master-cooks | The History Of Betting On Gatorade Colors At The Super Bowl

The practice of betting on the color of Gatorade poured on the winning coach of the Super Bowl has become a unique and entertaining tradition, blending sports enthusiasm with the unpredictability of chance. This quirky betting option traces its roots back to the 1980s, when the Gatorade shower first gained popularity after the New York Giants doused their coach, Bill Parcells, following a victory. Over the years, the color of the Gatorade has become a lighthearted topic of speculation among fans and bettors alike, adding an extra layer of excitement to the big game. This form of prop bet is particularly appealing due to its whimsical nature and the fact that it is unrelated to the actual performance of the teams on the field. People place wagers on a spectrum of colors, such as orange, yellow, blue, or even clear, with odds fluctuating based on historical data and perceived trends. The Gatorade color bet encapsulates the spirit of fun that surrounds the Super Bowl, allowing both avid sports fans and casual viewers to participate in the spectacle, regardless of their knowledge of the teams or the sport. As the tradition continues, betting on the Gatorade color remains a beloved and amusing aspect of Super Bowl festivities.

How Gatorade showers became a football tradition

There is some discussion regarding the origin of the Gatorade shower trend in football, but Jim Burt, a defensive tackle for the New York Giants, is most frequently credited with it. While Gatorade showers are now linked to significant playoff games, the very first one took place after a routine midseason match. In 1985, the Giants had a lackluster start, casting doubt on their playoff hopes. However, in week seven, they faced the Washington Redskins and secured a decisive 17-3 victory. Elated by the turnaround, Burt doused coach Bill Parcells with a cooler of Gatorade.

This act delighted the Giants players so much that linebacker Harry Carson decided to continue the tradition, drenching Parcells with Gatorade after every win for the next two seasons, culminating in the Giants' triumph in Super Bowl XXI. During that year's traditional victory visit to the White House, Carson executed the most iconic Gatorade shower ever, "soaking" President Ronald Reagan with a bucket of Gatorade filled with popcorn.

Although Jim Burt and the Giants are often credited with initiating Gatorade showers, they were not the first to do it. That honor belongs to Chicago Bears players Steve McMichael and Mike Singletary, who surprised head coach Mike Ditka with a chilly wave of energy drink a year earlier. At the time, they could never have imagined the legacy their playful act would inspire.

Legal betting took the Gatorade shower to new heights

Wagering on Gatorade showers is a relatively new custom. From 1992 until 2018, most U.S. states prohibited sports gambling under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). However, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the law sparked a significant surge in sports betting. Sportsbooks quickly realized that there were opportunities to profit beyond just the games, and in 2019, FanDuel became the first to allow fans to bet on the color of the Gatorade used in the Super Bowl shower.

In the five years since betting began, blue Gatorade has emerged as the most frequently chosen color, winning three times. The exceptions occurred in 2020, when the Kansas City Chiefs drenched coach Andy Reid with orange Gatorade, and in 2023, when purple Gatorade pulled off a surprising victory with +750 odds.

Although wagering on the Gatorade shower has only been permitted since 2019, records of the colors have been maintained since the Giants first started the tradition. Interestingly, the most common "color" has actually been clear Gatorade, which has appeared nine times. Notably, red Gatorade has never been used, and there have been a few Super Bowls that did not feature a shower at all.

The History Of Betting On Gatorade Colors At The Super Bowl

How Gatorade showers became a football tradition

Legal betting took the Gatorade shower to new heights

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