The Superb Owl meme resurfaces every Super Bowl Sunday, causing many unknowing NFL fans to wonder about its meaning.

Of course, "Superb Owl" is a misspelling of "Super Bowl." It's an anagram of the simplest degree, replacing one letter like a typo you'd receive from a lazy friend. The meme is back in the mainstream as Super Bowl LVIII approaches. Trust us, the ironic friend at your watch party will be calling it a "Superb Owl Party" all night to everyone's dismay.

So, where did the Superb Owl meme come from? Who started it and why is it still relevant today? Let's explain.

Where Did The 'Superb Owl' Meme Come From?

The first person to say the phrase online was a Twitter / X user named @shawnw way back in 2008. Although his tweet didn't go viral at the time, he is nonetheless the first person to coin it.

Why Is The 'Superb Owl' Meme Viral?

As stated, it wasn't @shawnw's tweet that inspired viral discourse. The most notable usage of "Super Owl" was when Stephen Colbert said it during a famous segment of his show The Colbert Report. For him, it was a humorous loophole to reference the sporting event without saying its name.

Also, in 2019, "The Superb Owl" was a category on an episode of Jeopardy! Inherently, this inspired mass awareness of the anagram in pop culture.

What Are Some Examples Of 'Superb Owl' Memes?

Superb Owl memes mostly add top captions to pictures of owls, sometimes showing them playing football or hosting a Super Bowl-like party. Owls are rather cute and wholesome animals, so it should come as no surprise that they're honored in memes.

Alternatively, many have made fan art of the imagined Superb Owl character. The art portrays him or her as a tough yet sweet creature who's ready to celebrate after a touchdown.




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For the full history of the Superb Owl, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.