland Raiders Charles Woodson is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers Joe Jurevicius (83) after Woodson’s interception in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, Jan. 26, 2003. Tampa Bay’s top-ranked defense largely dictated the game, scoring three touchdowns on interceptions as the Bucs won 48-21 behind head coach John Gruden. Gruden had previously coached Oakland, and his knowledge of the Raiders offense was a likely factor in the Buccaneers convincing win. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

In the final game of his career, Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway (7) stiff-arms Atlanta Falcons linebacker Cornelius Bennett in the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami, Jan. 31, 1999. Elway was named MVP as he led the Broncos to a 34-19 win for their second consecutive Super Bowl championship. He passed for 336 yards with one touchdown and carried the ball himself for another score. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri (4), joined by teammate Ken Walter who held the ball, celebrates his 48-yard game-winning field goal in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams, Feb. 3, 2002, in New Orleans. With the score tied at 17-17, and no timeouts remaining, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had led a last-minute drive downfield to set up Vinatieri’s deciding kick. The Patriots won their first Super Bowl 20-17. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice — the Super Bowl MVP — kisses the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16 in Super Bowl XXIII, Jan. 22, 1989, in Miami. Rice caught 11 Joe Montana passes for 215 yards and one touchdown. But the 49ers still needed a 92-yard drive with a touchdown pass in the final minute of the game to overtake the Bengals. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Super Bowl Football Exhibit

Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry rides on the shoulders of his players after the Cowboys defeated the Denver Broncos 27-10 in Super Bowl XII, Jan. 15, 1978, in New Orleans. Wide receiver Butch Johnson (86) had a 45-yard fingertip catch for one of the Cowboys three touchdowns, while eight turnovers sealed the Broncos fate. (AP Photo)

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See the Super Bowl Through the Years collection

Lead Image Caption: Oakland Raiders principal owner Al Davis holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy in a jubilant Raiders locker room after they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in Super Bowl XV, Jan. 25, 1981. The Raiders, who had lost to the Eagles in the regular season, became the first wild-card team to win a Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) 

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