A Brief History of the Super Bowl Gatorade Dump
Watching the Super Bowl is one of America's favorite annual traditions. But for the team that wins the game, most like to douse their coach in Gatorade on the sidelines to celebrate the big moment.
The Gatorade shower has become so popular for fans that some like to bet on what color will be poured on coaches. Check out the odds for this year's Super Bowl Gatorade color, as of Jan. 22 on Bovada:
• Lime/Green/Yellow: +225
• Orange: + 300
• Blue: +375
• Red: + 400
• Clear/Water: +400
• Purple: +1000
Tradition history
The legend of the Gatorade bath seems to have started at different times depending on who you ask, according to Rolling Stone. Some people claim it began with the Giants in October of 1984, while others say the team started it in October of 1985. In both instances, people seem to agree that the Giants drenched coach Bill Parcells in games against the Washington Redskins. The Bears also got in on the tradition early by pouring Gatorade on coach Mike Ditka on Nov. 25, 1984, per the Los Angeles Times.
According to Rolling Stone, Giants nose tackle Jim Burt was angry at head coach Bill Parcells and decided to drench his coach in the drink following their 37–13 victory over the Redskins in 1984. Burt pulled it off with help from teammate Harry Carson, who had a good relationship with Parcells. Burt figured Parcells wouldn't be as mad about the stunt if Carson was involved. Parcells took the Gatorade bath in stride, later saying, "It's fun. It's not all life and death."
Parcells went on to receive the first Super Bowl Gatorade shower in 1987, after the Giants defeated the Broncos 39–20. Carson put on a yellow security jacket as a disguise and snuck up behind Parcells to dump the drink on him. Since then, the tradition has gone on to become a permanent fixture in football and other sports' celebrations.
Here's a complete list of the Super Bowl Gatorade colors since Super Bowl XXXV, per Oddsshark.com:
• Super Bowl XXXV: Yellow, Ravens def. Giants
• Super Bowl XXXVI: None, Patriots def. Rams
• Super Bowl XXXVII: Purple, Buccaneers def. Raiders
• Super Bowl XXXVIII: None, Patriots def. Panthers
• Super Bowl XXXIX: Clear, Patriots def. Eagles
• Super Bowl XL: Clear, Steelers def. Seahawks
• Super Bowl XLI: Clear, Colts def. Bears
• Super Bowl XLII: Clear, Giants def. Patriots
• Super Bowl XLIII: Yellow, Steelers def. Cardinals
• Super Bowl XLIV: Orange, Saints def. Colts
• Super Bowl XLV: Orange, Packers def. Steelers
• Super Bowl XLVI: Purple, Giants def. Patriots
• Super Bowl XLVII: None, Ravens def. 49ers
• Super Bowl XLVIII: Orange, Seahawks def. Broncos
• Super Bowl XLVIX: Blue, Patriots def. Seahawks
• Super Bowl 50: Orange, Broncos def. Panthers
• Super Bowl LI: None, Patriots def. Falcons
• Super Bowl LII: Yellow, Eagles def. Patriots
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has won five Super Bowls and somehow managed to escape the Gatorade bath some years. Will he get doused or run away from the bucket this year if the Patriots win again?
The Rams and Patriots will face off in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, Feb. 3. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
