Dallas tied the San Francisco 49ers for the most Super Bowl wins by a team (5) and became the first to win three Super Bowls in four years. This game was the third meeting between the Cowboys and Steelers in a Super Bowl (after Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII), which is currently the most between the two combatants. For Pittsburgh, it was their first Super Bowl loss in team history after winning four in the 1970s.
Dallas' Larry Brown became the first cornerback to be named Super Bowl MVP, recording two interceptions and returning them for a total of 77 yards. The Cowboys sealed the victory by converting Brown's interceptions into 2 touchdowns.
NFL owners voted to award Super Bowl XXX to Tempe, Arizona during their March 23, 1993 meeting. Super Bowl XXVII was originally chosen to be held in Tempe. But the NFL yanked the game away from Arizona after the league joined a massive, nationwide tourist boycott by various groups to protest the state's refusal to recognize Martin Luther King Day. After Arizona finally adopted the federal holiday in 1992, the NFL started to consider Tempe again.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys entered the 1995 regular season attempting to win 3 out of the last 4 Super Bowls. They had previously won Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII but their chance of a "three-peat" (winning three consecutive championships) was thwarted when they lost the NFC Championship Game to the San Francisco 49ers, the eventual Super Bowl XXIX winners.
After taking over the Cowboys in 1989, team owner/general manager Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson rebuilt the team into a Super Bowl contender with young talent. But both men had huge egos that conflicted with each other. Both had different ideas on the future personnel plans for the Cowboys and both wanted equal credit for the team's recent success. As a result, Johnson eventually left the team after their XXVIII win and was replaced by former University of Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer, who had one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history with a mark of .837.
In 1995, the Cowboys finished with a 12-4 regular season record, the best in the NFC. Pro Bowl quarterback Troy Aikman finished the regular season completing 280 out of 432 passes for 3,304 yards and 16 touchdowns, with only 7 interceptions. Pro Bowl running back Emmitt Smith won his fourth league rushing crown in his career with 1,773 yards, and broke a league single-season record with 25 rushing touchdowns. Smith was also a reliable receiver out of the backfield, recording a career high 62 receptions for 375 yards. Pro Bowl wide receiver Michael Irvin led the team in receiving with 111 catches for 1,603 yards and 10 touchdowns. Pro Bowl tight end Jay Novacek also had 62 receptions for 705 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dallas' offensive line was led by Pro Bowlers Larry Allen, Ray Donaldson, Nate Newton and Mark Tuinei.
Dallas' major acquisition before the season was 4-time Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders. However, Sanders only played 9 regular season games for the Cowboys in 1995 due to injuries, and thus only recorded 24 tackles and 2 interceptions for 34 yards. However, defensive back Darren Woodson was named to the Pro Bowl with 89 tackles and 2 interceptions for 46 return yards and a touchdown. defensive back Larry Brown led the team in interceptions with 6 for 124 return yards and 2 touchdowns. Pro Bowl defensive lineman Charles Haley led the team in sacks with 10.5. Safety Brock Marion recorded 6 interceptions, returning them for 40 yards and a touchdown
Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XXX was the first time that the Steelers advanced to the league championship game under head coach Bill Cowher. Cowher took over the team in 1992 after longtime head coach Chuck Noll retired after a 23-year tenure and leading the team to 4 Super Bowl wins. During Cowher's first year, the Steelers captured the #1 AFC playoff Seed with an 11-5 regular season record, but were eliminated in their first playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, 24-3. Cowher then led the Steelers into the playoffs in 1993 and 1994 but were also eliminated, including a 17-13 upset loss to the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game.
In 1995, the Steelers finished with 11-5 record, the second best in the AFC. Their offense was led by quarterback Neil O'Donnell, who completed 246 out of 416 passes for 2,970 yards and 17 touchdowns, with only 7 interceptions. Pro Bowl wide receiver Yancey Thigpen was the team's leading receiver with 85 receptions for 1,307 yards and 5 touchdowns. Other contributors in the passing game included wide receivers Andre Hastings (48 catches for 502 yards and 1 touchdown) and Ernie Mills (39 receptions for 679 yards and 8 touchdowns). The Steelers rushing attack was led by Erric Pegram, who recorded 813 yards and 5 touchdowns, and Bam Morris, who had 559 yards and 9 touchdowns. On special teams, kicker Norm Johnson led the NFL in both field goals made (34) and field goals attempted (41), while also successfully making all 39 of his extra point attempts.
The 1995 Pittsburgh defense ranked second in the league in total yards allowed (4,833). Pro Bowl linebacker Kevin Greene led the team with 9 sacks, while Pro Bowl linebacker Greg Lloyd led the team with 86 tackles. The secondary was led by Pro Bowl defensive backs Carnell Lake and Rod Woodson.
The Cowboys first defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 30-11. The score was tied 3-3 into the second quarter until Dallas scored 27 unanswered points to put the game out of reach. First, Sanders scored a 21-yard touchdown on an end around play. Smith then capped of a 79-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run before halftime. Kicker Chris Boniol later scored two field goals in the third quarter, and Aikman completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Irvin in the final period, giving a commanding 30-3 lead. Meanwhile, Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham was limited to just 11 of 26 completions for 161 yards and no touchdowns, with 1 interception. Philadelphia could only score a single field goal and Cunningham's meaningless 4-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
Dallas then advanced to their fourth consecutive NFC Championship Game, but the first one not against the San Francisco 49ers. Instead, the Cowboys faced the Green Bay Packers, who had eliminated the 49ers in the other NFC Divisional Playoff Game. Dallas jumped to an early 14-3 lead with a pair of first quarter touchdown passes from Aikman to Irvin. But Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw 2 touchdowns to take a 17-14 lead midway through the second quarter: a 73-yard strike to wide receiver Robert Brooks and a 24-yard pass to tight end Keith Jackson. Dallas stormed right back with a Boniol field goal, and a record 99-yard drive to score on Smith's 1-yard touchdown run, giving them 24-17 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Green Bay regained the lead with a field goal and another touchdown pass from Favre to Brooks. But Dallas scored two unanswered touchdowns in the final period to put the game away. A 90-yard drive was capped with Smith's second touchdown run. Then on the Green Bay's ensuing drive, Brown intercepted a pass from Favre and returned it 28 yards to set up Smith's third touchdown run. Smith finished the game with 150 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, while also catching 2 passes for 17 yards. Aikman threw for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns, with no interceptions. Irvin caught 7 passes for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns.
For the Steelers, they started their playoff run with a 40-21 win over the Buffalo Bills. Pittsburgh dominated the Bills right from the start, building up a 23-7 halftime lead. Buffalo managed to score 2 touchdowns in the second half, but Morris' two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter ended any thoughts of a Bills comeback. The Steelers defense limited Buffalo's future hall of fame quarterback Jim Kelly to just 135 passing yards and 1 touchdown, while intercepting him 3 times. Bills running back Thurman Thomas, who had rushed for 158 yards and caught 3 passes for 42 yards in Buffalo's wild card playoff win over the Miami Dolphins, was held to just 46 rushing yards and 12 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Morris rushed for 106 yards 2 touchdowns, while kicker Norm Johnson scored 4 field goals.
Pittsburg then narrowly defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 20-16, to advance to their first Super Bowl since the 1979 season. O'Donnell's 5-yard touchdown pass to Kordell Stewart in the second quarter gave Pittsburgh a 13-6 halftime lead. But after the teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, Indianapolis quarterback Jim Harbaugh threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Floyd Turner to take a 16-13 lead with 3:04 left in the game. Pittsburgh then took the ensuing kickoff and drove 67 yards to score the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run by Morris with 1:34 left. However, the Colts responded by driving to the Steelers 29-yard line, and on the game's final play, Harbuagh threw a hail mary pass intended for wide receiver Aaron Bailey in the end zone. Bailey attempted to make a diving catch, but the pass was ruled incomplete. Although the instant replay rules were not in effect during this season to potentially overturn the call, television replays of the play were still inconclusive as to whether Bailey actually made the catch.
Actress and singer Vanessa Williams later sang the national anthem.
To honor the 30th Super Bowl game, several past Super Bowl MVPs joined the coin toss ceremony. Joe Montana, MVP of Super Bowls XVI, XIX, and XXIV, tossed the coin.
Halftime show
Diana Ross performed during the halftime show, titled "Take Me Higher: A Celebration of 30 years of the Super Bowl". The show featured a number of her songs along with pyrotechnics, special effects and stadium card stunts. The show ended with Ross singing "Take Me Higher" from her 1995 album of the same name, and then she was taken from the field in a helicopter.
Game summary
Dallas wide receiver Kevin Williams returned the opening kickoff 18 yards to the 29-yard line. From there, Troy Aikman completed a 20-yard pass on second down to wide receiver Michael Irvin, followed by running back Emmitt Smith's 23-yard gain to advance to the Pittsburgh 28-yard line. However on third down and eight from the 26-yard line, Williams' could only gain 2 yards on a reverse play, forcing Dallas to settle for kicker Chris Boniol's 42-yard field goal.
On their first possession of the game, the Steelers were forced to punt after 3 plays. Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders returned the punt 11 yards to the 25-yard line. After 2 running plays by Smith, Aikman completed an 11-yard pass to Irvin, and then followed it up with a 47-yard completion to Sanders, who was brought in on offense as an extra receiver. Four plays later, Aikman completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jay Novacek, increasing Dallas' lead to 10-0.
The Steelers managed to advance to the Dallas 36-yard line on their ensuing drive. However, a bad snap from center Dermontti Dawson in the shotgun formation sailed over quarterback Neil O'Donnell's head. O'Donnell managed to recover the fumble, but the Steelers were unable to recover from the 13-yard loss and had to punt 2 plays later.
After the punt, Dallas drove to the Steelers 24-yard line. However, a pass interference penalty on Irvin nullified his 24-yard touchdown reception, and moved the ball back to the 34-yard line. On the next play, Aikman completed a 19-yard pass to Novacek, bringing up second down and 1 to go from the 15-yard line. However, the Steelers defense stopped Smith for no gain on the next play, and then tackled him for a 3-yard loss on third down. Boniol then kicked a 35-yard field goal, increasing Dallas' lead to 13-0.
After an exchange of punts, Steelers wide receiver Andre Hastings returned John Jett's punt 11 yards to the Pittsburgh 46-yard line. After throwing an incomplete pass, Dallas linebacker Charles Haley sacked O'Donnell for a 10-yard loss, forcing a 3rd down and 20. But Pittsburgh managed to overcome the situation with O'Donnell's 19-yard completion to Hastings on the next play, and then a 3-yard fourth down run by wide receiver/backup quarterback Kordell Stewart to gain the first down. Nine plays later, O'Donnell threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Yancy Thigpen with just 13 seconds left in the half, cutting Pittsburgh's deficit to 13-7.
The third quarter began with another exchange of punts. Afterwards, the Steelers advanced the ball to their own 48-yard line. But then on third down, Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown intercepted O'Donnell's pass at the Dallas 38-yard line and returned it 44 yards to the Pittsburgh 18-yard line. Aikman then completed a 17-yard pass to Irvin to reach the 1-yard line, and then Smith scored on a 1-yard touchdown to increase Dallas' lead, 20-7.
On their next drive, the Steelers found themselves with a second down and 2 situation on their own 47-yard line. However, they turned the ball over on downs after running back Bam Morris was tackled for no gain on 3 consecutive running plays: a draw play to the left, a run to the left, and one to the middle.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, their defense forced Dallas into a three-and-out. After a 6-yard run by Smith and an incompletion, Aikman's third down pass was broken up by defensive back Rod Woodson, forcing the Cowboys to punt.
On their next drive, the Steelers marched from their own 20-yard line to the Dallas 19. But Dallas defensive end Tony Tolbert sacked O'Donnell on third down for a 9-yard loss, forcing Pittsburgh to settle for kicker Norm Johnson's 46-yard field goal with 11:20 left in the game, cutting the score to 20-10. Then on the ensuing kickoff, they surprised the Cowboys by making a successful onside kick in which defensive back Deon Figures recovered the ball for Pittsburgh at their own 47-yard line. O'Donnell then started out the drive with a pair of completions to Hastings for 23 total yards. His next pass went to wide receiver Ernie Mills for 7 yards. Then Morris ran for 5 yards and caught a pass for a 6-yard gain at the Dallas 11-yard line. Three plays later, Morris scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, cutting Pittsburgh's deficit to 20-17.
With the aid of linebacker Levon Kirkland's 8-yard sack on Aikman, the Cowboys were forced to punt on their next drive and Pittsburgh regained possession of the ball at their own 32-yard line with 4:15 remaining. But on second down, Brown intercepted another pass by O'Donnell and returned it 33 yards to the Steelers' 6-yard line.
Two plays later, Smith scored another touchdown with 3:43 left in the game, increasing the Cowboys lead 27-17. The Steelers responded on their ensuing possession by driving to Dallas 40-yard line, but then O'Donnell threw 4 consecutive incompletions, turning the ball over on downs with 1:42 left in the game. After that, Dallas managed to run out most of the clock with 3 quarterback kneels and an intentional delay of the game penalty before punting the ball back to the Steelers. Pittsburgh regained possession of the ball with three seconds remaining, but O'Donnell's pass was intercepted by Dallas safety Brock Marion on the final play of the game.
The Steelers had outgained the Cowboys in total yards, 310-254, had 25 first downs compared to the Cowboys 15, and limited Dallas' powerful running attack to just 56 yards. However, they were unable to overcome O'Donnell's interceptions, which led to two Cowboys touchdowns. The irony of the game was that O'Donnell entered Super Bowl XXX as the NFL's career leader in fewest interceptions per pass attempt.
Aikman finished the game with 15 out of 23 completions for 209 yards and a touchdown. Smith was the Cowboys' leading rusher with 49 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Irvin was Dallas' top receiver with 5 catches for 76 yards. Novacek caught 5 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Defensive end Chad Hennings recorded 2 sacks. Although his 3 interceptions were costly, O'Donnell recorded 28 of 49 completions for 239 yards and a touchdown. Morris was the top rusher of the game with 73 yards and a touchdown, and caught 3 passes for 18 yards. Hastings was the top receiver of the game with 10 receptions for 98 yards, and returned 2 punts for 18 yards. Mills caught 8 passes for 78 yards and gained 79 yards on 4 kickoff returns, giving him 157 total yards.
Scoring summary
DAL- FG Boniol 42
DAL- Novacek 3 pass from Aikman (Boniol kick)
DAL- FG Boniol 35
PIT- Thigpen 6 pass from O'Donnell (N. Johnson kick)
Some weeks before Super Bowl XXX, it was found that some proxy servers were blocking the web site for the event. The reason: The game's Roman numeral (XXX) is usually associated with pornography.
The game was also the final NFL broadcast for CBS Radio's Jack Buck, who announced the game with his longtime partner Hank Stram.
This was the first time two teams have met three times in a Super Bowl. The Cowboys and Steelers previously met for Super Bowls X and XIII with Pittsburgh winning both of them.
This was the Cowboys 8th appearance in the Super Bowl, the most of any franchise.
Charles Haley became the first player to win 5 Super Bowls after winning two with San Francisco (XXIII and XXIV) and two previously with Dallas (XXVII and XXVIII).
Troy Aikman became just the third quarterback to win three Super Bowls. Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana who each won four Super Bowls.
Emmitt Smith became just the fifth player to score a touchdown in three different Super Bowls. He joined Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, Thurman Thomas and Jerry Rice. He also became the first player to rush for two touchdowns in two different Super Bowls. He also scored two in Super Bowl XXVIII.
Winning this game gave the Cowboys bragging rights as the best-ever NFL team over a four-year span. (Three Super Bowl wins in four years, and a combined regular & postseason record over that time of 59 wins and just 16 losses.)
Larry Brown became the first cornerback to be named Super Bowl MVP, and the second defensive back after Jake Scott in Super Bowl VII to win the award.
This was the first Super Bowl in which the Vince Lombardi Trophy was given to the owner of the winning team in an on-field ceremony after the game, a practice which has been followed ever since.
A portion of this Super Bowl was predicted in the episode "All Americans" of 'Quantum Leap' in which Al (Dean Stockwell) states that the Steelers were down by 3 points in the 4th Quarter.
