Super Bowl Gatorade color

After a long and exhausting season, nothing symbolizes victory in the NFL quite like the Gatorade bath. As confetti falls and the Super Bowl clock hits zero, the winning head coach is often soaked in a cooler full of brightly colored sports drink. What began as a playful locker-room moment has evolved into one of the most recognizable traditions in American sports—and now, one of the most popular novelty bets surrounding the Super Bowl.

Today, betting on the Super Bowl Gatorade color has become a staple for fans who enjoy prop bets that don’t depend on touchdowns or final scores. With Super Bowl 60 approaching, interest is once again building around which color will be dumped on the winning sideline.

The Origin of the Gatorade Bath Tradition

The Gatorade shower dates back to the mid-1980s and is most commonly associated with the New York Giants. Defensive tackle Jim Burt famously dumped a cooler of Gatorade over head coach Bill Parcells after a 17–3 victory over Washington during the 1985 season.

At the time, it wasn’t meant as celebration. Burt had been criticized heavily by Parcells during practice leading up to the game and chose the dousing as a form of payback. Ironically, the act softened their relationship, and teammates soon embraced the ritual as a good-luck charm.

Linebacker Harry Carson later continued the tradition, and the Giants carried it all the way to a Super Bowl XXI victory. While the Giants are often credited with starting the trend, Chicago Bears players Steve McMichael and Mike Singletary reportedly dumped Gatorade on coach Mike Ditka a year earlier, making the true origin somewhat debated.

Regardless of its beginnings, the Gatorade bath has become an iconic Super Bowl moment.

When Did Gatorade Color Betting Begin?

While the tradition has existed for decades, betting on the Gatorade color wasn’t legalized until Super Bowl 53 in 2019. Since then, it has become one of the most popular novelty prop bets offered by sportsbooks every year.

Since legalization:

Blue has appeared three times
Purple has appeared twice
Orange and yellow/green have each appeared once

Despite the randomness, fans continue to search for trends, team colors, and hidden clues.

Most Popular Gatorade Colors in Super Bowl History

Historically, orange stands out as the most frequently used Gatorade color in the Super Bowl since 2001. Purple, blue, clear/water, yellow/green/lime, and even “no Gatorade bath” have all appeared four times each during that span.

Interestingly, red Gatorade has never appeared in the 21st century, despite being one of the most popular flavors. That alone makes it one of the longest-running curiosities in Super Bowl prop betting.

Team tendencies also matter to some bettors. For example:

The Seattle Seahawks used orange during their Super Bowl 48 win.
The New England Patriots, during their dynasty years, used blue twice, clear once, and skipped the Gatorade bath entirely three times.

Super Bowl 60 Gatorade Color Odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM:

Orange (+225)
Yellow/Green/Lime (+260)
Blue (+260)
Purple (+750)
Red/Pink (+1100)
Water/Clear (+1100)

With Seattle listed among the favorites to win Super Bowl 60, orange sits atop the odds board once again. Blue and green are also popular picks, as they align with team color schemes and past trends.

Super Bowl Gatorade Colors by Year

Recent history shows just how unpredictable this prop can be:

Super Bowl 59 (Eagles): Yellow
Super Bowl 58 (Chiefs): Purple
Super Bowl 57 (Chiefs): Purple
Super Bowl 56 (Rams): Blue
Super Bowl 55 (Buccaneers): Blue
Super Bowl 54 (Chiefs): Orange

Looking further back only reinforces one thing—there’s no guaranteed formula.

What Is the Best Gatorade Color Bet?

Realistically, predicting the Super Bowl Gatorade color is mostly luck. Coaching staffs change, locker-room habits evolve, and sometimes there isn’t even a Gatorade bath at all.

Orange is the logical favorite based on history and Seattle’s past success. Purple offers intriguing value, especially given its recent appearances. Red remains the ultimate long shot, tempting bettors with high odds despite its long drought.

For Super Bowl 60, blue at +260 stands out as a balanced option. It aligns with team color schemes, has strong historical usage, and offers solid value without relying purely on hope.

No matter the pick, this prop bet is best treated as entertainment rather than strategy.

Gamble Responsibly

All forms of gambling involve risk. Only wager money you can afford to lose, and always follow the laws and regulations applicable in your location. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.