Editing Super Bowl XXXVI (section)

==Background==

===Teams===

====St. Louis Rams====
{{main|2001 St. Louis Rams season}}

After the Rams’ 1999 season that had culminated in a gripping victory over the Tennessee Titans in [[Super Bowl XXXIV]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXXIV - St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans - January 30th, 2000 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001300oti.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> their offense again dominated the league in 2000, leading the NFL in passing, scoring, and total yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2000/index.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> However, the Rams had one of the worst defenses in the league, ranking last in points allowed (471).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2000/opp.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> This, along with injury problems and a coaching change from championship-winning coach [[Dick Vermeil]] – who resigned just 48 hours after the game – to his offensive coordinator [[Mike Martz]], caused the Rams to slip to a 10–6 record in [[2000 St. Louis Rams season|2000]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000 St. Louis Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/2000.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The season ended with a disappointing loss to the [[2000 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] in the wild card round of the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - St. Louis Rams at New Orleans Saints - December 30th, 2000 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200012300nor.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

After signing several new defensive players in the off-season, and hiring new defensive coordinator [[Lovie Smith]], the Rams finished the 2001 season with the NFL's best regular season record at 14–2. They led the league in both total offensive yards (6,930) and scoring (503).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/index.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> This was the Rams' third consecutive season with over 500 points, an NFL record. On defense, they only allowed 271 points, improving their 31st ranking in 2000 to 7th in 2001.

The Rams' 1999–2001 offense, nicknamed "[[The Greatest Show on Turf]]", is widely considered one of the best in NFL history. The team possessed an incredible amount of offensive talent at nearly every position. In 2001, quarterback [[Kurt Warner]] had the best season of his career and was awarded his second and final [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|NFL Most Valuable Player Award]] after throwing for 4,830 yards and 36 touchdowns, but he also threw 22 interceptions, and earned a league high 101.4 [[passer rating]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AP NFL Most Valuable Player Winners |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/ap-nfl-mvp-award.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kurt Warner 2001 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WarnKu00/gamelog/2001/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Wide receivers [[Torry Holt]] and [[Isaac Bruce]] each amassed over 1,100 receiving yards, combining for 142 receptions, 2,469 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Wide receiver [[Ricky Proehl]] caught 40 passes for 563 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tight end [[Ernie Conwell]] caught 38 passes for 431 yards and 4 touchdowns. Wide receiver [[Az-Zahir Hakim]] caught 39 passes for 374 yards, and added another 333 yards returning punts.

Halfback [[Marshall Faulk]] won [[AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award|NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award]] for the third year in a row in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AP Offensive Player of the Year Winners |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/ap-offensive-player-of-the-year.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He rushed for 1,382 yards, caught 83 passes for 765 yards, scored 21 touchdowns, and became the first NFL player ever to gain more than 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards for 4 consecutive seasons. Running back [[Trung Canidate]] was also a major contributor, rushing for 441 yards, catching 17 passes for 154 yards, returning kickoffs for 748 yards, and scoring 6 touchdowns. The Rams offensive line was led by guard [[Adam Timmerman]] and offensive tackle [[Orlando Pace]], who was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] for the third consecutive year.

The Rams' defense ranked third in the league in fewest yards allowed (4,733).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/opp.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The line was anchored by Pro Bowl defensive end [[Leonard Little]], who led the team with 14.5 sacks and recovered a fumble, and defensive end [[Grant Wistrom]], who recorded 9 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery. The Rams linebackers unit was led by [[London Fletcher]], who had 4.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles. St. Louis also had an outstanding secondary, led by [[Dré Bly]] (6 interceptions, 150 return yards, and 2 touchdowns), Pro Bowl selection [[Aeneas Williams]] (4 interceptions, 69 return yards, 2 touchdowns), and [[Dexter McCleon]] (4 interceptions, 66 yards).

The Rams also bested the Patriots in a nationally televised ESPN Sunday night game on November 18 at Foxboro Stadium. Although the Patriots jumped out to an early lead, a critical turnover before the end of the first half that led to a Rams score proved costly. In the second half, the Rams wore New England down and won 24–17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots - November 18th, 2001 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111180nwe.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Rams lost four of their defensive players with injuries. The Patriots' physical play led Rams coach [[Mike Martz]] to say after the game that the Patriots were "a Super Bowl–caliber team."<ref>[https://archive.today/20120720063620/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/previews/2002/02/03/patriots_rams/ SportsIllustrated.CNN.com]; Accessed June 17, 2007.</ref>

====New England Patriots====
{{main|2001 New England Patriots season}}

The Patriots' chances for a Super Bowl appearance seemed bleak shortly after the season had begun. Before the season started, quarterbacks coach [[Dick Rehbein]] died of a heart attack at age 45.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2001 |title=Patriots quarterback coach dies of heart failure |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2001/08/07/patriots-quarterback-coach-dies-heart/50352498007/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=New Bedford Standard-Times|agency=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref> The Patriots, coached by [[Bill Belichick]], lost their first two games, and in their second loss at home to the [[2001 New York Jets season|New York Jets]], starting quarterback [[Drew Bledsoe]] suffered a sheared blood vessel on a hit by Jets linebacker [[Mo Lewis]] that caused him to miss several weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New England Patriots 2001 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/2001/gamelog/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clayton |first=John |date=September 27, 2001 |title=Bledsoe: Lewis' hit was 'clean' |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/clayton_john/1256146.html |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> His replacement was second-year quarterback [[Tom Brady]], a sixth-round draft pick who had thrown only three passes in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tom Brady 2000 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradTo00/gamelog/2000/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Also, midway through the season, wide receiver [[Terry Glenn]], the team's leading receiver in 2000, was benched due to off-the-field problems. He had been suspended the first four games for failing a drug test and played in just four more before injuries and disputes with the coaching staff caused Belichick to deactivate him for good.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/16/sports/pro-football-glenn-suspended-by-patriots.html|title=PRO FOOTBALL; Glenn Suspended by Patriots| newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|date=August 16, 2001|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mortensen |first=Chris  |author-link=Chris Mortensen |date=November 1, 2001 |title=Sources: Terry Glenn could be done for season |url=http://www.espn.com/chrismortensen/s/2001/1101/1272022.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

[[File:American-football.jpg|thumb|The Patriots on the road at [[2001 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina]] on January 6, 2002]]
Upon assuming the role of starting quarterback, Brady enjoyed immediate success in the regular season, leading New England to a 44–13 win over the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in his first start and eventually to an 11–5 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - September 30th, 2001 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200109300nwe.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 2,843 yards and 18 touchdowns with 12 interceptions and was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tom Brady 2001 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradTo00/gamelog/2001/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Veteran Pro Bowl wide receiver [[Troy Brown]] was the main receiving threat, recording 101 receptions for 1,199 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also adding another 413 yards and 2 touchdowns returning punts.  His 14.2 yards per punt return average led the NFL. Wide receiver [[David Patten]] also was productive, catching 51 passes for 749 yards and 4 touchdowns. Running back [[Antowain Smith]] provided the team with a stable running game, rushing for 1,157 yards, catching 19 passes for 192 yards, and scoring 13 touchdowns.

New England was outstanding on defense as well. Up front, linemen [[Bobby Hamilton (American football)|Bobby Hamilton]] (7 sacks, 1 fumble recovery) and rookie [[Richard Seymour]] excelled at pressuring quarterbacks and stuffing the run. Behind them, the Patriots had three outstanding linebackers: [[Mike Vrabel]] (2 interceptions, 3 sacks), [[Willie McGinest]] (5 sacks), and [[Tedy Bruschi]] (2 interceptions). The secondary also featured outstanding talent such as defensive back [[Otis Smith (American football)|Otis Smith]], who led the team with five interceptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Cornerback [[Ty Law]] intercepted three passes, returning them for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Safety [[Lawyer Milloy]] had two interceptions during the season, and was selected along with Law to represent the New England defense in the Pro Bowl. The defense ended the season ranked sixth in scoring, but 24th in total yards allowed. Following their loss to the Rams at home, the Patriots dropped to 5–5, but did not lose again the rest of the season to clinch a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs.

Coincidentally, this was the third straight time that the New England Patriots' Super Bowl appearance would be at the Superdome, joining the [[Dallas Cowboys]] as the only teams to play three different Super Bowls in one stadium; the Cowboys had played three at the old [[Miami Orange Bowl]] in the 1970s. In their maiden Super Bowl appearance in [[Super Bowl XX]] (1986), the Patriots lost 46–10 – the biggest margin of victory in a Super Bowl to that point – to a [[Chicago Bears]] team coached by [[Mike Ditka]] and including [[Mike Singletary]] and [[Walter Payton]]. The Patriots returned to the Superdome 11 years later for [[Super Bowl XXXI]] but lost 35–21 to a [[Green Bay Packers]] team including [[Brett Favre]], [[Reggie White]] and [[Desmond Howard]] and coached by [[Mike Holmgren]]. Milloy, Law, Vinatieri, Bledsoe, McGinest, Bruschi, and Otis Smith were among the players who had played in that game while Belichick had been assistant head coach to [[Bill Parcells]]. The Patriots did not appear in a Super Bowl hosted by another city until the team played in [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]] two years later in [[Houston|Houston, Texas]].

===Playoffs===
{{main|2001–02 NFL playoffs}}

The Rams began their postseason run with a 45–17 win over the [[2001 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] in the NFC divisional round. Expected to be a close shootout between Warner and Packers quarterback [[Brett Favre]], the Rams defense dominated the Packers by intercepting a playoff record 6 passes from Favre and returning 3 of them for touchdowns. The Rams offense also racked up 24 points on 2 touchdown passes by Warner, a touchdown run by Faulk, and a field goal by [[Jeff Wilkins]], helping St. Louis put the game away by the end of the third quarter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Green Bay Packers at St. Louis Rams - January 20th, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201200ram.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

One week later, the Rams advanced to the Super Bowl with a 29–24 win over the [[2001 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] in the [[NFC Championship Game]]. Philadelphia managed to build a 17–13 halftime lead, but St. Louis scored 16 consecutive second half points (2 touchdown runs by Faulk and a Wilkins field goal) to earn the win, limiting the Eagles to only one touchdown pass in the second half. Warner finished the game with 22 of 33 pass completions for 212 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions, while Faulk rushed for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Philadelphia Eagles at St. Louis Rams - January 27th, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201270ram.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In the AFC Divisional Round, the Patriots defeated the [[2001 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] 16–13 during a raging [[New England]] snowstorm in the last game ever played at Foxboro Stadium. The signature moment of the game was a controversial ruling by referee [[Walt Coleman]] in the fourth quarter that caused this game to be commonly known as the "[[Tuck Rule Game]]." While the Patriots possessed the ball, trailing the Raiders 13–10 with under two minutes left in regulation and no time outs, Brady was sacked by defensive back [[Charles Woodson]], and appeared to fumble the ball. The fumble was recovered by Raiders linebacker [[Greg Biekert]], presumably ending the game with a Raiders victory. After reviewing the play using [[instant replay]], Coleman reversed the call on the field pursuant to the "[[Tuck rule (American football)|tuck rule]]", where a loose ball is ruled an incomplete pass if lost while "tucking" the ball. Most of the controversy centered on whether Brady was still trying to tuck the ball away when he lost control. Brady then led his team to the Raiders 27-yard line, where kicker [[Adam Vinatieri]] made a 45-yard field goal which barely cleared the crossbar to send the game into overtime. The Patriots won the toss in overtime and won on another Vinatieri field goal from 23 yards; per the overtime rules in place at that time. Oakland's offense never regained possession.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Oakland Raiders at New England Patriots - January 19th, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201190nwe.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[AFC Championship Game]], the Patriots traveled to [[Heinz Field]] to face the [[2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], who were coming off a 27–10 win over the previous season's Super Bowl champion [[2001 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]. New England scored first with a 55-yard punt return touchdown by Brown, but in the second quarter, Brady was knocked out of the game with a sprained ankle. He was replaced by Bledsoe in Bledsoe's first game action since being injured in September. Upon entering the game, Bledsoe quickly moved the Patriots down the field and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Patten to give the Patriots a 14–3 halftime lead. Early in the second half, the Steelers moved from their own 32 to the New England 16, where they lined up for a field goal by [[Kris Brown]]. However, [[Brandon Mitchell (defensive end)|Brandon Mitchell]] blocked the kick, Brown picked up the ball at the 40 and ran 11 yards before lateraling to [[Antwan Harris]], who took it 49 yards for a touchdown that made the score 21–3. But Pittsburgh scored two third-quarter touchdowns to make the score 21–17. The Patriots ended the comeback attempt by scoring a field goal in the fourth quarter and intercepting 2 passes from Steelers quarterback [[Kordell Stewart]] in the final 3 minutes of the game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 27th, 2002 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201270pit.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Host selection process===
NFL owners voted to award Super Bowl XXXVI to [[New Orleans]] during their October 28, 1998 meeting in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. Two cities made presentations, the other being [[San Diego]] ([[San Diego Stadium|Qualcomm Stadium]]).<ref name="TTT10-29-1998pg9">{{cite news|title=N.O. is awarded 2002 Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk/152460731/|newspaper=Alexandria Daily Town Talk|page=9|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 29, 1998|access-date=August 1, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> San Francisco ([[Candlestick Park]]) had planned to pursue XXXVI, but due to logistical complications, withdrew themselves from consideration, and switched their proposal to [[Super Bowl XXXVII|XXXVII]].<ref name="sfex10-16-1997pg18">{{cite news|title=2003 looking Super for S.F. tourism|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner/152394660/|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|first1=Gregory|last1=Lewis|first2=John|last2=Crumpacker|first3=Eric|last3=Brazil|page=18|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 16, 1997|access-date=July 31, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> With only two choices, the league set up a two-round voting system. A city would win if they received {{frac|3|4}} of the vote during the first round. If neither city won during the first round, the second round would revert to a simple majority. New Orleans won on the second ballot over San Diego in what was described as a "close vote".<ref name="hattam10-29-1998pg31">{{cite news|title=New Orleans to host 2002 Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american/152461167/|newspaper=The Hattiesburg American|first=Mary|last=Foster|page=31|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 29, 1998|access-date=August 1, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> This was the ninth time that New Orleans hosted the game, and fifth time it would be played in the [[Caesars Superdome|Superdome]].

Immediately after the vote, NFL commissioner [[Paul Tagliabue]] made an unexpected and largely unprecedented announcement that San Diego was the favorite to host the next available Super Bowl.<ref name="nctimes10-29-1998pg25">{{cite news|title=San Diego gets Super snub (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-county-times/152461657/|newspaper=North County Times|first=Zach|last=Burgess|page=25|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 29, 1998|access-date=August 1, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="nctimes10-29-1998pg29">{{cite news|title=San Diego gets Super snub (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-county-times/152461747/|newspaper=North County Times|first=Zach|last=Burgess|page=29|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 29, 1998|access-date=August 1, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> With [[San Francisco]] tentatively scheduled to host [[Super Bowl XXXVII|XXXVII]] in 2003, San Diego was thought likely to host [[Super Bowl XXXVIII|XXXVIII]] in 2004. However, the league took XXXVII away from San Francisco after plans for a new stadium fell through,<ref name="Sacbee03-18-1999pg29">{{cite news|title=NFL makes it official: S.F. loses Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee/152396745/|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|page=29|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 18, 1999|access-date=July 31, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> and the 2003 game ultimately went to San Diego.<ref name="OS05-27-1999">{{cite news|title=NFL – Owners Meeting|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8539127//|newspaper=[[The Orlando Sentinel]]|page=38|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 27, 1999|access-date=January 24, 2017}}{{Open access}}</ref>

===Effect of the September 11, 2001, attacks===
The [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks]] led the league to postpone its September 16 games and play them a week after the scheduled conclusion of the regular season. This caused the playoffs and Super Bowl to be delayed by one week. Rescheduling Super Bowl XXXVI from January 27 to February 3 proved extraordinarily difficult. In addition to rescheduling the game itself, all related events and activities had to be accommodated. This marked the first time in NFL history that the Super Bowl was played in February; all subsequent Super Bowls (excluding [[Super Bowl XXXVII|XXXVII]] in 2003) have been played in February. In turn, this and the games from [[Super Bowl XXXVIII|XXXVIII]] (2004) to [[Super Bowl LV|LV]] (2021) were to now be played on the first Sunday in February. The NFL expanded its season from 16 to 17 regular season games, and [[Super Bowl LVI|LVI]] (2022) became the first to be played on the second Sunday of the month.

Historically, the NFL made allowance for an open weekend between the [[National Football League playoffs|Conference Championship]] games and the [[Super Bowl]]. However, there was not one scheduled for 2001, due to the NFL's decision beginning in the 1999 season to move the opening week of games to the weekend after [[Labor Day]]. Because the date of the Super Bowl had been set through 2003, the bye week prior to the Super Bowl did not return until 2004.

The NFL and New Orleans officials worked diligently to put together a deal to reschedule the game. The league considered a number of options, including shortening the regular season, shortening the playoffs, condensing the three playoff rounds in two weeks, and moving the game to the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]] in [[Pasadena, California]]. It was eventually decided to make every effort to maintain a full regular season and playoff, and push the Super Bowl back to February 3. Additionally, due to the Super Bowl being moved back a week, the first weekend of [[New Orleans Mardi Gras]] parades rolled one week earlier than normal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2001 |title=Super Bowl Affects New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades |url=https://www.kplctv.com/story/496162/super-bowl-affects-new-orleans-mardi-gras-parades |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=www.kplctv.com |language=en}}</ref>

One of the most significant logistical challenges was accommodating the [[National Automobile Dealers Association]] (NADA) [[Convention (meeting)|Convention]], which was originally slated to occupy the Superdome on February 3. On October 3, 2001, the NFL announced its intentions to hold the game on February 3, even though no agreement had been reached with NADA. Several weeks later, the three parties came to an accord in which the NADA agreed to move its convention date to the original Super Bowl week in exchange for financial and other considerations, including promotional spots shown during selected regular season NFL games. This agreement permitted the NFL to move the game back to February 3, and allowed for a full standard playoff tournament.

{{External media|image1=[http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=hye8zxyxhn4nvkcmkg7w The original logo] for Super Bowl XXXVI}}<!--- It would be helpful if someone could make the original logo appear on Wikipedia instead of taking the user to an external link outside of Wikipedia --->
The original logo for Super Bowl XXXVI had a style that reflected the host city, and was distributed on some memorabilia items during 2001. However, after the 9/11 attacks, a new logo reflecting American patriotism was designed, featuring the shape of the [[48 contiguous states]] and the [[American flag]] colors of red, white, and blue. [[Rob Tornoe]] of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' noted that it had "become one of the most iconic logos in Super Bowl history".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/super-bowl-logo-design-history-20190131.html|title=What happened to the NFL's Super Bowl logo?|last=Tornoe|first=Rob|website=Inquirer.com|date=January 31, 2019 |access-date=February 3, 2020}}</ref>

[[Janet Jackson]] was originally scheduled to perform during the Halftime Show, but allowed U2 to perform to tribute the events of September 11 (Jackson would perform at the halftime show [[Super Bowl XXXVIII|two years later]]).<ref name="Halftime"/><ref name="Halftime1"/>

===Venue===
This was the final Super Bowl played on the first-generation [[AstroTurf]] surface. From 2000 to 2005, NFL stadiums phased out the short-pile AstroTurf in favor of natural [[grass]] or other, newer artificial surfaces which closely simulate grass, like [[FieldTurf]].

Prior to Super Bowl XXXVI, Superdome officials considered installing natural grass for the game. The proposed installation method was comparable to what had been used at the [[Pontiac Silverdome|Silverdome]] during the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], and at [[Giants Stadium]] from 2000 to 2002. The plan called for large trays of grass to be grown and cultivated outdoors, then brought inside the dome and placed on the field for the game. In the end, cost and quality concerns prompted stadium and league officials to abandon the project.

===Pregame notes===
The Rams entered as 14-point favorites. This was partly because Rams quarterback [[Kurt Warner]] statistically had his best year of his career, with a quarterback rating of 101.4, a 68.7 percent completion rate, and threw for 4,830 yards. Many had believed that the Patriots' [[Cinderella (sports)|Cinderella story]] was simply a fluke, especially after beating the veteran [[2001 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] in a [[Tuck Rule Game|controversial playoff game]] in which a recovered fumble by the Raiders was reversed by the [[Tuck rule (American football)|tuck rule]].

There had been speculation on whether longtime starter [[Drew Bledsoe]] might start the game. As stated above, Bledsoe replaced an injured Brady against the Steelers in the AFC Championship game. Eventually, though, Brady was named starter.

This Super Bowl also meant that Boston and St. Louis would play each other in the championship game or series of all four major North American sports leagues at least once, becoming the first time that that had happened between teams from two specific cities or regions. This was the eighth meeting between teams from Boston and St. Louis for a major professional sports championship overall. Previously, 
* In the [[National Hockey League|NHL]], the [[Boston Bruins|Bruins]] had swept the [[St. Louis Blues|Blues]] in the [[1970 Stanley Cup Finals]] with Game 4 being remembered for [[Bobby Orr]]'s Cup-winning overtime goal that sent him flying.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 NHL Stanley Cup Final: BOS vs. STL |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1970-boston-bruins-vs-st-louis-blues-stanley-cup-final.html |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Hockey-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* In the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]], the [[Boston Celtics|Celtics]] and [[St. Louis Hawks|Hawks]] had faced each other in the NBA Finals four times from {{nbafy|1957}} to {{nbafy|1961}}, with the Celtics winning three and the Hawks winning one.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA & ABA Champions |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* In [[Major League Baseball|MLB]], the [[St. Louis Cardinals|Cardinals]] had beaten the [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]] to win the [[1946 World Series|1946]] and [[1967 World Series]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1946 World Series - St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox (4-3) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1946_WS.shtml |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 World Series - St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox (4-3) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1967_WS.shtml |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Patriots, as the designated home team, wore their home nautical blue jerseys and silver pants, while the Rams donned their road white jerseys and New Century Gold pants.