The 50 Most Iconic Sneaker Moments in NFL History

This Sunday, Beyonce will be performing in front of millions worldwide, but before and after that there's a game going down — it's kind of a big deal. As football nation gets ready for the penultimate game, we thought we would kick off Super Bowl XLVII weekend with great photos of the game's greatest players in some the game's best sneakers. Hit the jump to check out The 50 Most Iconic Sneaker Moments in NFL History and let us know which combination was the illest.

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Year: 1990

Oh, you thought Niners wearing Air Jordan Vs was something new this year? Cool story, bro.

Year: 1990

Even 300-pound Hall of Fame offensive tackles gotta keep it light and keep it fresh. And who needs more ankle support than those guys?

Year: 1997

Hostetler was a G — if you don't know, now you know.

Year: 1995

Penny's first couple of shoes were actually a staple on the football field as well as the hardwood — re-released 17 years later they still flew off the shelves, proving just how popular Anfernee still is.

Year: 1997

These were big on the field and the court — you might even remember a young king hoopin' in these.

Year: 2000

Still playing well into his 50s (well, it felt like it) Deion earned his lifetime achievement award in the form of player exclusive Jordans but none were better than the various XIs JB cooked up for him towards the end of his career.

Year: 1995

Cross-straps were a must on trainers in the '90s and the Nike Veer stripped down the design and gave the people something simple, durable, and effective on the field.

Year: 1997

Thank you Reebok for bringing these back — don't act like you weren't making moves in your living room if you were lucky enough to grab a pair.

Year: 1995

Just split double-coverage for six in the nasty Nike Air Barrages — no worries.

Year: 1995

Few laid the wood like Rod Woodson and the sick Air Bowl Trainers were just a part of the repertoire — show some respect to a classic x2.

Year: 1997

It wasn't easy seeing Deion make the jump to America's Team, but it meant a new scheme from Nike and 3M on the kicks always hurts feelings. And knees, apparently.

Year: 1995

So pretty it should be on a football card — oops, right.

Year: 1997

One of the most underrated sneakers from The Swoosh in '96-97, these kicks don't get enough respect for their history. Jeez, Barry Sanders was tiny.

Year: 2000

Super. Freak. 'Nuff said.

Year: 1996

Another turf trainer rocked by many legends in the NFL, especially running backs. Yo Nike, we're ready to get these back in the rotation.

Year: 1994

Deion was one of the greatest to ever do it, and while Bo made football turf joints a cool thing, Prime took it to another level with the Diamond Turf series.

Year: 1999

Another poster moment for No. 84, and he even got the connect in the shot.

Year: 1995

The Kentucky Wildcats weren't the only ones showing off in the The Star's classic kicks from '95. They are, admittedly, the only ones you remember.

Year: 1996

You remember Prime Time high-stepping in these on a way to an easy pick six because your QB forgot to look his man off — too easy, kicks too cold.

Year: 2003

Randy didn't even seem phased anymore when he would fly by Cover 2s and out-jump three players for an easy catch. But for real, check out his own Jordan football sneakers — earned.

Year: 1996

Given his off-field, um, hobbies, these may as well have been Bam's signature model.

Year: 1996

Before the Dirty Bird, Jamal was still stunting in the end zone thanks to "The Kid" from Seattle.

Year: 2005

You can make a debate for the IIs versus the IIIs the but the cross-strap style always appeals, and they looked gnarly on the field when Vick was lighting up defenders on foot or in the air.

Year: 2003

From rocking Jordans out of the box to player editions straight from the man himself — hard work pays off.

Year: 1996

When your left guard has your back in Kamikaze IIs, it doesn't necessarily make you feel any better, but at least your boy is looking proper in the game-day flicks.

Year: 1998

There isn't one Nikehead from the '90s who doesn't remember these — or Jerome Bettis truck-sticking linebackers on the way to an easy six.

Year: 1990

Long before the sneaker blogs, first-day sellouts and the retro hype, Ronnie Lott was just a crushing safety who loved rocking Js on the field.

Year: 1996

The Rev x Jordan XIs x a cheesehead — no further caption necessary.

Year: 2004

By his fourth season Michael Vick already had a Madden cover and one of the most coveted non-basketball Nike shoes in history. The swag matched the sneakers.

Year: 1995

The Air Max 2 Uptempo is definitely better suited for the hardwood than turf, but Barry Sanders still rocked the '90s classic during his annual February trip to Hawaii.

Year: 2001

Rice routinely rotated Jordans on the field throughout his career, but he was always down to play in a present model instead of retro PEs. Man, Michael Bennett chose the wrong time to break out the Cherrywoods — black and red always wins.

Year: 1996

The Zoom Turf '96 was the go-to shoe for most Nike stars when they had to play on artificial conditions but none more memorable than the Packers captain gun-slinging the ball down field week after week like no one else. Well, not this time.

Year: 1994

Just jukin' dudes twice his size closing in and taking it to the house during the biggest game of the year — thanks Reebok.

Year: 1990

Barry Sanders may have looked like a Pop Warner in the mix of linemen, but don't be fooled — dude could Dash like Dame and the kicks were always on point when he was on AstroTurf.

Year: 1999

In the late '90s the hidden-lacing setup was all the rage from The Swoosh, and GP's trash-talking demeanor would have been perfect in the NFL. Note to Tra Thomas with the Vin Bakers: No.

Year: 2004

Harrison was on the receiving end of so many acrobatic Peyton Manning TDs people might have forgot to really study the footwork. Sorry Q, Marvin had those black and blue PEs a long time ago.

Year: 2008

Most people aren't aware that while the Colts were racking up 12-win seasons ever year, Freeney was chasing down opposing QBs in PEs courtesy of Mike's camp. The turf IIIs hit harder than No. 93 from the blindside.

Year: 1997

If John Stockton could play Hall of Fame level hoops in Nike's Zoom tennis sneaker, Barry Sanders could stunt in the Pro Bowl in the Zoom Flights. Now, if Andre Agassi would have only won Wimbledon in Zoom Turfs...

Year: 1996

Fresh out of U of I, Simeon Rice hit the field on media day in the white and blue Penny I colorway that Anfernee rocked at home — not a bad start.

Year: 2002

We're talking practice — practice! — and Moss is still running routes and working on his game G'ed up from the feet up.

Year: 1997

Nike's turf trainer line in the '90s couldn't be messed with, and neither could Barry Sanders. Kings.

Year: 1996

Maybe the full Air Max unit was a bit much for the football field — not that it's an excuse to rock takedowns — but we still gotta dap Darnay Scott for rocking the Air More Uptempo's little brother. We see you in the back with the Zoom Turfs too, whoever you are.

Year: 2001

You already know about Moss completely ethering his opponents from the moment he entered the league. How sick is it that almost every team passed him up in the draft, but Jordan Brand signed him and had him in Jordan PEs before you got your first Vikings No. 84 jersey? Another win for Mike and company.

Year: 1994

Young Marshall and Anfernee were making names for themselves at the same time, and Faulk rocking the home Orlando colorway of Penny's first "official" shoe cemented him as a sneaker blog God. Took 20 years, though.

Year: 1995

B. Cox was a beast — you hated dude unless he was on your squad thanks to his ability to chase down backs in the backfield. His sneaker of choice in MIA was the recently re-released Nike Speed Turf "Dolphins" colorway everyone went nuts over in 2012.

Year: 2004

2004 was the year Faulk's numbers started to decline, but a decade in the league will do that to most running backs — he was still the flashiest show on turf in his LeBron IIs.

Year: 1994

Nike gave the Pro Bowl QB a pair of Pippen's kicks for the big game in Hawaii. Seriously this is a big moment in stunting for while people, it doesn't happen very often.

Year: 2002

McNabb was on another level when 2000 rolled around, and Jordan Brand made sure to keep one of the most dynamic and winning QBs fresh on the field.

Year: 1995

When people talk about trainers, the Air Mission sometimes gets excluded from talks of being the greatest, but Faulk and other star backs broke ankles in them — and we'd cop a pair if they happened to make a return. Any time, Nike.

Year: 2006

Sapp's big mouth and even bigger play got him a connect at Jordan Brand and some of the illest NFL player exclusives. You might have even had a chance to cop a pair yourself when he sold off his kicks after going broke.