Every Super Bowl MVP, ranked

Winning a Super Bowl MVP makes a participant unforgettable. Here are all 56 performances ranked from worst to finest.

Terry Bradshaw’s Super Bowl XIV MVP award (the primary repeat winner since Bart Starr in Super Bowls I and II) did not come simple. Bradshaw tossed three interceptions, turning into the primary and solely Super Bowl MVP quarterback to throw extra interceptions than touchdowns (two).

The so-called “Blunder Bowl” was rife with penalties, turnovers and poor play, in addition to quite a lot of officiating errors. So it appears solely acceptable that the Super Bowl MVP right here was the Cowboys’ Chuck Howley, whose group misplaced 16–13 to the Baltimore Colts. Howley refused to simply accept it, citing the meaninglessness of the award because of his group’s loss.

Dallas bounced again from the earlier 12 months’s loss to Baltimore due to a mix of stellar defensive play and a giant day from working again Duane Thomas. Despite his massive day (19 rushes, three receptions, 112 whole yards and one TD), Thomas was famously chilly to the media, which can have led to Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach incomes the MVP award over him. 

Much of the intrigue surrounding Super Bowl XXXVII revolved round Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden dealing with his outdated group, the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders’ No. 1-ranked offense squared off towards the Bucs’ No. 1-ranked protection, however Gruden’s prior data of his outdated group performed a giant half within the Bucs’ manhandling of Oakland. The Tampa Bay protection shut down Oakland for the primary three quarters of play, with security Dexter Jackson taking part in an enormous half in forcing Oakland’s Rich Gannon into throwing a Super Bowl-record 5 interceptions, of which Jackson nabbed two. For his efforts, Jackson turned the third defensive again to earn a Super Bowl MVP.

The Cowboys’ “Doomsday Defense” completely dominated the Broncos, holding Denver to solely eight move completions for 61 yards and forcing eight turnovers. Voters wished to elect the whole 11-man defensive unit as MVP, however after the league refused to permit it, they chose defensive linemen Harvey Martin and Randy White to function the primary and solely twin Super Bowl MVPs.

Tom Brady’s emergence as an elite quarterback happened after Patriots beginning quarterback Drew Bledsoe went all the way down to harm. Brady had thrown solely three passes in his rookie 12 months however led the Pats to an 11–5 file and thru the AFC playoffs, most (in)famously within the “Tuck Rule game” towards Oakland within the Divisional Round. Kurt Warner‘s St. Louis Rams had dominated most offensive statistical classes and did the identical within the Super Bowl, although Brady got here by way of within the last 1:30 of regulation, driving the Pats 53 yards down the sector with out timeouts to arrange an Adam Vinatieri, game-winning area purpose. He completed the sport with solely 145 yards passing and one landing.

To date, the primary and solely particular groups participant to ever win Super Bowl MVP, Desmond Howard, set a then-record for longest return, taking a second-half kickoff for a 99-yard landing. Howard’s electrifying efficiency included 154 kickoff return yards, plus 90 punt return yards, tying data for each whole return yards and whole yards gained (244).

Fred Biletnikoff’s Super Bowl MVP efficiency is exclusive amongst these vast receivers who earned the consideration. Despite not placing up 100-plus yards receiving or a landing, the Raiders receiver’s 4 catches for 79 yards helped arrange three Oakland touchdowns en path to a 32–14 beatdown of the Vikings. 

The Ravens introduced a Super Bowl title again to Baltimore for the primary time in 30 years, when the Colts nonetheless represented the town. Their 34–7 drubbing of the Giants was a defensive showcase, and no participant higher represented this dominance than linebacker Ray Lewis. Lewis, the regular-season Defensive Player of the Year, captained a Ravens protection that held New York to solely 152 whole offensive yards, making quite a lot of key tackles and blocking 4 passes to earn the primary Super Bowl MVP award for a defensive participant since Larry Brown 5 years prior.

Edelman was the offensive star in a sport with out a lot offense. He led the Patriots with 10 catches for 141 yards in a 13-3 win over the Rams. LA could not discover a solution for Edelman, who was on the receiving finish of greater than half of Tom Brady’s passing yards.

Len Dawson, making his second Super Bowl look after the Chiefs’ loss in Super Bowl I, wasn’t daunted by the closely favored Vikings, who crumbled towards a mighty Okay.C. protection. Dawson’s 153 whole yards and one TD have been sufficient to earn him MVP honors, marking the fourth consecutive Super Bowl MVP award for a quarterback.

Peyton Manning’s first Super Bowl win additionally earned him MVP honors after he posted a 247-yard, one-touchdown sport towards the Chicago Bears. Manning’s sport, whereas pretty strong for a quarterback of his stature, was all of the extra spectacular contemplating Super Bowl XLI was the primary Super Bowl to be performed in steady rain.

The closely favored Packers earned back-to-back Super Bowl (or AFL-NFL World Championship, because it was nonetheless referred to as) journeys, dominating the overmatched Raiders 33-14. Starr once more obtained the nod for MVP with a 202-yard, one-touchdown efficiency, additionally turning into the primary participant to earn a couple of Super Bowl MVP award.

The basic public (and Las Vegas) did not give the Jets an opportunity to defeat the Colts within the first championship sport to bear the identify “Super Bowl,” however Joe Namath’s brash assure of victory earned him professional soccer legendary standing. Namath gained MVP honors regardless of not throwing a single landing, or perhaps a single move within the fourth quarter. Despite solely throwing for 206 yards within the 16-7 win, Namath will get credit score for coming by way of on his assure.

Franco Harris carried a lot of the offensive workload for the Steelers all through the 1974 season as Terry Bradshaw developed, and because the group superior to its first Super Bowl, it was clear that Harris can be referred to as upon to do the identical for the championship. He did not disappoint, working for 158 yards (greater than the whole Minnesota offense) and a landing, incomes the MVP award.

In the inaugural AFL-NFL World Championship Game (later retroactively named Super Bowl I), Packers quarterback Bart Starr led Green Bay to a win over the Chiefs, regardless of the AFL group gaining extra whole yards and first downs. However, Starr performed higher than his opposing QB, Len Dawson (211 yards, one TD), throwing for a complete 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Brady had his manner with the Chiefs protection to win his fifth Super Bowl MVP in a 31-9 win. At age 43, he accomplished 21-of-29 passes for 201 yards and three scores. Still, it was Tampa’s protection that made all of the distinction in halting the acclaimed Chiefs offense.

Mahomes did not have his A-game towards an awesome 49ers protection, however helped architect a fourth quarter comeback from a 10-point deficit to win 31-20. He completed the sport finishing 26-of-42 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns.

Washington’s Gary Clark and Art Monk turned the third pair of teammates to have 100-plus receiving yards in a Super Bowl, however the man who delivered these throws earned the honors. Mark Rypien turned the third Washington quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the second to win the MVP, after Doug Williams in Super Bowl XXII. He threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns.

Super Bowl XLVIII marked the second time that the No. 1-ranked offensive group met the No. 1-ranked defensive group (the primary being the Raiders-Bucs matchup in Super Bowl XXXVII), with Seattle’s Legion of Boom dealing with off towards Peyton Manning’s record-setting Broncos offense. Much like Bucs-Raiders, this sport was utterly one-sided, with the Seattle protection stifling Manning and the Broncos, thanks partly to MVP Malcolm Smith, who returned a Manning interception 69 yards for a landing, recovered a fumble and recorded 9 tackles.

The 49ers turned the primary group to lose the entire yards and touchdowns battle within the Super Bowl and nonetheless come out on high, thanks in no small half to the arm and legs of Joe Montana. Montana threw for 157 yards and a landing, ran for 18 yards and a landing and constructed an insurmountable 20-0 lead by halftime of Super Bowl XVI, incomes the primary of his file three Super Bowl MVP awards.

Eli Manning earned his status because the Patriots’ nemesis after Super Bowl XLII and as soon as once more sunk the Patriots’ title hopes for the second time in 4 years. New England erased a 9-0 deficit by scoring 17 unanswered factors within the third quarter, however the Giants closed the hole with a pair of area objectives after which a clutch Manning move to Mario Manningham alongside the left sideline. The catch helped the Giants rating on a speeding landing to retake the lead, and the Giants protection held off Tom Brady to permit Eli his second Super Bowl MVP award on a 296-yard, one-touchdown efficiency.

The Bill Parcells-led Giants employed an influence working sport to bulldoze their strategy to the Super Bowl, dealing with a Bills group identified for its high-powered, fast-paced offense. Big Blue’s run sport did its job, nevertheless, consuming the clock underneath Anderson’s 102-yard, one-touchdown efficiency and permitting the Buffalo offense lower than 20 minutes on the sector.

Kupp shined for the Rams in Super Bowl LVI as he had all common season. The wideout caught eight balls for 92 yards and two touchdowns, together with the sport winner in a 23-20 conquer Cincinnati.

Few NFL gamers can say they’ve gone out on as excessive a observe as John Elway did. After the earlier 12 months’s victory over Green Bay, Elway led the Broncos again to the Super Bowl to face the Atlanta Falcons, the place his 80-yard landing move to Rod Smith helped spark 17 unanswered factors to maintain the Broncos on high for the remainder of the sport. Elway’s Super Bowl XXXIII victory was his final sport, as he retired earlier than the 1999 season.

Eli Manning adopted his brother to Super Bowl MVP glory, although the youthful Manning’s path to the award will probably stay on without end in NFL legend. After a few lead adjustments within the fourth quarter that left the Patriots up 14–10, Eli famously broke free from three Patriots defenders to hurl a move that David Tyree introduced down within the immortal “Helmet Catch.” The Giants, in fact, went on to win on Eli’s landing move to Plaxico Burress, spoiling what would have been a 19-0 season for the closely favored Patriots. Manning completed with 255 yards and two landing passes, doing what appeared unimaginable.

The Bears protection entered this contest with a fearsome status, and for good motive. The group was atop the league in virtually all defensive statistical classes by way of the common season. Future Hall of Famer Richard Dent led the cost, posting 1.5 sacks, forcing two fumbles and blocking a move, because the Bears held the Patriots to solely 10 factors and set data for sacks (seven) and fewest speeding yards allowed, in addition to posting the biggest margin of victory.

With one of the dominant defenses in current reminiscence, it’s no shock {that a} defensive participant took house Super Bowl MVP within the Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Panthers. Von Miller nabbed the consideration along with his 2.5 sacks and two compelled fumbles, each approaching strip sacks. His first led to a landing for Denver, and the second strip sack sealed the sport, serving to ship Peyton Manning into the sundown along with his second Super Bowl victory.

The Bills definitely hoped that their fourth consecutive Super Bowl journey can be the appeal, however once more, the Cowboys performed spoiler. This time, nevertheless, Emmitt Smith was the one to torment Buffalo, which blew a lead on the half and allowed Smith to run for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Super Bowl VII stays the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever, and appropriately, MVP honors went to a defensive participant for the second time ever. Dolphins security Jake Scott returned two interceptions for 63 whole yards, serving to hold Washington scoreless till solely 2:07 remained in regulation.

Despite the presence of future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson on the Steelers, the primary cornerback to win Super Bowl MVP was Dallas’ Larry Brown. Brown picked off two of Neil O’Donnell’s passes, together with one essential one which stopped a Steelers drive that would have put them forward of the Cowboys. Instead, Brown’s interception led to a Troy Aikman-to- Michael Irvin TD that helped put the Cowboys forward for good.

Drew Brees turned the darling of New Orleans, which had suffered vastly 4 years earlier after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Brees had an excellent day towards the Colts, tying Tom Brady’s Super Bowl-record 32 completions, to go together with 288 yards and two touchdowns.

Hines Ward had solely a small variety of catches in Super Bowl XL (5 whole), however he made essentially the most of them, posting 123 yards receiving. His greatest play got here from an unlikely supply: fellow wideout Antwaan Randle El, who threw a 43-yard landing move to Ward, marking the primary time a large receiver threw a landing move in a Super Bowl.

Tom Brady was as soon as once more his common wonderful self within the Patriots’ third Super Bowl look in 4 years, however this time round, vast receiver Deion Branch stole the present. Branch put up a giant 11-catch, 133-yard day, organising a lot of the Patriots’ scoring alternatives and tying the file for many catches, in addition to giving him 100-yard performances in back-to-back Super Bowls.

Lynn Swann turned the primary receiver to win the Super Bowl MVP after a Super Bowl-record 161-yard efficiency, nabbing a 64-yard TD move within the fourth quarter to assist put the trailing Steelers forward of the Cowboys for good. His clutch play places him comparatively excessive on the MVP checklist.

Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald related twice within the fourth quarter to carry the Cardinals again from a 20-7 deficit, taking a late lead. Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes had the final snort, nevertheless, connecting on quite a lot of massive performs on the ultimate drive, which culminated with a clutch 6-yard landing move to the tip zone nook that noticed Holmes miraculously hold each toes inbounds and put the Steelers forward for good. He completed the sport with 9 receptions for 131 yards, together with the rating.

Jim Plunkett went from backup quarterback to Super Bowl MVP in the midst of a single season. With the Eagles barely favored to win, Plunkett’s three landing passes saved the Raiders solidly forward of the Eagles all through the sport, making Oakland the primary wild-card group to win a Super Bowl.

Joe Flacco adopted up his finest common season thus far with a blistering playoff efficiency that noticed him take down each Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. He was at least wonderful in his Super Bowl XLVII matchup with San Francisco, throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns, together with a 56-yard bomb to Jacoby Jones. Despite his shortcomings, Flacco’s playoff efficiency helped to create the notion that he is close to the elite quarterbacks within the sport.

The first working again to win Super Bowl MVP, the Dolphins’ Larry Csonka completely dominated the Vikings and their vaunted Purple People Eaters, working throughout them to the tune of 145 yards and two touchdowns on 33 makes an attempt. Behind Csonka and a robust protection, the sport was effectively over by the point it entered the fourth quarter, with the Dolphins up 24-0 at that time.

The Raiders’ much-feared protection noticed Los Angeles bully Washington in Super Bowl XVIII, holding the defending champs to solely 9 factors. But Marcus Allen stole the present, working for a then-record 191 yards and two touchdowns, together with a backbreaking 74-yard landing run to shut the third quarter with the sport effectively in hand for L.A. His efficiency is usually proven in Super Bowl highlights.

In a Super Bowl laden with expertise on either side (16 future Hall of Famers), Terry Bradshaw needed to be nothing in need of wonderful to face out. He was, to the tune of a then-record 318 yards and 4 landing passes, eclipsing his counterpart and former Super Bowl MVP Roger Staubach en path to an exciting 35-31 victory over the Cowboys.

This showdown between two quarterback legends, Dan Marino and Joe Montana, was anticipated to be a shootout for the ages. As it turned out, the Dolphins had no reply for Montana, who outplayed his rival with a 331-yard, three-touchdown efficiency to earn his second Super Bowl MVP, becoming a member of Bart Starr and Terry Bradshaw as the one repeat Super MVP winners to that time.

Aaron Rodgers made essentially the most of his solely Super Bowl look thus far, hitting his receivers to the tune of 304 yards on 24 completions and connecting for 3 touchdowns. Thanks to Rodgers, each Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings had monster days, Nelson with 140 yards and a landing on 9 receptions and Jennings selecting up 64 yards on 4 receptions and two touchdowns.

Foles accomplished a outstanding playoffs by finishing 28-of-43 passes for 373 yards, three touchdowns and one receiving landing on the play infamously referred to as “Philly Special.” Emerging because the Eagles starter late within the 12 months when common starter Carson Wentz suffered a knee harm, Foles led the franchise to its first-ever Super Bowl win.

The Buffalo Bills entered Super Bowl XXVII having misplaced back-to-back Super Bowls and have been determined to win in a 3rd consecutive championship alternative. Unfortunately, this coincided with the resurgence of the Cowboys, who crushed the Bills 52–17 behind Troy Aikman’s 273-yard, four-touchdown MVP efficiency.

The Patriots returned to the Super Bowl after a wildly profitable 2003 season and once more gave NFL followers a thriller, dealing with the Carolina Panthers in a sport that once more ended on Adam Vinatieri’s foot. Tom Brady turned the primary repeat Super Bowl MVP winner since Joe Montana behind a 354-yard, three-touchdown passing day, once more organising Vinatieri for the game-winning area purpose with a last-minute drive.

Broncos working again Terrell Davis performed an enormous half in snapping the AFC’s 13-game shedding streak within the Super Bowl and main Denver to its first championship in 5 tries. Despite struggling a migraine headache that sidelined him for a lot of the second quarter, Davis rushed for 157 yards and tied a Super Bowl file with three speeding touchdowns.

This sport will at all times be remembered for Seattle’s curious resolution to move the ball as an alternative of handing it off to Marshawn Lynch with an opportunity to win, however Tom Brady’s MVP efficiency mustn’t go unnoticed. In profitable his fourth Super Bowl and third SB MVP, Brady threw 4 touchdowns and put up 328 yards, selecting aside the vaunted Seattle protection by way of the air, together with throwing what turned out to be the game-winning landing move to Julian Edelman with simply over two minutes left. His third SB MVP tied Joe Montana’s file.

Phil Simms led the Giants to their first-ever Super Bowl win with a stellar efficiency, bringing the G-Men again from a first-half deficit by finishing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. His 88 p.c completion proportion stood as a postseason file for 21 years, till Tom Brady surpassed it with a 92.9 completion proportion within the Patriots’ AFC divisional matchup towards Jacksonville in 2007.

Kurt Warner’s playoff debut led to one of many best Super Bowls ever. After coughing up a 16-0 result in the Titans within the fourth quarter and permitting Tennessee to tie the sport, Warner threw a protracted move to Isaac Bruce on the primary play of the following drive that led to a 73-yard landing, placing the Rams up 23-16. The Titans tried their valiant drive to tie, just for Kevin Dyson to famously fall one yard in need of the tying rating. Warner’s 414 passing yards and 45 move makes an attempt with no interceptions set a Super Bowl file, although Mike Jones’ deal with on the finish of the sport is what’s most frequently remembered.

A 33-year-old working again is historical by immediately’s requirements, so John Riggins’ MVP efficiency in Super Bowl XVII was and remains to be outstanding to behold. Despite a so-so marketing campaign throughout the strike-shortened 1982 season, Riggins lit up the NFC playoffs (444 yards, three TDs in three video games). Amazingly he carried out even higher within the Super Bowl, selecting up 166 yards on the bottom (for his fourth consecutive 100-yard speeding sport, a postseason file) and scoring 3 times. A 15-yard reception gave him extra whole yards than the whole Dolphins group.

Brady helped orchestrate one of many best comebacks in soccer historical past. Down 28-3 to the Falcons within the third quarter, Brady and the Pats offense went to work. Chipping away on the lead, the Patriots have been in a position to ultimately tie the sport at 28 in regulation. New England gained on a James White landing in time beyond regulation, 34-28. Brady completed 43-of 62 for 466 yards and two touchdowns, beating out James White and his three scores for the award.

Jerry Rice’s Super Bowl MVP efficiency was the primary for a receiver since Fred Biletnikoff’s, and it was genuinely-earned. Rice caught 11 passes for 215 yards, a Super Bowl file, and a landing to tie the sport at 13 towards the Bengals within the fourth quarter. Joe Montana, who uttered his immortal, “hey, isn’t that John Candy?” line previous to the game-winning drive, additionally had himself an MVP-caliber efficiency, throwing for 357 yards and two touchdowns, the aforementioned Rice TD and the game-winner to John Taylor with 39 seconds to go.

Doug Williams entered Super Bowl XXII with the highlight thrust upon him as the primary African-American quarterback to begin in a Super Bowl. Originally Washington’s backup initially of the 1987 season, Williams was promoted and led the group to 2 playoff victories to earn a date towards Denver within the Super Bowl. After trailing 10-0 within the first quarter, Williams led Washington again with 42 unanswered factors, throwing for 4 touchdowns and 340 yards, each Super Bowl data, and incomes a well-deserved MVP nod.

In his last Super Bowl look, Joe Montana delivered a legendary efficiency in a 55–10 rout of the Denver Broncos, the biggest margin of victory ever in a Super Bowl. Joe Cool handed for 297 yards on 22 completions (in 29 makes an attempt) and a Super Bowl-record 5 touchdowns, incomes his third and last Super Bowl MVP award.

Steve Young stepped out from underneath Joe Montana’s shadow in an enormous manner by main the 49ers to his solely Super Bowl look. After main San Francisco to touchdowns on the primary two drives, Young merely couldn’t be stopped, throwing for a file six touchdowns (tying Doug Williams for many touchdowns in a half at 4) and likewise posting 49 speeding yards, marking the primary time a participant served as each high rusher and passer within the Super Bowl. His efficiency nonetheless hasn’t been matched in one other Super Bowl.