John Biever: A Legacy of 60 Consecutive Super Bowls
Photographer John Biever has concluded his coverage of 60 consecutive Super Bowls, marking a career milestone that began with Super Bowl I in 1967. His final event was Super Bowl LX, held on February 8 at Levi's Stadium in California, which featured a game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Biever's extensive career encompassed work for organizations including Sports Illustrated, NFL Properties, and NFL Photos.
Early Career and Influences
John Biever's interest in photography developed at a young age, influenced by his father, Vern Biever, who started as the Green Bay Packers team photographer in 1941. During the Packers' dynasty years in the 1960s, Biever utilized professional equipment provided by his father when he was 14.
In 1965, a black-and-white photograph by Biever of Packers quarterback Bart Starr was published in Look magazine.
At the age of 15, Biever photographed Super Bowl I, held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1967, which featured the Green Bay Packers against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He reported encountering Bob Hope on the sideline during the game. Biever collaborated with his father for the first 35 Super Bowls.
Significant Photographs and Milestones
Throughout his career, Biever captured numerous pivotal moments in professional football history. Among his notable works are:
- Super Bowl I (1967): A black-and-white image of Vince Lombardi running off the field after the Packers' victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Another image from this game features Max McGee scoring the first touchdown in Super Bowl history.
- 1967 NFL Championship (Ice Bowl): Biever photographed Bart Starr scoring the game-winning touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. This black-and-white image, taken from the end zone, has been widely recognized.
- Super Bowl III (1969): An image of New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath celebrating his team's victory over the Baltimore Colts. This moment was highlighted as the first AFL victory, preceding the NFL-AFL merger.
- Super Bowl XI (1977): A photograph depicting John Madden being carried off the field after his Oakland Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings.
- Super Bowl LV (2021): A picture capturing Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers entering the field before their win against the Kansas City Chiefs. This photograph was taken in the context of the COVID-19 Super Bowl, which involved restricted photographer access.
- Super Bowl LVII (2023): This photograph features Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes avoiding a sack during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, with Travis Kelce in the foreground.
Biever photographed 30 Super Bowls for Sports Illustrated magazine and continued his work for the NFL through NFL Properties and NFL Photos, concluding with his 60th Super Bowl.