On This Day in Sports: February 6, 2011
On February 6, 2011, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–25 in Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Green Bay entered as a wild-card team that had won three straight road playoff games. Aaron Rodgers immediately rewarded that run of form, throwing first-half touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings while the Packers’ defense turned an interception into points.
Nick Collins supplied the game’s first major swing when he intercepted Ben Roethlisberger and returned the ball 37 yards for a touchdown. Green Bay built a 21–3 lead, but Pittsburgh responded before halftime and kept pushing after the break. The Packers also lost key players to injuries, including veteran defensive back Charles Woodson, forcing younger reserves into important roles against an offense experienced in championship games.
Pittsburgh cut the margin to 21–17 and later pulled within three points at 28–25. The decisive defensive play came early in the fourth quarter, when Clay Matthews forced Rashard Mendenhall to fumble and Desmond Bishop recovered. Rodgers converted the takeaway into a touchdown drive capped by his second scoring pass to Jennings. Mason Crosby’s late field goal then forced Pittsburgh to pursue a touchdown on its final possession.
Green Bay’s defense held, and the victory delivered the franchise its fourth Super Bowl championship and thirteenth NFL title overall. Rodgers completed 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, earning game MVP honors. The win established him as a championship quarterback and returned the Lombardi Trophy—named for Green Bay’s defining coach—to the league’s smallest market after a postseason built on resilience away from home.
Green Bay qualified as the NFC’s sixth seed and won three road playoff games to reach the Super Bowl.
Collins’s 37-yard interception return gave the Packers a 14–0 first-quarter lead.
Matthews forced Mendenhall’s fourth-quarter fumble with Pittsburgh threatening to take control.
The Steelers rallied from an 18-point deficit but never possessed the ball with a chance to take the lead.
Rodgers threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
The championship was Green Bay’s fourth Super Bowl win and thirteenth league title.
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