View source for Super Bowl XLI

{{Short description|2007 National Football League championship game}}
{{Redirect|2007 Super Bowl|the Super Bowl that was played at the completion of the 2007 season|Super Bowl XLII}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox Super Bowl
| type = sb
| name = XLI
| image = Super Bowl XLI logo.svg
| visitor = [[2006 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]
| visitor_abbr = IND
| visitor_conf = [[American Football Conference|AFC]]
| visitor_coach = [[Tony Dungy]]
| visitor_record = 12–4
| visitor_place = 3
| home = [[2006 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]
| home_abbr = CHI
| home_conf = [[National Football Conference|NFC]]
| home_coach = [[Lovie Smith]]
| home_record = 13–3
| home_place = 1
| visitor_total = 29
| home_total = 17
| visitor_qtr1 = 6
| visitor_qtr2 = 10
| visitor_qtr3 = 6
| visitor_qtr4 = 7
| home_qtr1 = 14
| home_qtr2 = 0
| home_qtr3 = 3
| home_qtr4 = 0
| date = {{start date text|February 4, 2007}}
| stadium = [[Hard Rock Stadium|Dolphin Stadium]]
| city = [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
| attendance = 74,512<ref name="attendance">{{cite web|title=Super Bowl Summaries|url=https://nflcommunications.com/media/Publications/2019%20Postseason%20Media%20Guide.pdf#page=113|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|work=2019 NFL Postseason Media Guide|date=January 2, 2020|access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref>
| odds = Colts by 7<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=[[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 = [[Peyton Manning]], [[quarterback]]
| anthem = [[Billy Joel]]
| halftime = [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and the [[Marching 100|Florida A&M University Marching 100]]
| network = [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
| announcers = [[Jim Nantz]], [[Phil Simms]], [[Steve Tasker]], [[Solomon Wilcots]], [[Sam Ryan]], and [[Lesley Visser]]
| coin_toss = [[Dan Marino]] and [[Norma Hunt]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-02-02 |title=Goodell wants players held accountable |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2752126 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>
| referee = [[Tony Corrente]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9966329|title=Corrente to referee first Super Bowl|author=NFL.com|access-date=January 17, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070509040851/http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9966329|archive-date=May 9, 2007 |author-link= National Football League}}</ref>
| HOFers = '''Colts:''' <!--PLEASE NOTE: "Future" in this case means players who have been
OFFICIALLY inducted after this Super Bowl has been played. Players who have not yet been
officially inducted will be removed. Any addition of "presumed" players will also be
removed on grounds of [[WP:No Original Research]] and [[WP:Wikipedia is not a crystal ball]].
See also [[Pro Football Hall of Fame#Criticism]] on the criticism of HOF voters, who tend
to have the habit of turning down "presumed, surefire" players for several years
(like punter [[Ray Guy]] and QB [[Ken Stabler]]). Thank you for your cooperation.--> [[Bill Polian]] (general manager), [[Tony Dungy]] (head coach), [[Dwight Freeney]], [[Marvin Harrison]], [[Peyton Manning]] <br /> '''Bears:''' [[Devin Hester]], [[Brian Urlacher]]
| rating = 42.6 (national)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=55057|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724042825/http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=55057|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2012|publisher=publications.mediapost.com|title=Blockbuster: Best Super Bowl Ratings In 7 Years|access-date=February 6, 2007}}</ref> <br/><small>(est. 93.2 million viewers)</small><ref>[http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9976864 Colts-Bears draws No. 3 audience of all time] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208000737/http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9976864 |date=February 8, 2007 }} SuperBowl.com, February 5, 2007.</ref><br/>50.2 (Chicago)<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/feder/244726,CST-FIN-feder06.article | title=Super Bowl ratings fall short of record | access-date=February 6, 2007 | work=Chicago Sun-Times | first=Robert | last=Feder | date=February 6, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207234741/http://www.suntimes.com/business/feder/244726%2CCST-FIN-feder06.article | archive-date=February 7, 2007 | df=mdy-all }}</ref><br/>55.5 ([[Indianapolis]])
| share = 64 (national)<br/>77 (Chicago)<br/>83 (Indianapolis)
|commercial=US$2.6 million<ref name=price/>
| radio = [[NFL on Westwood One Sports|Westwood One]]
| radioannouncers = [[Marv Albert]], [[Boomer Esiason]], [[John Dockery]], and [[Bonnie Bernstein]]
| last = XL
| next = XLII
}}

'''Super Bowl XLI''' was an [[American football]] game played between the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) champion [[2006 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] and the [[National Football Conference]] (NFC) champion [[2006 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] to decide the [[National Football League]] (NFL) champion for the [[2006 NFL season|2006 season]]. The Colts defeated the Bears by the score of 29–17. The game was played on February 4, 2007, at [[Hard Rock Stadium|Dolphin Stadium]] in [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]. This was the first, and to date only, Super Bowl win for an [[AFC South]] team.

This was the first Super Bowl since [[Super Bowl XXX]] in which neither team was seeking its first title; however, it featured two teams ending long [[Super Bowl]] appearance [[List of NFL franchise post-season droughts|droughts]]. The Colts, who finished with a 12–4 regular season record, were making their first Super Bowl appearance since winning [[Super Bowl V]] in the [[1970 Baltimore Colts season|1970 season]] during the team's tenure in [[Baltimore]]; they had [[Baltimore Colts relocation to Indianapolis|moved]] to [[Indianapolis]] in [[1984 NFL season|1984]]. Meanwhile, the Bears, who posted an NFC-best 13–3 regular season record, were making their first appearance since winning [[Super Bowl XX]] in the [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colts and Bears Make Super Bowl History |url=https://www.npr.org/series/7007672/colts-and-bears-make-super-bowl-history |access-date=June 22, 2022 |website=NPR.org |date=February 5, 2007 |language=en}}</ref>

In the first Super Bowl played in rainy conditions, the Colts overcame a 14–6 first-quarter deficit to outscore the Bears 23–3 in the last three quarters. The Bears posted the then-earliest lead in Super Bowl history when returner [[Devin Hester]] ran back the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown after 14 seconds had elapsed (a record later broken in [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] when the Seattle Seahawks scored a [[Safety (gridiron football score)|safety]] 12 seconds into the game). The Colts forced five turnovers, including cornerback [[Kelvin Hayden]]'s 56-yard interception return for a touchdown. Colts kicker [[Adam Vinatieri]] also scored three field goals. Colts quarterback [[Peyton Manning]] was named the game's [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] (MVP), completing 25 of 38 passes for 247&nbsp;yards and a touchdown, with one interception for a [[passer rating]] of 81.8.

[[NFL on CBS|CBS]]'s broadcast of the game was watched by an estimated average of 93.2 million viewers, making it at the time the fifth most watched program in U.S. television history.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} The halftime show, headlined by the musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], peaked at 140 million viewers, and was widely acclaimed by music critics.<ref name="Hoekstra" />

==Background==

===Host selection process===
[[File:Dolphin Stadium.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hard Rock Stadium|Dolphin Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium)]] was selected to be the host site for Super Bowl XLI]]
[[Dolphin Stadium]] won the bid to host Super Bowl XLI on September 17, 2003, after a campaign against [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[New York City]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] With this game, the [[South Florida metropolitan area|Miami metropolitan area]] tied [[New Orleans, Louisiana]] as the city to host the most Super Bowls (9).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6648786|title=Miami awarded 2007 Super Bowl|work=www.nfl.com|date=September 17, 2003|access-date=December 10, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060913085310/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6648786 |archive-date = September 13, 2006}}</ref>

This was the fourth Super Bowl at Dolphin Stadium, which has also been known as "Joe Robbie Stadium" and "Pro Player Stadium". The venue previously hosted [[Super Bowl XXIII|Super Bowls XXIII]] (broadcast on [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]), [[Super Bowl XXIX|XXIX]] (on [[NFL on ABC|ABC]]), and [[Super Bowl XXXIII|XXXIII]] (on [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]). Super Bowls [[Super Bowl II|II]], [[Super Bowl III|III]], [[Super Bowl V|V]], [[Super Bowl X|X]], and [[Super Bowl XIII|XIII]] were also in Miami, but held at the [[Miami Orange Bowl]]. This was the first Super Bowl played at the stadium since the city of Miami Gardens where the stadium is located was incorporated on May 13, 2003.

In February 2006, the NFL and the South Florida Super Bowl XLI Host Committee unveiled the slogan "one game, one dream" for the game, referring to the entire [[South Florida]] region working together to present the event.<ref name="CommitteeUnveilsLogo">{{cite news|first=Sarah|last=Talalay|title=Committee Unveils Logo, Theme|publisher=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|page=7C|date=February 17, 2006}}</ref> The Super Bowl XLI logo was also unveiled, featuring the colors orange (to represent the sun) and blue (for the ocean).<ref name=CommitteeUnveilsLogo/> The "I" in the [[Roman numeral]] "XLI" was drawn to resemble a pylon placed at each corner of an [[end zone]] because "the goal is to get to the game."<ref name=CommitteeUnveilsLogo/> The logo had the same shade of orange as the logo of the host city's home team, the [[Miami Dolphins]]. The "XL" part was similar to that of [[Super Bowl XL]]'s logo.

===Teams===
====Indianapolis Colts====
{{main|2006 Indianapolis Colts season}}

The Colts' first trip to the Super Bowl in 36 years set a record for longest time between appearances by a team (since broken by the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]). Their return was the culmination of a nine-year-long building process. In [[1998 Indianapolis Colts season|1998]], they drafted quarterback [[Peyton Manning]] to lead the team. Over the next four seasons, Manning, along with other stars such as receiver [[Marvin Harrison]] and running back [[Edgerrin James]], turned the Colts into one of the best offensive teams in the NFL, but the team struggled to find consistency on defense and always ended up with either a losing season or elimination from the playoffs in the first round. After the [[2001 Indianapolis Colts season|2001 season]], the Colts fired head coach [[Jim E. Mora|Jim Mora]] and replaced him with [[Tony Dungy]]. Dungy had developed one of the best defenses in the NFL while coaching the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], and it was hoped he could solve the Colts' defensive problems as well.

Over the next four seasons, the Colts won 48 of 64 games, but still could not find much success in the postseason. In [[2002 Indianapolis Colts season|2002]], they were blown out 41–0 in the Wild Card playoffs by the [[2002 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]. In [[2003 Indianapolis Colts season|2003]], they won their first two playoff games behind impressive offensive performances, and reached the AFC Championship Game. There, they lost to the [[2003 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] 24–14, with Manning throwing four interceptions. In [[2004 Indianapolis Colts season|2004]], the Colts had one of the most spectacular offensive seasons in NFL history, scoring 522 points and gaining 6,582 yards, while Manning set NFL records for most touchdown passes and highest [[passer rating]]. But again the [[2004 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]' defense (and snowy conditions) proved too formidable, as they lost 20–3 in the Divisional playoffs.

In [[2005 Indianapolis Colts season|2005]], the Colts' defense improved, making the team the clear favorites in the NFL. They won the first 13 games of the season and finished with a 14–2 record, while ranking second in the NFL in both points scored and fewest points allowed. But once again they lost in Divisional playoffs, this time to the #6 seeded [[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], 21–18. The Colts' playoff runs ended with a loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions in three consecutive years preceding this season. After another disappointing loss, Manning had developed a reputation of being unable to make it to a championship, a reputation that followed him from college after he was unable to win an NCAA title with the [[Tennessee Volunteers]] (who won a title the year after he graduated). The Colts lost some key players after the 2005 season, including James, who departed the Colts for the [[Arizona Cardinals]], and kicker [[Mike Vanderjagt]], the NFL's all-time leader in field goal percentage, who left for the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. However, they did gain one key addition: 31-year old special teams returner [[Terrence Wilkins]]. Though he had been out of the NFL for three years, Wilkins finished the season with 52 kickoff returns for 1,272 yards (9th in the NFL).

Still, the Colts remained one of the AFC's top teams in the 2006 season. Manning made the Pro Bowl for the 7th time in his career, completing 362 of 555 passes for 4,397 yards and an NFL-best 31 touchdowns, with an additional 4 rushing touchdowns and with only 9 interceptions and 15 sacks. His favorite target was Harrison, who caught 95 passes for 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns. Receiver [[Reggie Wayne]] was also a major deep threat with 86 receptions for 1,310 yards and 9 touchdowns. Tight ends [[Ben Utecht]] and [[Dallas Clark]] were also reliable targets, each recording over 30 receptions for over 300 yards. On the ground, rookie running back [[Joseph Addai]] led the team with 1,081 yards and a 4.8 yards-per-carry average despite not starting any games in the regular season. He also caught 40 receptions for 325 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. Running back [[Dominic Rhodes]] was also a major contributor, rushing for 641 yards and catching 36 passes for 251 yards. The offensive line was led by Pro Bowlers [[Jeff Saturday]] and [[Tarik Glenn]]. On special teams, the Colts signed kicker [[Adam Vinatieri]] to replace Vanderjagt. While Vinatieri's career field goal percentage was lower, the Colts considered him to be an improvement because of his reputation for making "[[clutch (sports)|clutch]]" kicks, a reputation aided by his game winning field goals in [[Super Bowl XXXVI]] and [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]].

The Colts' defense ranked second in the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed. [[Dwight Freeney]] (5.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles) and [[Robert Mathis]] (9.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries) were widely considered to be among the best pass-rushing [[defensive end]]s in the NFL. Behind them, linebacker [[Cato June]] led the team in tackles (142) and interceptions (3). Cornerback [[Nick Harper (American football)|Nick Harper]] added 3 interceptions and 75 tackles. The Colts' run defense, however, was a major problem, giving up 2,768 yards on the ground, an average of 173 per game and last in the NFL. Another major issue for the Colts was their coverage teams, as they ranked 30th out of 32 teams in average kickoff return yardage allowed and 31st in average punt return yardage allowed.  One key issue for the team was the loss of safeties [[Mike Doss]] and [[Bob Sanders]], who had missed most of the seasons with injuries.

The Colts started out the season winning their first nine games, but ended up losing four of their next seven and finished with a 12–4 record, giving them the #3 playoff seed. Therefore, they had to play in a wild card playoff game. In the Wild Card playoffs, they defeated the [[2006 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] 23–8, then defeated the [[2006 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] 15–6 in the Divisional playoffs, and advanced to Super Bowl XLI with a 38–34 win over the [[2006 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in the AFC Championship Game after rallying from a 21–3 deficit.

====Chicago Bears====
{{Main|2006 Chicago Bears season}}
[[File:Lion Chicago Bears Helmet.jpg|thumb|right|225px|The [[Art Institute of Chicago]]'s [[Lions (Kemeys)|lion sculptures]] were decorated to show support for the Chicago Bears]]

The Bears finished the season with an NFC best 13–3 record and advanced to the second Super Bowl in franchise history. They defeated the [[2006 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] 27–24 in overtime in the divisional round of the playoffs, and the [[2006 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] 39–14 in the NFC Championship game to advance to Super Bowl XLI. The team excelled on defense, ranking third in fewest points allowed (255) and second in fewest points allowed per drive.<ref name="FOdrivestats">{{cite web|url=http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestats2006.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070521114359/http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestats2006.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2007|title=FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis - 2006 DRIVE STATS|first=Football|last=Outsiders|website=footballoutsiders.com}}</ref> They also ranked second in scoring (427 points), although only tenth in points per offensive drive<ref name=FOdrivestats/> thanks to a league leading 65 points scored on defensive or special teams plays.

The Bears' offense was led by quarterback [[Rex Grossman]], the team's first round draft pick in [[2003 NFL Draft|2003]]. Over the previous three seasons, Grossman had played in just 8 regular season games due to injuries, but he recovered to start in all 16 games in 2006. By the end of the season, he finished with 3,193 yards and 23 touchdowns, the most by a Bears quarterback [[1995 Chicago Bears season|since 1995]]. Grossman had difficulty avoiding [[Turnover (football)|turnovers]], however, and threw 20 interceptions and lost five fumbles during the year. In the last seven games of the season, he turned the ball over 18 times. Many fans and sports writers expected head coach [[Lovie Smith]] to bench him at some point, but Smith insisted that Grossman would be the starter throughout the entire season.

Receivers [[Muhsin Muhammad]] (60 receptions, 863&nbsp;yards, 5 touchdowns) and [[Bernard Berrian]] (51 receptions, 775 yards, 7 touchdowns) provided the main deep threat on the team, along with tight end [[Desmond Clark]], who caught 45 passes for 626&nbsp;yards and 6 touchdowns. The Bears' running game was led by running backs [[Thomas Jones (American football)|Thomas Jones]] and [[Cedric Benson]]. Jones rushed for 1,210&nbsp;yards and caught 36 passes, while Benson rushed for 647&nbsp;yards and scored 6 touchdowns.

The Bears' defense allowed the 5th least total yardage, allowed less than 100&nbsp;yards per game on the ground,<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/stats/teamsort/NFL/DEF-RUSHING/2006/regular?sort_col_1=6 NFL.com rushing defense statistics]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and allowed the fewest yards per drive of any NFL team.<ref name="FOdrivestats"/> The line was anchored by [[Adewale Ogunleye]], who had 6.5 sacks, and Pro Bowler [[Tommie Harris]], who recorded 5, along with rookie [[Mark Anderson (American football)|Mark Anderson]], who led the team with 12 sacks. Behind them, two of the three Bears starting linebackers, [[Lance Briggs]], and [[Brian Urlacher]], were selected to the [[2007 Pro Bowl]]. In the secondary, cornerbacks [[Ricky Manning]] and [[Charles Tillman]] each recorded five interceptions. The defense was also able to make up for the offense's poor performance earlier in the season, as explained in the [[Monday Night Comeback|win against the Cardinals in Week 6]].

The loss of Harris to injury after the 12th game of the season coincided with a decline in defensive performance. Before his loss, the Bears allowed only two opponents to score more than 20 points (23 points to the [[2006 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]] in week six and 31 to the [[2006 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] in week 9).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/492957/gamelogs/2006|title=NFL Players|website=[[NFL.com]]}}</ref> After his injury, Bears opponents scored more than 20 points in six of the seven remaining games, including two of three playoff games. Only the [[2006 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] in the [[NFC Championship Game]] were held below 21 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/CHI/2006|title=Chicago Bears 2006 game results|work=[[NFL.com]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522183009/http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/CHI/2006|archive-date=May 22, 2007}}</ref>

The Bears' special teams sent three players to the Pro Bowl, including special teams ace [[Brendon Ayanbadejo]], kicker [[Robbie Gould]] (who led all NFL kickers with 143 points), and rookie return man [[Devin Hester]], who gained 600 punt return yards with a 12.8&nbsp;yards per return average, the second highest in the NFL. He also set a league record with 6 touchdowns on special teams.

====Regular season statistical comparison====
The chart below provides a comparison of regular season statistics in key categories (overall rank amongst 32 teams in parentheses).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/stats/team?seasonId=2006&seasonType=REG&Submit=Find|title=NFL Team Stats - NFL.com|website=[[NFL.com]]|access-date=December 28, 2007|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902093656/http://www.nfl.com/stats/team?seasonId=2006&seasonType=REG&Submit=Find|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!'''Statistic'''
!'''Indianapolis Colts'''
!'''Chicago Bears'''
|-
|Points scored per game||26.7 (2nd, tied)||26.7 (2nd, tied)
|-
|Points allowed per game||22.5 (23rd)||15.9 (3rd)
|-
|Rushing yards gained per game||110.1 (18th)||119.9 (15th)
|-
|Rushing yards allowed per game||173.0 (32nd)||99.4 (6th)
|-
|Passing yards gained per game||269.2 (2nd)||205.1 (14th)
|-
|Passing yards allowed per game||159.2 (2nd)||194.8 (11th)
|-
|Yards gained per play||6.0 (2nd)||5.0 (21st)
|-
|Yards allowed per play||5.5 (29th)||4.6 (2nd)
|-
|Time of possession per game||29:32 (23rd)||30:56 (11th)
|-
|Third-down conversion percentage||56 (1st)||37 (22nd)
|-
|Third-down conversion percentage allowed||47 (32nd)||31 (2nd)
|-
|Fourth-down conversion percentage||0 (32nd)||69 (4th, tied)
|-
|Fourth-down conversion percentage allowed||79 (30th, tied)||62 (27th)
|-
|Total turnover differential||+7 (7th)||+8 (4th)
|}

===Playoffs===
{{main|2006–07 NFL playoffs}}

Although the Colts' rushing defense looked extremely weak during the season, it ended up being a key factor on their road to the Super Bowl. First, the Colts defeated the [[2006 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] 23–8, holding Chiefs running back [[Larry Johnson (running back)|Larry Johnson]] (who rushed for 1,789 yards during the season) to just 32 yards on 13 carries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts - January 6th, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200701060clt.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Then, they defeated the [[2006 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] 15–6, winning on a playoff record-tying five field goals by Vinatieri and holding running back [[Jamal Lewis (American football)|Jamal Lewis]] (who rushed for 1,132 yards during the season) to just 53 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens - January 13th, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200701130rav.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Then the Colts faced their [[Colts–Patriots rivalry|arch-rival]] [[2006 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots jumped to an early 21–3 lead, but the Colts stormed back in the second half, outscoring the Patriots 32–13 with an additional field goal late in the first half. With 2:22 left in the game, the Colts had the ball on their own 20-yard line trailing 34–31. On the first four plays of the drive, Manning completed three passes, moving the ball 69 yards to the Patriots' 11-yard line in just 24 seconds. Three plays later, Addai scored a 3-yard touchdown run to put them in the lead, 38–34 with only 60 seconds left in regulation. The Patriots responded with a drive to the Colts' 45-yard line, but defensive back [[Marlin Jackson]] ended the drive with an interception to give the Colts the win.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts - January 21st, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200701210clt.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> With their 18-point comeback win, the Colts set the record for biggest comeback in AFC-NFC Conference Championship history (since tied by the [[2021 Cincinnati Bengals season|2021 Cincinnati Bengals]]).

Meanwhile, the Bears started out their post-season with a 27–24 win over the [[2006 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] with [[Robbie Gould]]'s 49-yard field goal in overtime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears - January 14th, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200701140chi.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> One week later, they defeated the [[2006 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] 39–14 in the NFC Championship Game.  The Bears dominated most of the game, jumping to a 16–0 early lead. Two touchdown passes from Saints quarterback [[Drew Brees]], cut the score to 16–14, but the Bears responded with 23 unanswered points to propel them to their first Super Bowl since the [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 season]]. Thomas Jones finished the game with a franchise postseason record 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears - January 21st, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200701210chi.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

It was the first time since the 1996 postseason that the home team won both of the conference championship games. The Colts were the first dome team to win the Super Bowl in an outdoor game (the [[1999 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]] were the first dome team to win a Super Bowl, [[Super Bowl XXXIV|XXXIV]] inside the [[Georgia Dome]] in [[Atlanta]]). The [[2006 NFL season|2006]] Indianapolis Colts were the first division champion to win a Super Bowl with four postseason wins and the second division champion ([[2003 NFL season|2003]] [[2003 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]]) to win a conference title with three postseason wins.

For the Bears, this marked the first time that a Chicago sports team not owned by [[Jerry Reinsdorf]] had reached the championship game/series in their league since the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Blackhawks]] lost in the [[1992 Stanley Cup Finals]].

===Super Bowl pre-game practices and notes===
[[File:dolphin-stadium-super-bowl-xli-2007-02-03.jpg|thumb|right|Dolphin Stadium prepares for Super Bowl XLI]]
The [[Indianapolis Colts]] held pre-game practices for Super Bowl XLI at the [[Miami Dolphins Training Facility]] on the campus of [[Nova Southeastern University]] in [[Davie, Florida]]. The Colts' "Team and Family" hotel was the Marriott Harbor Beach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-xpm-2010-03-01-fl-super-bowl-hotels-20100301-story.html|title=Super Bowl helped Fort Lauderdale hotels more than 2007|publisher=South Florida Sun Sentinel|date=March 1, 2010|access-date=May 29, 2020}}</ref> At the [[2007 Indianapolis 500]] pre-race ceremonies on May 27, 2007, eventual Super Bowl XLI [[Most valuable player|MVP]] [[Peyton Manning]] stated to [[ABC Sports]] commentator [[Brent Musburger]] the day before the game that two-time [[Indianapolis 500]] winner [[Hélio Castroneves]] gave a pep talk to the Colts team.

The [[Chicago Bears]] held pre-game practices for Super Bowl XLI at the [[Miami Hurricanes football]] facility on the campus of the [[University of Miami]] in [[Coral Gables, Florida]].

Bears defensive tackle [[Tank Johnson]] was required to request a judge's order to leave the state of [[Illinois]] due to an arrest for unlicensed ownership of six firearms and two assault rifles. On January 23, 2007, the judge granted him permission to travel out of state to play in the Super Bowl.<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 23, 2007|title=Judge allows Bears' Johnson to play in Super Bowl|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nfl-super-tank-idUSN2327155920070123|access-date=February 28, 2021}}</ref>

Chicago and Indianapolis are the two closest cities, geographically, to ever play in a Super Bowl; at 182 miles (293&nbsp;km) apart (connected by a route that is mostly [[Interstate 65 in Indiana|Interstate 65]]), they are slightly closer than New York and Baltimore, whose teams played each other at [[Super Bowl III|III]] (207 miles) and [[Super Bowl XXXV|XXXV]] (188 miles). This prompted Colts head coach Tony Dungy to joke to Jim Nantz, at the end of the AFC Championship game, that the two teams should split the difference and play the game in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Storming the Fort (Wayne)|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2007/02/05/8399819/storming-the-fort-wayne|author=Rushin, Steve|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=February 5, 2007|access-date=January 10, 2016}}</ref>

This was the first Super Bowl since [[Super Bowl V]] that all players on both teams wore black shoes. As the [[Super Bowl#Home team designation|designated home team]] in the annual rotation between AFC and NFC teams, the Bears elected to wear their home navy uniforms with white pants, while the Colts wore their road white uniforms with white pants.

Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith had a history with each other. Smith had previously worked under Dungy as linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2000.

==Broadcasting==
===United States===
====Television====
[[File:Super Bowl XLI pre-game show in Miami.jpg|thumb|250px|The NFL Today pre-game show with officers of the [[U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds]]]]

The game was televised in the United States by [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] in [[High-definition television|high-definition]].

[[Jim Nantz]] called his first Super Bowl as a [[Play-by-play|play-by-play announcer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsline.com/cbssports/story/9362012|title=CBS Sports announces NFL TV schedule|work=[[CBS Sports]]|date=April 6, 2006|access-date=December 12, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103034025/http://www.sportsline.com/cbssports/story/9362012|archive-date=January 3, 2007}}</ref> He was joined in the booth by [[color commentator]] [[Phil Simms]]. Additionally, [[Solomon Wilcots]] ([[Chicago Bears|Bears sideline]]) and [[Steve Tasker]] ([[Indianapolis Colts|Colts sideline]]) reported on the sidelines and [[Lesley Visser]] ([[Chicago Bears|Bears sideline]]) and [[Sam Ryan]] ([[Indianapolis Colts|Colts sideline]]) in the stands.

Extensive pre-game coverage, hosted by ''[[The NFL Today]]'' team of [[James Brown (sportscaster)|James Brown]], [[Shannon Sharpe]], [[Boomer Esiason]] and [[Dan Marino]], began at noon [[Eastern Time Zone|ET]] with [[NFL Films]]' "Road to the Super Bowl" year in review (narrated by [[Tom Selleck]]). This was followed by "The Phil Simms All-Iron Team", and a four-and-a-half-hour ''Super Bowl Today'' pre-game show followed by game coverage at 6:25 PM.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsline.com/cbssports/schedules/nfl|title=CBS Sports NFL schedule|work=[[CBS Sports]]|date=April 9, 2006|access-date=December 14, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401053859/http://sportsline.com/cbssports/schedules/nfl|archive-date=April 1, 2007}}</ref> Other contributors to the pre-game show included [[Katie Couric]], anchor of the ''[[CBS Evening News]]'', [[Armen Keteyian]], CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent, [[Randy Cross]], who reported from [[Iraq]] where [[United States military|U.S. military]] forces played a touch football game known as "The [[Baghdad]] Bowl" and [[Dick Enberg]], who participated in his 12th Super Bowl telecast as a host, play-by-play announcer, or contributor.

The opening title sequence of CBS television coverage featured the composition Lux Aeterna, by artist Clint Mansell, in the background.

[[File:BaghdadBowl07.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"The Baghdad Bowl" flag football game played in Iraq]]
The [[American Forces Network]] (AFN) provided coverage of the Super Bowl for U.S. forces stationed overseas and to all U.S. Navy ships at sea.<ref>CBS announcer's comment during the national anthem</ref>

====Ratings====
[[Nielsen Media Research]] reported 93 million viewers for Super Bowl XLI, making it at the time the fifth most watched program in U.S. television history (trailing only the [[Goodbye, Farewell and Amen|''M*A*S*H'' finale]] and Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XLIII|XLIII]], [[Super Bowl XXX|XXX]], and [[Super Bowl XLII|XLII]]).{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

====Advertising====
Advertising rates were reported as being slightly higher than in the year before, with CBS confirming a price of $2.6 million for some 30-second spots, compared with $2.5 million during [[Super Bowl XL]]. However, CNN reported that after discounts, the average price is likely closer to $1.8 to $2 million. Familiar advertisers in recent years such as [[Anheuser-Busch]], [[CareerBuilder]], [[General Motors]] and [[Coca-Cola]] bought multiple advertising spots, and other popular advertisers like [[Go Daddy]] and [[Diamond Foods, Inc.|Emerald Nuts]] had commercials this year.<ref name="price">{{cite news|url= https://money.cnn.com/2007/01/03/news/funny/superbowl_ads/?postversion=2007010318|title=Super prices for Super Bowl ads|access-date=January 17, 2007|date=January 3, 2007 | work=CNN | first=Paul R. | last=La Monica}}</ref>

The only major hype related to commercials in the months leading up to Super Bowl XLI involved various campaigns to allow consumers to be involved in the creation of Super Bowl ads, inspired by consumer-generated content sites like YouTube. [[Frito-Lay]] announced a campaign in September 2006 to allow the public to submit ads for their [[Doritos]] brand and vote on the best one, which aired during the Super Bowl. Doritos actually aired two of the ads due to a close voting margin; the winning ad (featuring a chance meeting with a man and a woman that feature the qualities of Doritos) aired in the first quarter, while a second (with a checkout lady overly enamored with the product) aired in the second quarter. The five finalists each received $10,000 in this contest. General Motors announced a similar contest, open only to college students, for their [[Chevrolet]] brand; however, the ad would be produced professionally based on ideas suggested by the public. The winning ad featured men gathering around an HHR model with women in it and stripping off their clothes and giving it a car wash. The NFL itself advertised a similar contest to generate suggestions for a commercial promoting the league, with the winning concept featuring fans' disappointment that their teams' season was over.<ref>{{cite web|title=Some Super Bowl ads to be work of 'ordinary people'|url=http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/01/14/business/stories_from_ap/iq_3770297.txt|date=January 14, 2007|access-date=January 17, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905184822/http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/01/14/business/stories_from_ap/iq_3770297.txt|archive-date=September 5, 2012}}</ref>

The annual [[USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter]] survey chose a [[Budweiser]] ad featuring crabs worshiping an ice chest with that particular beer inside as the top ad of Super Bowl XLI, followed by another Budweiser commercial featuring a stray dog with mud spots climbing onto the brewery's trademark Clydesdale-drawn wagon in a parade. In all, Anheuser-Busch took seven of the top ten spots in the annual survey, sweeping the top three spots. A YouTube user survey chose the Doritos "Snack Hard" ad (produced for the incredible price of $12, the cost of three bags of the snack product)<ref>{{cite web|title=Doritos eats up Cary startup's ad|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/672/story/539747.html|date=February 5, 2007|access-date=February 15, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070212173826/http://www.newsobserver.com/672/story/539747.html |archive-date = February 12, 2007}}</ref> as their top ad, that ad finished fourth in the USA Today survey. [[ADBOWL]] results were slightly different with only 6 of Anheuser-Busch's ads finishing in the top ten. The highest ranked being the [[Bud Light]] "Rock, Paper, Scissors" spot. Also in the top ten were [[Blockbuster Video]]'s "Mouse", Doritos' "Car Wreck", GM's "Robot" and [[Taco Bell]]'s "Lion's Talk 'Carne'."

One ad that drew criticism from the gay community was for the [[Snickers]] candy bar featuring two men accidentally "kissing" each other after sharing the product in question, then proceeded to rip chest hairs as a manly act as [[homophobic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Snickers ad pulled after gays complain|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/content/sports/stories/2007/02/06/0206snickers.html|date=February 6, 2007|access-date=February 15, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070208003951/http://www.ajc.com/news/content/sports/stories/2007/02/06/0206snickers.html |archive-date = February 8, 2007}}</ref> The ad proved to be controversial, and the ad was cancelled the next day by Masterfoods USA ([[Mars, Incorporated]]'s snack food division), and three other versions were deleted from the snickers.com web site. The ad was ninth in the USA Today ad survey, and according to a Masterfoods publicist, not intended to harm anyone.

A different ad for [[General Motors]] featured a [[layoff|laid off]] [[assembly line]] [[robot]] contemplating suicide, which drew criticism from the [[American Foundation for Suicide Prevention]]. The group asked for an apology from GM, and that the ad be taken off the air and the company's website.<ref>{{cite web|title=AFSP Issues Statement to General Motors Regarding Super Bowl Ad|author=AFSP.org|url=http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=93CA6FF0-7E90-9BD4-C1D8809C1CBC8069|date=February 6, 2007|access-date=February 9, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220032540/http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=93CA6FF0-7E90-9BD4-C1D8809C1CBC8069|archive-date=February 20, 2007}}</ref> The suicide scene was replaced with a scene of the robot watching a car being crushed at a junkyard when it was shown again during the [[79th Academy Awards]] on February 25.

====Radio====
[[NFL on Westwood One|Westwood One]] provided radio coverage of the event, with [[Marv Albert]] and [[Boomer Esiason]] as announcers.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=SPIENT.story&STORY=/www/story/02-01-2007/0004518089&EDATE=THU+Feb+01+2007,+09:00+AM|title=Westwood One press release|date=February 1, 2007|access-date=February 5, 2007}}</ref>

===International===
The Super Bowl was broadcast live in Canada on CBS (which is available in Canada) as well as [[Global TV]] and [[CJON-TV|NTV]] which both took the main CBS commentary, and on the French cable channel [[Réseau des sports|RDS]]. In the United Kingdom the Super Bowl was broadcast on [[ITV1]], [[Sky Sports|Sky Sports 1 & Sky Sports HD1]] with [[Sky Sports]] taking the main CBS commentary and ITV taking the [[National Football League|NFL]] supplied international commentary feed of [[Spero Dedes]] and [[Sterling Sharpe]].

Super Bowl XLI was broadcast in over 200 countries. Amongst the television networks who broadcast Super Bowl XLI were:
{{div col|colwidth=48em}}
*{{ARG}}&nbsp;– [[ESPN|ESPN Argentina]] and [[Fox Sports en Latinoamérica|Fox Sports]]
*{{flagu|Australia}}&nbsp;– [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]], [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]] and [[ESPN]] broadcast the game live (All International Feed).
*{{AUT}}&nbsp;– [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]] 1, [[Deutsches Sportfernsehen|DSF]]
*{{flagu|Belize|1981}}&nbsp;– [[Great Belize Television|Channel 5]], [[Tropical Vision Limited|Channel 7]] (both CBS feed)
*{{flagu|Brazil}}&nbsp;– [[Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação|BandSports]] and [[ESPN International]]; [[Rede Bandeirantes|Bandeirantes]] also broadcast a condensed version of the game<ref name="SBIntl">{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/international/story/9934713|title=Worldwide media coverage of Super Bowl XLI|website=[[NFL.com]] |access-date=February 4, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070203010749/http://www.nfl.com/international/story/9934713 |archive-date = February 3, 2007}}</ref>
*{{flagu|Canada}}&nbsp;– [[Global Television Network|Global]], [[CJON-TV|NTV]] (English) and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]] (French)
*{{flagu|Chile}}&nbsp;– [[ESPN|ESPN Latin-America]] and [[Fox Sports en Latinoamérica|Fox Sports]]
*{{COL}}&nbsp;– [[ESPN|ESPN Latin-America]] and [[Fox Sports en Latinoamérica|Fox Sports]]
*{{PRC}}&nbsp;– [[CCTV-5]]
*{{CRO}}&nbsp;– [[Zagrebačka Televizija|Z1]]
*{{DEN}}&nbsp;– [[TV2 Zulu]]
*{{FIN}}&nbsp;– [[MTV3]]
*{{flagu|France|1974}}&nbsp;– [[France 2]]
*{{flagu|Germany}}&nbsp;– [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] (international feed), [[NASN]] (international feed), [[Deutsches Sportfernsehen|DSF]] (on [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]])
*{{HUN}}&nbsp;– [[Sport 1 (Europe)|Sport 1]]
*{{ISL}}&nbsp;– [[Sýn]]
*{{IRL}}&nbsp;– [[TV3 (Ireland)|TV3]], [[Sky Sports]]
*{{flagu|Italy}}&nbsp;– [[Sky Sport (Italy)|Sky Sport Italia]] (in [[High-definition television|HDTV]])
*{{flagu|India}}&nbsp;– [[ESPN|ESPN Asia]]
*{{flagu|Japan}}&nbsp;– [[NHK|NHK BS-1]], [[Nippon Television]]
*{{flagu|South Korea|1997}}&nbsp;– [[Seoul Broadcasting System]]<ref name=SBIntl/>
*{{MKD}}&nbsp;– [[Sport 4]]
*{{flagu|Mexico}}&nbsp;– [[Televisa]], [[TV Azteca]] (in [[HDTV]])
*{{MNE}}&nbsp;– [[Elmag RTV]]
*{{flagu|Netherlands}}&nbsp;– [[NASN]] (HDTV)<ref>For the last decade [[SBS6]] used to broadcast the game in The Netherlands. However, this year only NASN will be showing the Super Bowl.</ref>
*{{flagu|New Zealand}}&nbsp;– [[Sky Sports]], [[ESPN]]
*{{NOR}}&nbsp;– [[Viasat SportN]]
*{{PER}}&nbsp;– [[Fox Sports en Latinoamérica|Fox Sports]], [[ESPN]]
*{{PHI}}&nbsp;– [[Studio 23]], [[Solar Sports]]
*{{flagu|Poland}}&nbsp;– [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]]
*{{POR}}&nbsp;– [[SportTV 1]]
*{{ROU}}&nbsp;– [[Sport 1 (Europe)|Sport 1]]
*{{flagu|Russia}}&nbsp;– [[NTV Plus]]
*{{flagu|Spain}}&nbsp;– [[Canal+ Spain|Canal +]]
*{{flagu|Serbia|2004}}&nbsp;– [[SportKlub]]
*{{flagu|Sweden}}&nbsp;– [[TV6 (Sweden)]]
*{{THA}}&nbsp;– [[True Vision]] Super Sport ch.61, [[ESPN]]
*{{TUR}}&nbsp;– [[Fox Sports Turkey]]
*{{flagu|United Kingdom}}&nbsp;– ITV1 (would be their last Super Bowl broadcast until [[Super Bowl LVII|2023]]), [[Sky Sports]] and [[Sky Sports|Sky Sports HD]] (CBS feed and announcers)
{{div col end}}

==Entertainment==

===Pre-game ceremonies===
Before the game, [[Cirque du Soleil]], [[Romero Britto]] and [[Little Louie Vega]] performed as the pre-game act,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9918326|title=Cirque du Soleil to perform in Super Bowl XLI pregame show|publisher=SuperBowl.com|date=January 9, 2007|access-date=January 11, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070206220217/http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9918326 |archive-date = February 6, 2007}}</ref> and [[Billy Joel]] sang the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|National Anthem]], accompanying himself on piano. He also performed at [[Super Bowl XXIII]], which was played at the same venue. Joel became the second person to sing the National Anthem twice for a Super Bowl; Aaron Neville sang the national anthem before Super Bowl XXIV, in New Orleans, and Super Bowl XL (along with Aretha Franklin), in Detroit. This was also the last time until [[Luke Bryan]] sang at [[Super Bowl LI]] that a male artist had sung the national anthem at a Super Bowl.<ref name="h050">{{cite web | last=Hagemann | first=Andie | title=Luke Bryan to sing national anthem at Super Bowl LI | website=NFL.com | date=2017-01-22 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/luke-bryan-to-sing-national-anthem-at-super-bowl-li-0ap3000000777452 | access-date=2025-03-03}}</ref>

Two days before the game, [[2007 Groundhog Day tornado outbreak|4 tornadoes]] devastated [[Central Florida]], causing over $200 million in damage, and causing numerous of injuries and 21 deaths. A [[moment of silence]] was held before kickoff, in honor of the victims of the severe weather.<ref>[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2007/02/05/survivors-start-patching-lives-together-2/ Survivors start patching lives together], Orlando Sentinel, February 5, 2007</ref>

[[Marlee Matlin]] and Jason Hay-Southwell performed the National Anthem in [[American Sign Language]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2007/Feb/EEN45c353af4b7cb.html|title=Marlee Matlin and Jason Hay-Southwell to Sign National Anthem During Billy Joel Performance at Super Bowl XLI on CBS|publisher=Elitestv.com|date=February 2, 2007|access-date=February 2, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403123335/http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2007/Feb/EEN45c353af4b7cb.html|archive-date=April 3, 2008}}</ref>

Besides participating in the CBS telecast of the pre-game show, Dan Marino also participated in the [[coin toss]] along with Norma Hunt, who was the widow of [[Lamar Hunt]], the former owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and the man who gave the Super Bowl its name.

===Halftime show===
{{main|Super Bowl XLI halftime show}}

[[File:Prince at Coachella 001.jpg|thumb|American singer and musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] headlined the halftime show]]
American singer and musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] performed in the halftime show.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9863556|title=Prince to perform at Super Bowl halftime|publisher=SuperBowl.com|date=December 10, 2006|access-date=December 10, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061214065037/http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9863556 |archive-date = December 14, 2006}}</ref> The setlist for Prince's performance was a short rendition of "[[We Will Rock You]]" by [[Queen (band)|Queen]]; Prince's hit songs "[[Let's Go Crazy]]" and "[[Baby I'm a Star]]"; covers of [[Creedence Clearwater Revival]]'s "[[Proud Mary]]", [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[All Along the Watchtower]]", and [[Foo Fighters]]' "[[Best of You]]"; and finally his signature song "[[Purple Rain (song)|Purple Rain]]" in the downpour. The 12-minute performance featured Prince accompanied by two dancers he called "The Twinz" (Maya and Nandy McClean){{citation needed|date=May 2020}} and the [[Florida A&M University]] marching band, the [[Marching 100]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS01/701240335/1010 |title=Marching 100 to play with Prince |publisher=Tallahassee.com |date=January 24, 2007 |access-date=January 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220742/http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070124%2FNEWS01%2F701240335%2F1010 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref> Prince had rehearsed with the drum line for a week before the performance. The performance was on a large, central stage which was shaped like Prince's logo, and was outlined with lights. He played before 74,512 fans at Dolphin Stadium, who had been given flashlights to point at the stage during the performance of "Purple Rain". The event was carried "to the biggest audience of his life" with 140 million television viewers.<ref name="Hoekstra">{{Cite news|title=Purple rain turned super |date=February 5, 2007 |access-date=February 5, 2007 |author=Dave Hoekstra |url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/243107,CST-FTR-super05.article |work=Chicago Sun-Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412054158/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/243107%2CCST-FTR-super05.article |archive-date=April 12, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Overall, the show was energetic and well received by the rain-soaked audience surrounding the stage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/sports/football/05halftime.html|title=A Noncontroversial Prince, Just the Way the N.F.L. Likes Him|work=[[New York Times]]|date=February 5, 2007|access-date=February 5, 2007 | first=Kelefa | last=Sanneh}}</ref> Music critics were extremely enthusiastic about his performance, one calling it "arguably the best halftime show in Super Bowl history",<ref name=Hoekstra/> and others saying it was one of the best ever.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 4, 2007|title=Mini Review: Prince At Super Bowl|author=Brad Kava|publisher=[[Mercury News]]}}</ref><ref name="Associated Press">{{cite news|date=February 5, 2007|title=No Malfunction as Prince Rocks Halftime|agency=Associated Press|work=[[New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-FBN-Super-Bowl-TV-Review.html|access-date=February 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/super-bowl/article239562813.html|title=Prince's Miami Super Bowl show set halftime's gold standard|last=Wilson|first=David|date=January 31, 2020|work=The Miami Herald|access-date=February 1, 2020}}</ref>

Following the game, controversy emerged about a silhouetted camera shot of Prince, projected against a large sheet by a bright light on the other side of him. The controversy centered around his guitar, which detractors claimed seemed [[phallic]], and critics stating that it "looked embarrassingly rude, crude and unfortunately placed". Though the guitar has been considered by some an extension of a male player's sexuality (especially highlighted by such artists as [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Eddie Van Halen]], and even Prince himself), supporters of Prince say that the show did not, in fact, become any more sexually charged than usual, noting that "a guitar at waist level does look like an enormous phallus".<ref>{{cite news|date=February 7, 2007|title=Some complain of phallic imagery in Prince halftime show|author=Jake Coyle|agency=Associated Press|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|url=https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/entertainment/4533162.html|access-date=February 8, 2007|archive-date=February 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209232003/https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/entertainment/4533162.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' listed the silhouetted camera shot, naming it "Prince's Demon Phallus", as one of the top seven Super Bowl halftime moments.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.etonline.com/tv/158947_the_top_7_super_bowl_halftime_moments | title=The Top 7 Super Bowl Halftime Moments | publisher=Entertainment Tonight  | date=January 30, 2015 | access-date=February 3, 2018}}</ref> In 2016, shortly after Prince's death, the halftime show's producer [[Don Mischer]] said that having a silhouetted camera shot of Prince was his idea, but denied it was meant to be a phallic statement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=April 21, 2016 |title=Prince Super Bowl Halftime Show: Producer Don Mischer Remembers |url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/prince-dead-super-bowl-halftime-don-mischer-remembers-watch-1201741735/ |access-date=February 3, 2018 |publisher=Deadline}}</ref>

===Post-game ceremonies===
Former Colts and Dolphins head coach [[Don Shula]] presented the [[Vince Lombardi Trophy]] to the Colts after the game, and [[Peyton Manning]] was named MVP.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9870848|title=Marino, Shula to be honored at Super Bowl XLI|publisher=SuperBowl.com|date=December 14, 2006|access-date=December 14, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061216064901/http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9870848 |archive-date = December 16, 2006}}</ref>

==Game summary==
{{external media|video1={{YouTube|pAsarBgakuc|Full game broadcast on CBS}}}}

===First quarter===
The Bears won the coin toss and elected to receive. For the first time in Super Bowl history, the game was played in the rain, which was continuous throughout the game.

The rain did not hinder Bears return specialist [[Devin Hester]], who ran back the opening kickoff 92&nbsp;yards for a touchdown to give the Bears the then earliest lead in Super Bowl history, after only 14 seconds.<ref name="USA Today Super Bowl XLI Play by Play">{{cite news|title=Super Bowl XLI play-by-play|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/super/superbowl-xli-plays.htm|work=USA Today|date=January 11, 2002|access-date=August 25, 2011|publisher=USATODAY.com}}</ref> The Colts avoided kicking to Hester for the rest of the game, allowing him only one punt return, and choosing to [[squib kick]] whenever Hester was in the deep kickoff return position.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://beargoggleson.com/2017/01/29/a-chicago-bears-superstar-the-career-of-devin-hester/|title=A Chicago Bears Superstar: The Career of Devin Hester|last1=Jun 30|first1=Bryan Dietzler/FanSided via Bear Goggles On Fansided|last2=ET|first2=2017 at 10:28p|date=January 29, 2017|newspaper=Bear Goggles on|language=en-US|access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref>

On the Colts' first drive of the game, Bears safety [[Chris Harris (safety)|Chris Harris]] intercepted a deep third-down pass from quarterback [[Peyton Manning]] and returned it 6 yards to the Bears' 35-yard line. However, the Bears could not gain a first down on their ensuing possession and they were forced to punt. After several short runs and passes, Manning beat the Bears' defense with a 53-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver [[Reggie Wayne]], cutting the Bears' lead to 7–6 after punter/holder [[Hunter Smith]] fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt. The touchdown occurred because of a mental error on the Bears' secondary defense. Cornerback [[Charles Tillman]] passed Wayne onto safety [[Danieal Manning]]. However, Manning chose to follow tight end [[Ben Utecht]] over the middle, leaving Wayne all alone. On the ensuing kickoff, Bears tight end [[Gabe Reid]] fumbled [[Adam Vinatieri]]'s bouncing kickoff while being tackled by defensive end [[Robert Mathis]]; linebacker [[Tyjuan Hagler]] recovered the loose ball for the Colts on the Bears' 34-yard line. However, on the next play, the Colts gave the ball right back when running back [[Joseph Addai]] fumbled the hand-off and defensive end [[Mark Anderson (American football)|Mark Anderson]] recovered it for the Bears.

On the first play after the turnover, running back [[Thomas Jones (American football)|Thomas Jones]]' 52-yard run set up 1st-and-goal at the Colts' 5-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback [[Rex Grossman]] threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver [[Muhsin Muhammad]], increasing the Bears' lead to 14–6. After forcing a Colts punt, the Bears turned the ball over again when safety [[Bob Sanders]] forced a fumble on running back [[Cedric Benson]], with defensive end [[Dwight Freeney]] making the recovery on the Bears' 43-yard line. The Colts subsequently advanced to the 36-yard line, but decided to punt rather than risk a 53-yard field goal attempt.

===Second quarter===
After forcing a Bears punt, the Colts drove 47&nbsp;yards and scored with Vinatieri's 29-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 14–9. The Bears were forced to punt again on their next drive, and wide receiver [[Terrence Wilkins]] returned the ball 12&nbsp;yards to his own 42-yard line. Manning started out the drive with a 22-yard completion to wide receiver [[Marvin Harrison]]. His next pass went to tight end [[Dallas Clark]] for 17&nbsp;yards. Two more completions moved the ball to the Bears' 11-yard line, and then running back [[Dominic Rhodes]] took the ball to the end zone with three consecutive carries, the last one a 1-yard touchdown run to give his team a 16–14 lead with 6:09 left in the half.

After yet another Bears punt, the Colts advanced to the Bears' 36-yard line before Tillman ended the drive by forcing and recovering a fumble from tight end [[Bryan Fletcher (American football)|Bryan Fletcher]]. But on the next play, Grossman fumbled the snap, and defensive tackle [[Raheem Brock]] recovered the ball for Indianapolis. A reception and a run for 18 total yards by Rhodes led the Colts to the Bears' 17-yard line. With two seconds left, Vinatieri attempted a 36-yard field goal, but his kick sailed wide left, and the Colts' lead remained 16–14 at halftime.

===Third quarter===
Wilkins returned the second half kickoff 26&nbsp;yards to the Colts' 38-yard line. On the ensuing possession, Addai rushed five times for 25&nbsp;yards and caught four passes for 19&nbsp;yards as the Colts drove 56&nbsp;yards in 13 plays and scored on a 24-yard field goal by Vinatieri, increasing their lead to 19–14. On the Bears' next drive, Jones started out with a 14-yard run, and then Muhammad caught a 9-yard pass, bringing up 2nd-and-1 on the Colts' 45-yard line. But on the next play, Grossman <!--Grossman tripping is considered to create an inaccurate impression of the play and is not a cited fact.-->was sacked for an 11-yard loss by defensive tackle [[Booger McFarland|Anthony McFarland]]. Then on third down, he fumbled the snap and recovered it himself, but the Bears were forced to punt, and Wilkins returned the ball 12&nbsp;yards to the Colts' 36-yard line. Rhodes then gained 52&nbsp;yards on three carries, with a face-mask penalty on Danieal Manning adding another 10 yards. The Bears managed to halt the drive at their own 2-yard line, but Vinatieri kicked a 20-yard field goal to increase the Colts' lead to 22–14.

Bears tight end [[John Gilmore (American football)|John Gilmore]] picked up Vinatieri's bouncing kickoff and returned it 9 yards to his own 45-yard line, with an unnecessary roughness penalty on Mathis adding another 15&nbsp;yards and giving the Bears a first down on the Colts' 40-yard line. The Bears could only gain 14 yards on three runs by Jones, but they were enough for kicker [[Robbie Gould]] to make a 44-yard field goal, cutting their deficit to 22–17.

===Fourth quarter===
After forcing the Colts to punt going into the fourth quarter, the Bears started on their own 20-yard line with 13:38 left in the game. But three plays later, cornerback [[Kelvin Hayden]] intercepted a pass intended for Muhammad and returned it 56&nbsp;yards for a touchdown, increasing the Colts' lead to 29–17.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mock |first=Brett |date=2018-01-23 |title=Best Super Bowl Moment for the Indianapolis Colts: Kelvin Hayden Pick Six |url=https://www.stampedeblue.com/2018/1/23/16907478/best-super-bowl-moment-for-the-indianapolis-colts-kelvin-hayden-pick-six |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Stampede Blue |language=en}}</ref>

From that point on, the Colts held the Bears scoreless for the rest of the game. Four plays after the ensuing kickoff, Sanders intercepted Grossman's pass and returned it 38 yards to the Bears' 41-yard line. The Bears' defense eventually forced a punt, but Smith's 32-yard kick pinned the Bears back at their own 8-yard line. The Bears drove to their own 47, but on a fourth down conversion attempt, tight end [[Desmond Clark]] dropped a potential first down reception after being leveled by safety [[Matt Giordano]]. The Colts subsequently called eight consecutive runs by Rhodes before turning the ball over on downs themselves, leaving only 1:42 remaining in regulation. Afterwards, the Bears ran five meaningless plays to reach the Colts' 36-yard line before the game ended.

===Box score===
{{Americanfootballbox | bg=#eee
|titlestyle=text-align:center;background-color:#000;color:#fff
|title=Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17
|Road='''Colts (AFC)'''
|R1=6
|R2=10
|R3=6
|R4=7
|Home=Bears (NFC)
|H1=14
|H2=0
|H3=3
|H4=0
|stadium=[[Hard Rock Stadium|Dolphin Stadium]], [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
|attendance=74,512<ref name="attendance" />
|date=February 4, 2007
|time=6:25 p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
|weather={{convert|67|°F|°C}}, rainy{{efn|This was the first Super Bowl to be played in rain.}}<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 10, 2018}}</ref>
|referee=[[Tony Corrente]]
|TV=[[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|TVAnnouncers=[[Jim Nantz]], [[Phil Simms]], [[Steve Tasker]], [[Solomon Wilcots]], [[Sam Ryan]], [[Lesley Visser]]
|reference=[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2007020400/2006/POST21/colts@bears/recap Recap]
|state=uncollapsed
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart |VisitorName=IND |HomeName=CHI |state=expanded}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=1 |Time=14:46 |Team=CHI |DrivePlays=— |DriveLength=— |DriveTime=— |Type=Other |Other=[[Devin Hester]] 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, [[Robbie Gould]] kick good |Visitor=0 |Home=7}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=1 |Time=6:50 |Team=IND |DrivePlays=9 |DriveLength=80 |DriveTime=4:30 |Type=RecTD |Receiver=[[Reggie Wayne]] |QB=[[Peyton Manning]] |yards=53 |kickresult=no good (snap fumbled) |Kicker=[[Adam Vinatieri]] |Visitor=6 |Home=7}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=1 |Time=4:34 |Team=CHI |DrivePlays=4 |DriveLength=57 |DriveTime=2:00 |Type=RecTD |Receiver=[[Muhsin Muhammad]] |QB=[[Rex Grossman]] |yards=4 |kickresult=good |Kicker=Gould |Visitor=6 |Home=14}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Time=11:17 |Team=IND |DrivePlays=8 |DriveLength=47 |DriveTime=3:52 |Type=FG |yards=29 |Kicker=Vinatieri |Visitor=9 |Home=14}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Time=6:09 |Team=IND |DrivePlays=7 |DriveLength=58 |DriveTime=3:08 |Type=RushTD |Runner=[[Dominic Rhodes]] |yards=1 |kickresult=good |Kicker=Vinatieri |Visitor=16 |Home=14}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=3 |Time=7:26 |Team=IND |DrivePlays=13 |DriveLength=56 |DriveTime=7:34 |Type=FG |yards=24 |Kicker=Vinatieri |Visitor=19 |Home=14}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=3 |Time=3:16 |Team=IND |DrivePlays=6 |DriveLength=62 |DriveTime=2:07 |Type=FG |yards=20 |Kicker=Vinatieri |Visitor=22 |Home=14}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=3 |Time=1:14 |Team=CHI |DrivePlays=6 |DriveLength=14 |DriveTime=2:02 |Type=FG |yards=44 |Kicker=Gould |Visitor=22 |Home=17}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=4 |Time=11:44 |Team=IND |DrivePlays=— |DriveLength=— |DriveTime=— |Type=IntTD |Def=[[Kelvin Hayden]] |yards=56 |kickresult=good |Kicker=Vinatieri |Visitor=29 |Home=17}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd |Visitor=29 |Home=17}}

[[File:Bush Congratulates 2006 Colts.jpg|thumb|right|225px|[[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] congratulates the Colts on their win]]

===Statistical overview===
This was the third Super Bowl to have two players rush for more than 100 yards as [[Dominic Rhodes]] had 113 for the Colts and [[Thomas Jones (American football)|Thomas Jones]] had 112 for the Bears. Tony Dungy is the third man to win the Super Bowl as a head coach as well as a player, following [[Tom Flores]] and [[Mike Ditka]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomaro |first=Daniel |date=December 3, 2023 |title=How Many People Have Won a Super Bowl as a Player and Head Coach? |url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/how-many-people-have-won-super-bowl-as-player-and-head-coach/#:~:text=Dungy%20became%20the%20third%20person,Hall%20of%20Fame%20in%202016. |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Pro Football Network}}</ref>

For the Colts, Rhodes rushed for 113&nbsp;yards and a touchdown, while also catching an 8-yard reception. Addai rushed for 77&nbsp;yards and caught 10 passes for 66&nbsp;yards. Wilkins returned four kickoffs for 89&nbsp;yards and 3 punts for 42&nbsp;yards in what turned out to be his final NFL game. Adam Vinatieri became the first kicker ever to play in five Super Bowls and the first to win four [[Super Bowl ring]]s. Vinatieri's three field goals and two extra points gave him 49 points for the entire 2006 post-season, an NFL record. The Colts' win was the first major professional championship for [[Indiana]] since the [[Indiana Pacers]]' [[American Basketball Association|ABA]] title in the 1972–73 season.

Hester's touchdown for the Bears on the opening kickoff was the first one in Super Bowl history, and the ninth kick return for a touchdown in a Super Bowl; only three of the nine teams who did this went on to win the game (the [[Green Bay Packers]] in [[Super Bowl XXXI]], the [[Baltimore Ravens]] in Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXXV|XXXV]] and [[Super Bowl XLVII|XLVII]], and the [[Seattle Seahawks]] in [[Super Bowl XLVIII]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiederer |first=Dan |date=2019-08-19 |title='Please let them kick it to me!': The oral history of Devin Hester's Super Bowl XLI kickoff return touchdown — and the coverage team that dared to stop him |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/08/19/please-let-them-kick-it-to-me-the-oral-history-of-devin-hesters-super-bowl-xli-kickoff-return-touchdown-and-the-coverage-team-that-dared-to-stop-him/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> Hester's return also kept a streak alive for there being a kickoff return for a touchdown in each Super Bowl played at Dolphin Stadium. Hester's and Wayne's touchdowns in the first quarter marked the first time in Super Bowl history the first two touchdowns were scored by players from the same college ([[University of Miami]]). Jones was the Bears' top rusher with 112 yards, while also catching four passes for 18 yards. Desmond Clark was the Bears' top receiver with six receptions for 64 yards. Grossman completed 20 of 28 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions, leaving him with a QB rating of 68.3 for the game.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rotowire.com/roto_to_gnews.htm?ID=120586&sport=nfl|title=Notebook|publisher=Rotowire.com|date=February 4, 2007|access-date=February 8, 2007}}</ref> [[Muhsin Muhammad]] became the third player ever to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl for two teams, joining [[Ricky Proehl]] and [[Jerry Rice]].

As mentioned previously, this was only the third time in Super Bowl history to have two 100 yard rushers. In [[Super Bowl III]], Colts halfback [[Tom Matte]] and Jets fullback [[Matt Snell]] rushed for 116 and 121 yards, respectively. 22 years later in [[Super Bowl XXV]], Bills halfback [[Thurman Thomas]] rushed for 135 yards while the Giants [[Ottis Anderson|O.J. Anderson]] (the game's MVP) rushed for 102 yards.

==Final statistics==
Sources:  [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2007020400/2006/POST21/colts@bears#tab=analyze&recap=fullstory NFL.com Super Bowl XLI], [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=clt&opp_id=chi&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 XLI Play Finder Ind], [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=chi&opp_id=clt&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 XLI Play Finder Chi]

===Statistical comparison===
{| class="wikitable"
!
!'''Indianapolis Colts'''
!'''Chicago Bears'''
|-
|First downs||24||11
|-
|First downs rushing||12||3
|-
|First downs passing||11||8
|-
|First downs penalty||1||0
|-
|Third down efficiency||8/18||3/10
|-
|Fourth down efficiency||0/1||0/1
|-
|Net yards rushing||191||111
|-
|Rushing attempts||42||19
|-
|Yards per rush||4.5||5.8
|-
|Passing – Completions-attempts||25/38||20/28
|-
|Times sacked-total yards||1–8||1–11
|-
|Interceptions thrown||1||2
|-
|Net yards passing||239||154
|-
|Total net yards||430||265
|-
|Punt returns-total yards||3–42||1–3
|-
|Kickoff returns-total yards||4–89||6–138
|-
|Interceptions-total return yards||2–94||1–6
|-
|Punts-average yardage||4–40.5||5–45.2
|-
|Fumbles-lost||2–2||4–3
|-
|Penalties-yards||6–40||4–35
|-
|Time of possession||38:04||21:56
|-
|Turnovers||3||5
|}

===Individual statistics===
{{col-float|width=48%}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts|year=2006|border=2}};"|Colts passing
|-
!
!C/ATT<sup>1</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!INT
!Rating
|-
|[[Peyton Manning]]
|25/38
|247
|1
|1
|81.8
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts|year=2006|border=2}};"|Colts rushing
|-
!
!Car<sup>2</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Yds/Car
|-
|[[Dominic Rhodes]]
|21
|113
|1
|36
|5.38
|-
|[[Joseph Addai]]
|19
|77
|0
|14
|4.05
|-
|[[Dallas Clark]]
|1
|1
|0
|1
|1.00
|-
|Peyton Manning
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0.00
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts|year=2006|border=2}};"|Colts receiving
|-
!
!Rec<sup>4</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Target<sup>5</sup>
|-
|Joseph Addai
|10
|66
|0
|12
|10
|-
|[[Marvin Harrison]]
|5
|59
|0
|22
|11
|-
|Dallas Clark
|4
|36
|0
|17
|6
|-
|[[Reggie Wayne]]
|2
|61
|1
|53
|4
|-
|[[Bryan Fletcher (American football)|Bryan Fletcher]]
|2
|9
|0
|6
|2
|-
|Dominic Rhodes
|1
|8
|0
|8
|2
|-
|[[Ben Utecht]]
|1
|8
|0
|8
|2
|-
|[[Aaron Moorehead]]
|0
|0
|0
|0
|1
|}
{{col-float-break|width=48%}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|border=2}};"|Bears passing
|-
!
!C/ATT<sup>1</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!INT
!Rating
|-
|[[Rex Grossman]]
|20/28
|165
|1
|2
|68.3
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|border=2}};"|Bears rushing
|-
!
!Car<sup>2</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Yds/Car
|-
|[[Thomas Jones (American football)|Thomas Jones]]
|15
|112
|0
|52
|7.47
|-
|Rex Grossman
|2
|0
|0
|0
|0.00
|-
|[[Cedric Benson]]
|2
|–1
|0
|4
|–0.50
|-
! colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|border=2}};"|Bears receiving
|-
!
!Rec<sup>4</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Target<sup>5</sup>
|-
|[[Desmond Clark]]
|6
|64
|0
|18
|9
|-
|[[Bernard Berrian]]
|4
|38
|0
|14
|7
|-
|Thomas Jones
|4
|18
|0
|14
|4
|-
|[[Muhsin Muhammad]]
|3
|35
|1
|22
|4
|-
|[[Jason McKie]]
|2
|8
|0
|4
|2
|-
|[[Rashied Davis]]
|1
|2
|0
|2
|2
|}
{{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

==Starting lineups==

:Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Super Bowl XLI–National Football League Game Summary|url=http://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29192/CHI_Gamebook.pdf|publisher=National Football League|date=February 4, 2007|access-date=March 6, 2016}}</ref>

{{hilite|Hall of Fame‡|#FFCC00}}
{| class="wikitable"
! width="140px" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts|year=2006|border=2}};" | Indianapolis !! Position !! Position !! width="140px" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|border=2}};" | Chicago
|-
| colspan=4 align=center | '''Offense'''
|-
| [[Reggie Wayne]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | WR || [[Muhsin Muhammad]]
|-
| [[Tarik Glenn]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | LT || [[John Tait (American football)|John Tait]]
|-
| [[Ryan Lilja]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | LG || [[Ruben Brown]]
|-
| [[Jeff Saturday]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | C || [[Olin Kreutz]]
|-
| [[Jake Scott (guard)|Jake Scott]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | RG || [[Roberto Garza]]
|-
| [[Ryan Diem]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | RT || [[Fred Miller (American football, born 1973)|Fred Miller]]
|-
| [[Dallas Clark]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | TE || [[Desmond Clark]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Marvin Harrison]]‡ || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | WR || [[Bernard Berrian]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Peyton Manning]]‡ || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | QB || [[Rex Grossman]]
|-
|[[Dominic Rhodes]]|| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | RB || [[Thomas Jones (American football)|Thomas Jones]]
|-
| [[Ben Utecht]] || style="text-align:center;" | H-B || style="text-align:center;" | FB || [[Jason McKie]]
|-
| colspan=4 align=center | '''Defense'''
|-
| [[Robert Mathis]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | LE || [[Adewale Ogunleye]]
|-
| [[Booger McFarland]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | LDT || [[Tank Johnson]]
|-
| [[Raheem Brock]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | RDT || [[Ian Scott (American football)|Ian Scott]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Dwight Freeney]]‡ || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | RE || [[Alex Brown (defensive end)|Alex Brown]]
|-
| [[Cato June]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | WLB || [[Lance Briggs]]
|-
| [[Gary Brackett]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | MLB || bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Brian Urlacher]]‡
|-
| [[Rob Morris (American football)|Rob Morris]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | SLB || [[Hunter Hillenmeyer]]
|-
| [[Nick Harper (American football)|Nick Harper]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | LCB || [[Charles Tillman]]
|-
| [[Jason David]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | RCB || [[Nathan Vasher]]
|-
| [[Antoine Bethea]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | SS || [[Chris Harris (safety)|Chris Harris]]
|-
| [[Bob Sanders]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | FS || [[Danieal Manning]]
|}

==Officials==
*'''Referee:''' [[Tony Corrente]] #99 (first Super Bowl)
*'''Umpire:''' [[Carl Paganelli]] #124 (second Super Bowl, also XXXIX, XLVI and XLVIII)
*'''Head linesman:''' [[George Hayward (linesman)|George Hayward]] #54 (first Super Bowl)
*'''Line judge:''' [[Ron Marinucci]] #107 (first Super Bowl)
*'''Field judge:''' [[Jim Saracino]] #58 (first Super Bowl)
*'''Side judge:''' [[John Parry (American football official)|John Parry]] #132 (first Super Bowl, also XLVI and LIII as referee)
*'''Back judge:''' [[Perry Paganelli]] #46 (first Super Bowl, also LII)
*'''Alternate referee:''' [[Jeff Triplette]] #42 
*'''Alternate umpire:''' [[Butch Hannah]] #40
*'''Alternate line judge:''' [[Carl Johnson (referee)|Carl Johnson]] #101
*'''Alternate field judge:''' [[Buddy Horton]] #82
*'''Alternate back judge:''' [[Richard Reels]] #83

==Controversies prohibiting fan parties and presentations==

===Prohibiting tailgating===
The NFL upset many fans by banning the traditional practice of [[tailgate party|tailgating]] at Super Bowl XLI. Originally, spokesmen for Dolphin Stadium announced that tailgating would be permitted as usual. However, the NFL quickly contradicted this statement, announcing an NFL owner-imposed ban on all tailgating and prohibiting non-ticketed fans within a two-block-radius of the stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/super_bowl_xli/MI38526/|title=NFL Officials Ban Tailgating at Super Bowl XLI|publisher=WSVN.com|date=January 29, 2007|access-date=January 30, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070202053004/http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/super_bowl_xli/MI38526/ |archive-date = February 2, 2007}}</ref>

===Prohibiting church display===
The NFL upset a large number of fans by threatening churches with lawsuits if they had Super Bowl parties. National Football League assistant [[Lawyer|counsel]] Rachel L. Margolies sent a letter to the [[Fall Creek Place, Indianapolis|Fall Creek]] [[Baptists|Baptist Church]] in [[Indianapolis]], ordering the church to cancel its party and remove the trademarked Super Bowl name from its website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theindychannel.com/sports/10931886/detail.html|title="church": Indy Church Ignores NFL, Shows Game Despite Warning|publisher=[[WRTV]]|date=February 1, 2007|access-date=December 28, 2007|archive-date=January 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131201249/http://www.theindychannel.com/sports/10931886/detail.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> She said that the church could not use the words "Super Bowl" as it violates trademark law, could not charge admission as that violates [[copyright]] law, could not use its projection screen (only one television could be used and it could not be over 55&nbsp;inches), and could not "promote a message" in connection with the game. Regarding the last point, the Fall Creek Baptist church planned to also show an extra video to highlight the Christian testimonies of Colts coach Tony Dungy and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith. "While this may be a noble message", Rachel L. Margolies wrote, "we are consistent in refusing the use of our game broadcasts in connection with events that promote a message, no matter the content."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theindychannel.com/sports/10902206/detail.html|title="NFLchurch": NFL Defends Stance Against Church's Super Bowl Plan|publisher=[[WRTV]]|date=February 1, 2007|access-date=December 28, 2007|archive-date=February 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206065500/http://www.theindychannel.com/sports/10902206/detail.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Sports bar]]s nationwide were allowed to show the game, as were businesses that televised sports as part of their everyday operations because they did not charge admission and they left the message the NFL intended intact.

''[[The Indianapolis Star]]'' picked up the story, and soon pastors across the U.S. were working to cancel their parties. Immediately the NFL received a backlash of bad publicity, with indignant football fans in constant sarcasm (akin to rules imposed about on-field behavior i.e. taunting opposition teams) referring to the NFL as the "No Fun League."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.about.com/b/2007/02/01/nfl-strikes-down-church-party.htm|title="NoFun": NFL Strikes Down Church Party|publisher=[[About.com]]|date=February 1, 2007|access-date=December 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611000502/http://football.about.com/b/2007/02/01/nfl-strikes-down-church-party.htm|archive-date=June 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> For example, the enforcement of this policy earned the [[National Football League|NFL]] a "Worst Person in the World" silver on the edition of February 2, 2007, of ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/16989424|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104140224/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16989424/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2013|title="Worst": Less casualties or fuzzy math|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=February 5, 2007|access-date=February 10, 2007|first=Keith|last=Olbermann|author-link=Keith Olbermann}}</ref>

After a long series of bad press, the NFL issued a written statement clarifying their policy, saying that they did not object to churches hosting Super Bowl parties so long as they did not charge admission and showed the game on "a television of the type commonly used at home". This statement did not attempt to forbid coordination of any other message with the game, something typically done by churches, nor did it attempt to forbid the use of the term "Super Bowl."<ref>{{cite news|title=No sanctuary for Super Bowl flock: Churches scramble to cancel parties after an NFL warning|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 3, 2007|author=Stephanie Simon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2007 |title=NFL warns churches to abide by Super Bowl party guidelines |url=http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9971155 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205084710/http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9971155 |archive-date=February 5, 2007 |access-date=February 6, 2007 |website=CBS Sportsline}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite news |last=Siegel |first=Alan |date=January 29, 2020 |title=The Oral History of Prince's Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2020/1/29/21112539/prince-halftime-show-oral-history-super-bowl-xli |access-date=October 4, 2023 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Super Bowl XLI}}
* {{YouTube|id=pAsarBgakuc|title=Super Bowl XLI: NFL Full Game}}
*[http://www.superbowl.com Official Super Bowl website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090213155803/http://www.southfloridasuperbowl.com/ Host committee website]
*[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200702040chi.htm Super Bowl XLI Box Score] at [[Pro Football Reference]]

{{Super Bowl}}
{{Super Bowl XLI}}
{{Indianapolis Colts}}
{{Chicago Bears}}
{{2006 NFL season by team}}
{{NFLC-SuperBowl}}
{{NFL on CBS}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Super Bowl 041}}
[[Category:2006 NFL season]]
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