On January 31, 1993, Michael Jackson appeared before a packed Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California for the halftime show of Super Bowl XXVII.
But he did not immediately sing.
After a dramatic entrance, Michael simply stood almost motionless onstage while the stadium screamed around him. He held the moment for roughly a minute and a half before finally beginning the performance.
Then came the hits.
Michael performed a medley built around “Jam,” “Billie Jean” and “Black or White.” The finale shifted into a much larger production featuring children, “We Are the World” and “Heal the World.”
Thousands of young performers participated in the closing portion, turning the football field into a massive visual spectacle.
Michael Jackson Performs “Billie Jean” at Super Bowl XXVII
The show became especially important because Super Bowl halftime had not always been built around the biggest stars in music. Previous years often featured marching bands, themed productions and variety acts.
The NFL wanted something viewers would stay tuned to watch.
Michael delivered exactly that.
His halftime portion drew a 45.5 television rating, actually edging the overall game’s 45.1 rating. Contemporary reports estimated around 125 million viewers for the halftime performance.
Even one of the players could not resist watching.
Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin later revealed that he left the locker room during halftime so he could see Michael perform. The Cowboys eventually defeated Buffalo 52-17, but Irvin did not want to miss the King of Pop while he had the chance.
The NFL itself later described Michael’s performance as a blueprint for what the modern Super Bowl halftime show would eventually become.
Before 1993, halftime was often something viewers could walk away from.
Michael Jackson helped turn it into something millions of people specifically waited to see.