NFL Analysis
2/9/25
7 min read
Ranking Top 10 Super Bowl MVP Performances in NFL History
There are a few ways to become a more historic NFL player than winning Super Bowl MVP.
The list of Super Bowl MVP winners features some all-time legends as well as some unlikely heroes. Malcolm Smith, a seventh-round pick who never received another major accolade in his 11-year career, was the Super Bowl XLVIII MVP as a linebacker after a sensational performance for the Seattle Seahawks.
Before Super Bowl LIX kicks off, let's take a look at the 10 most iconic Super Bowl MVP performances in the history of the game.
Ranking Top 10 Super Bowl MVPs
10. Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl LII)
There are few stories more impressive in Super Bowl history than the one from Nick Foles.
A backup for most of the season, Foles was forced into the starting lineup after MVP candidate Carson Wentz tore his ACL. Foles went on an outstanding run to keep the Eagles' postseason hopes alive before an all-time performance against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Foles finished the game with 373 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while adding a receiving touchdown on the iconic "Philly Special" trick play.
The statistical performance itself is impressive, but Foles beating Tom Brady will make him a permanent folk hero in Philadelphia.
9. Marcus Allen, RB, Los Angeles Raiders (Super BOWL XVIII)
On top of an all-time performance, Marcus Allen also has one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.
After being caught dead to rights on a blown-up rushing play in Super Bowl XVIII, Allen reversed direction before finding a crease for a 74-yard touchdown. He finished the game with 191 yards and two scores, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry.
It's one of those plays that's been immortalized in NFL history, but also an all-time performance that deserves recognition on this list.
8. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants (Super Bowl XLII)
Imagine a world where Eli Manning didn't stop the Patriots from having a perfect 19-0 season.
In a battle that felt like David vs Goliath, Manning pulled out all of the stops to help lead the New York Giants to a 17-14 victory, preventing the Patriots from joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated Super Bowl champions.
The game is remembered mostly for the iconic "helmet catch" from David Tyree that set up the game-winning touchdown. Manning finished the game with 255 yards and a pair of scores, but that throw to Tyree will be the moment that will be remembered forever for taking down the undefeated Patriots.
7. Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl XIX)
In a duel against a fellow Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, it was Joe Montana who showed out on the biggest stage.
The San Francisco 49ers dominated Super Bowl XIX in a 38-16 win against the Miami Dolphins. Montana was surgical throughout the game, completing 24-of-35 passes for 331 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He even carried the ball five times for another 59 yards and a score.
It was sheer dominance from an all-time legend, who was considered at one point to be the greatest quarterback in NFL history until another player on this list took that title.
6. Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis Rams (Super Bowl xxxiv)
The Greatest Show on Turf also produced one of the most dramatic Super Bowl wins in NFL history, with the Tennessee Titans coming up a yard short on the final play of the game.
Before the infamous play, Warner connected with Isaac Bruce on a 73-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining on what would become the game-winning score. Warner finished the game throwing for 414 yards and two scores, winning a Super Bowl in his first year as an NFL starter.
It's one of the most iconic first seasons for an NFL quarterback, especially considering Warner's path from the AFL and NFL Europe.
5. Terrell Davis, rB, Denver Broncos (Super Bowl XXXII)
Terrell Davis belongs in the "what if?" Hall of Fame after injuries derailed his career because the early signs from the Denver Broncos workhorse were that he was going to be one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL.
Davis' most iconic season came in 1998, rushing for 2,008 yards and 21 touchdowns in the regular season before his Super Bowl run. He carried the team in a dramatic Super Bowl win against the Green Bay Packers, rushing for 157 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.
It was Davis' last fully healthy season, but it would go down as the greatest year for a running back the sport has seen, potentially until Saquon Barkley this year.
4. Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl XXIII)
The undisputed greatest wide receiver in NFL history was always going to make this list.
Jerry Rice torched the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the 1989 season, catching 11 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown in the win. It's the most receiving yards ever recorded in a Super Bowl, with Ricky Sanders in second all-time with 193.
Rice would be a three-time champion, but his lone MVP in the big game stands as one of the most impressive performances in Super Bowl history.
3. Doug Williams, QB, Washington (Super Bowl XXII)
Doug Williams will go down as one of the most important quarterbacks in the history of the sport, not only because of his level of play, but because of the barriers he broke.
After primarily being Washington's backup in 1987, Williams was named the starter for the team's playoff run. He became the first black quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl, and he didn't just win, either, dominating the Denver Broncos in a 42-10 win.
Williams finished the game throwing for 340 yards, four touchdowns, and just one interception, out-dueling a fellow future Hall of Famer in John Elway.
It's an iconic moment in Washington franchise history, but also one that changed the course of history.
2. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (Super Bowl LI)
Leading the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history deserves recognition on this list.
Tom Brady was forced to air the ball out with his team down 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. He completed 43-of-62 passes for 466 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
Beyond the statistics, Brady led his team from a seemingly insurmountable deficit to win his fifth Super Bowl ring and fourth Super Bowl MVP, solidifying his status as the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
Brady went on to win two more Super Bowls, just in case anyone was still debating whether he was the greatest quarterback ever.
1. Steve Young, QB, San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl XXIX)
The San Francisco 49ers had one of the greatest runs in the history of the NFL in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks to Montana and Steve Young. While Montana might have the more prestigious career, Young has what might be the best Super Bowl performance ever.
Young left no doubt in Super Bowl XXIX against the Los Angeles Chargers. He completed 24-of-36 passes for 325 yards and six touchdowns in the 49-26 win. He was also the leading rusher for either team, rushing five times for 49 yards.
Other MVPs are remembered more fondly because of the drama, but Young just flat-out dominated the Chargers.
