2002 in football

American football

 * January 6 – New England defeated the Carolina Panthers to hand them their 15th straight loss, making them the 7th of 10 teams in the NFL to finish with only one win.
 * Super Bowl XXXVI – New England Patriots win 20-17 over the St. Louis Rams to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history, beginning the Patriots dynasty that would win 5 more titles in the next 17 years. The two teams would meet again in Super Bowl LIII 17 years later in which the Patriots won again, their 6th title at 13-3.
 * Rose Bowl (2001 season):
 * The Miami Hurricanes won 37-14 over the Nebraska Cornhuskers to win the college football national championship
 * ArenaBowl XVI – San Jose SaberCats win 52-14 over the Arizona Rattlers
 * The Houston Texans become the NFL's 32nd active franchise.