What Happened to Super Bowl XLVII (2013)?

Super Bowl XLVII, played on February 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, was a historic contest between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. Dubbed the "Harbaugh Bowl," it was the first Super Bowl to feature two brothers, John Harbaugh (Ravens) and Jim Harbaugh (49ers), as opposing head coaches. The Ravens, led by quarterback Joe Flacco, who was named the game's MVP, secured a 34-31 victory, marking their second Super Bowl title. The game started with Baltimore dominating, building a 21-3 lead in the first half and extending it to 28-6 early in the third quarter after Jacoby Jones' record 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The game took an unexpected turn less than two minutes into the third quarter when a partial power outage plunged parts of the Superdome into darkness, suspending play for 34 minutes. This incident, later attributed to an electrical relay failure, earned the game the nickname "Blackout Bowl." After play resumed, the 49ers mounted a furious comeback, scoring 17 unanswered points to cut the Ravens' lead to 28-23. The momentum shift created a tense fourth quarter, with the 49ers driving deep into Ravens territory late in the game, but ultimately failing to score on a crucial fourth-down play from the 7-yard line.

Beyond the game itself, Super Bowl XLVII featured a memorable halftime show headlined by Beyoncé, with a surprise reunion of Destiny's Child. The performance was critically acclaimed and, at the time, generated a record number of tweets per minute, further cementing its cultural impact. The game also marked the final career appearance for legendary Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who retired after securing his second Super Bowl ring.

In the years following Super Bowl XLVII, the careers of its key figures diverged significantly. Joe Flacco, the Super Bowl MVP, remained with the Ravens until 2018 before stints with several other NFL teams. As of March 2026, Flacco, at 41, re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals for his 19th NFL season, following a Pro Bowl campaign in 2025 where he was traded to the Bengals mid-season from the Cleveland Browns. Ray Lewis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and has since pursued ventures in sports commentary and philanthropy.

Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers' quarterback in Super Bowl XLVII, continued to play for San Francisco until 2016. That year, he gained national attention for kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, an act that led to his effective blackballing from the NFL after he opted out of his contract in 2017. Despite attempts to return to the league and a confidential settlement with the NFL over collusion allegations in 2019, Kaepernick has not played professionally since. As of August 2026, Kaepernick is set to release his memoir, "The Perilous Fight," on September 15, 2026, coinciding with a nationwide book tour, continuing his activism and public discourse.

Both Harbaugh brothers continued their coaching careers. John Harbaugh remained the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens until 2025, leading them to consistent competitiveness, before being hired as the head coach of the New York Giants in 2026. Jim Harbaugh left the 49ers after the 2014 season to coach at the University of Michigan, where he won a national championship in 2024, before returning to the NFL as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the host venue, was renamed the Caesars Superdome in 2021. The game's 10th anniversary in 2023 prompted reflections on its dramatic moments and lasting impact on the NFL and its key figures.