By Doug Haller, Jason Jones and Larry Holder
Super Bowl LVIII officially kicks off Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. Roughly four hours after kickoff, one player will be announced as the game’s most valuable player.
There are so many potential candidates between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Will it be Patrick Mahomes or Brock Purdy? Travis Kelce or Christian McCaffrey? Perhaps it’ll be a breakout star on defense. Whoever is selected, that player will join a small fraternity of individuals who can say they not only won the big game but also took home MVP honors — and that list reads of Hall of Famers galore.
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As we prepare for Sunday’s big show, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to remember the superstars (and breakout stars) who walked away with additional hardware aside from the Super Bowl trophy. The Athletic’s Doug Haller, Jason Jones and Larry Holder broke down every Super Bowl MVP, dating to 1966.
Super Bowl I: Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay
Starr was at his best in 1966. He showed as much during the regular season, and he was impressive during the first American Football League-National Football League clash. Starr threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 35-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. His touchdown passes went for 37 and 13 yards, and he also helped the Packers convert 11 of 14 first downs. —Doug Haller.
Super Bowl II: Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay
Starr produced touchdowns on Green Bay’s first three possessions and won MVP honors for the second year in a row. He threw for 202 yards and a touchdown in a 33-14 win over the Oakland Raiders, and his best play came on a 62-yard pass to Boyd Dowler in the second quarter. The only thing that seemed to slow Starr down was a jammed thumb that sidelined him in the fourth quarter. — Haller
Super Bowl III: Joe Namath, QB, New York Jets
“Broadway Joe” guaranteed a win over the mighty Baltimore Colts — and then he went out and delivered. That’s how players become legendary. Namath avoided Baltimore’s vaunted pass rush and found holes in the defense. He threw for 206 yards in the win. — Haller
Joe Namath guaranteed a Super Bowl III win against the Baltimore Colts. (Kidwiler Collection / Diamond Images / Getty Images)
Super Bowl IV: Len Dawson, QB, Kansas City
It was a rough week for Dawson, who had been linked to a gambling investigation leading up to the game. The night before, the quarterback battled what he called a “24-hour virus” that limited him to a few hours of sleep. Come kickoff, however, no one could tell. Dawson was efficient and clutch, throwing a 46-yard touchdown late in the third quarter that sealed the win over the favored Minnesota Vikings. (Dawson also was cleared of wrongdoing in the gambling probe.) — Haller
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Super Bowl V: Chuck Howley, LB, Dallas
Howley, who had two interceptions and a forced fumble in a 16-13 loss to the Colts, is the only player from a losing team to win Super Bowl MVP. The Colts had a lot to do with that. In perhaps the sloppiest Super Bowl ever played, the Colts fumbled five times and threw three interceptions — yet somehow found a way to get the win. Give Howley credit, because the 34-year-old linebacker played well. — Haller
Super Bowl VI: Roger Staubach, QB, Dallas
Staubach was a scrambler. Labels can be hard to shed, but that’s what he did in the Dallas Cowboys’ 24-3 win over the Miami Dolphins. He only threw for 119 yards and two touchdowns but pretty much played mistake-free football, running Tom Landry’s conservative game plan to perfection. — Haller
Super Bowl VII: Jake Scott, S, Miami
Washington wanted to run against the Miami Dolphins, but the Dolphins wouldn’t allow it. Washington tried to pass, but Scott got in the way. He tied a Super Bowl record with two interceptions, catching the first near midfield while lying on his back in the second quarter. He got his second pick in the fourth quarter in the end zone, returning it 55 yards and helping the undefeated Dolphins earn a 14-7 win and secure a perfect season. —Haller
Super Bowl VIII: Larry Csonka, FB, Miami
The Dolphins dominated the Vikings 24-7 and used the running of Csonka to pave the way. The 6-foot-3, 237-pound back was a workhorse, setting Super Bowl records for carries (33) and rushing yards (145). He also had two touchdowns in the game. — Haller
Super Bowl IX: Franco Harris, RB, Pittsburgh
A year after Csonka set the Super Bowl rushing record, Harris ran past it against the Vikings. Though some questioned the MVP choice — “Mean” Joe Greene and the Pittsburgh Steelers defense was outstanding — Harris chipped away at Minnesota’s defense all game. He rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries in a 16-6 win. — Haller
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Super Bowl X: Lynn Swann, WR, Pittsburgh
Simply put, Swann at the time had one of the more memorable performances in Super Bowl history: four catches, 161 yards and a game-clinching, 64-yard touchdown in a 21-17 win over the Cowboys. There was something majestic about every catch. The 64-yarder with 3:31 remaining sealed the Steelers’ second Super Bowl win and Swann’s MVP trophy. — Haller
Lynn Swann had four dazzling catches against the Dallas Cowboys during Super Bowl X. (Associated Press file photo)
Super Bowl XI Fred Biletnikoff, WR, Oakland
Biletnikoff didn’t put up gaudy statistics (four receptions, 79 yards), but his catches helped to set up three scores in the 32-14 rout of the Vikings. It was the first time a wide receiver was named MVP without gaining 100 receiving yards in the game. Paired with receiver Cliff Branch and tight end Dave Casper, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler had three of the best in the NFL to choose from in winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl. — Jason Jones
Super Bowl XII: Harvey Martin, DE, and Randy White, DT/LB, Dallas
When the game was over, Dallas’ defense had forced eight Denver Broncos turnovers. Martin and White led the defensive charge. White set the tone on Denver’s first possession, sacking Craig Morton for an 11-yard loss. It got worse, as Dallas forced four Denver fumbles and recorded three interceptions. This was the first and only Super Bowl with co-MVPs. — Haller
Super Bowl XIII: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh
As he stepped onto the field at the Orange Bowl in Miami, everything fell into place for a nervous Bradshaw. He had the best day of his career, setting Super Bowl records in passing yardage (318) and touchdown passes (four) against the Cowboys. It was a game in which he outdueled Roger Staubach, who threw three touchdowns in the loss. — Haller
Super Bowl XIV: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh
Bradshaw threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns, but more importantly, he rallied Pittsburgh from deficits three times to help beat the Los Angeles Rams and capture his second consecutive Super Bowl MVP trophy. He threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann in the third quarter and hit John Stallworth for a 73-yard score in the fourth. The win gave the Steelers their fourth Super Bowl championship. — Haller
Super Bowl XV: Jim Plunkett, QB, Oakland
This was the culmination of one of the NFL’s great comeback stories. Plunkett wasn’t supposed to be the Raiders’ starting quarterback. The 1971 Rookie of the Year had been a backup for two years with the Raiders, barely playing until Dan Pastorini broke his leg during the 1980 season. Plunkett helped the Raiders win nine of 11 games to finish the regular season and led the Raiders with a 261-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. — Jones
Super Bowl XVI: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco
Montana thought San Francisco’s defense deserved more credit, and he only had 157 passing yards and a touchdown, but he set the tone with two long drives in the first half. In getting the 26-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Montana at the time was the second-youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Montana was 25 years, 7 months and 13 days old. Joe Namath won his Super Bowl at 25 years, 7 months and 12 days old. — Haller
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Super Bowl XVII: John Riggins, RB, Washington
Fourth down. Fourth quarter. Trailing Miami 17-13, Washington needed less than a yard for a first down. The Dolphins crowded the line of scrimmage. In the I-formation, Riggins took the handoff, ran left, broke a tackle and bolted 43 yards to the end zone. That score helped Washington earn a 27-17 victory. He finished the game with 166 rushing yards and a touchdown on 38 carries.— Haller
Super Bowl XVIII: Marcus Allen, RB, Los Angeles Raiders
Allen’s electrifying 74-yard touchdown run against Washington has been a part of Super Bowl highlights for decades — and it came against a Washington team coming off a Super Bowl win the year before. Allen rushed 20 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns. At the time, it was the most rushing yards in a Super Bowl (Timmy Smith rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns in Super Bowl XXII). — Jones
Super Bowl XIX: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco
It was a quarterback showdown: Montana vs. Dan Marino — a matchup that Montana won. Not only did he pass for a Super Bowl-record 331 yards and three touchdowns, but he also rushed for 59 yards and a score against the Dolphins. Marino had 318 passing yards and a score, but it was Montana who captured his second Super Bowl championship.— Haller
Joe Montana threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns in a Super Bowl XIX win against the Miami Dolphins. (Icon Sportswire via Associated Press)
Super Bowl XX: Richard Dent, DE, Chicago
As Dent rapped in the unfortunately unforgettable “The Super Bowl Shuffle”: “The sack man’s comin’, I’m your man Dent. If the quarterback’s slow, he’s gonna get bent.” Against New England, Dent sparked one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history. He had two forced fumbles and 1 1/2 sacks in the win.— Haller
Super Bowl XXI: Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants
Simms was near-perfect in playing the game of his life to win his first Super Bowl. He completed 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. In the second half, as the Giants pulled away from a 10-9 halftime deficit, he completed 10 of 10 passes. — Haller
Super Bowl XXII: Doug Williams, QB, Washington
It was a second quarter to remember. Washington trailed 10-0 after the first, then Williams led a 35-point second-quarter explosion. He finished with 340 yards and threw all four of his touchdown passes in the quarter as Washington ran off 42 unanswered points in all. Williams became the first Black quarterback to win Super MVP on the strength of his performance. — Jones
Super Bowl XXIII: Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco
Trailing the Bengals 16-13 with roughly three minutes left, Joe Montana turned to the best receiver in football. The 49ers quarterback connected with Rice three times on San Francisco’s winning drive, totaling 52 yards. Rice finished with 11 catches, a Super Bowl-record 215 receiving yards and a touchdown. — Haller
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Super Bowl XXIV: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco
This was a flex game. The 49ers dropped the Broncos 55-10, and Montana, at 33 years old, made it look easy on the field. He threw for 297 yards and a Super Bowl-record five touchdown passes against a Denver defense that had allowed the fewest points during the regular season. — Haller
Super Bowl XXV: Ottis Anderson, RB, New York Giants
This Super Bowl is most remembered for a missed field goal, but Anderson fueled New York’s offense throughout the entire game. He rushed 21 times for 102 yards and a touchdown — and he did so wearing his practice pants, something he did for good luck throughout the playoffs. To add, Anderson was the first player to receive the Pete Rozelle Trophy, as the Super Bowl MVP award was named after the former NFL commissioner that season. — Haller
Super Bowl XXVI: Mark Rypien, QB, Washington
Rypien might have lacked the star power of Montana or Marino, but he was excellent during the 1991 season. That level of play continued against the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl. Rypien threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns to give Washington its third Super Bowl championship. — Haller
Super Bowl XXVII: Troy Aikman, QB, Dallas
Dallas dominated Buffalo 52-17, and Aikman completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns in the first of three Cowboys Super Bowl wins in four years. Aikman helped Dallas jump to a 28-10 halftime lead, and the Cowboys never looked back. — Haller
Super Bowl XXVIII: Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas
With the Cowboys trailing Buffalo 13-6 at halftime, Smith rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. He finished with 132 yards on 30 attempts and sealed the Dallas win with a fourth-down touchdown run in the fourth quarter. — Haller
Emmitt Smith impressed in Super Bowl XXVIII, rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images)
Super Bowl XXIX: Steve Young, QB, San Francisco
The lasting image from the 49ers’ demolition of the San Diego Chargers occurred on the sideline late in the fourth quarter with Young saying, “Someone take the monkey off my back, please!” Young set the Super Bowl record with six passing touchdowns that day. He threw for 325 yards and led the team with 49 rushing yards. — Larry Holder
Super Bowl XXX: Larry Brown, CB, Dallas
Pittsburgh chose against throwing primarily at Deion Sanders, but throwing in Brown’s direction also proved to be a problem for Neil O’Donnell. Brown’s two picks resulted in Dallas’ offense scoring two touchdowns, and he was named the first cornerback to win Super Bowl MVP honors. Not bad for a former 12th-round draft pick.— Jones
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Super Bowl XXXI: Desmond Howard, KR, Green Bay
The Packers toppled the New England Patriots 35-21, and it was Howard’s 99-yard kick return for a touchdown immediately after a Patriots third-quarter score that halted any momentum for a New England comeback. Howard also had a 34-yard punt return among his 244 all-purpose yards. — Holder
Super Bowl XXXII: Terrell Davis, RB, Denver
Davis played through a painful migraine headache and bowled his way through the Packers to help give the Broncos their first Super Bowl win in team history. He rushed for 157 yards on 30 carries and scored three touchdowns, including a go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes remaining in the game. — Holder
Super Bowl XXXIII: John Elway, QB, Denver
Pat Bowlen’s “This one’s for John” quote occurred after the Super Bowl XXXII win, but the Super Bowl XXXIII trophy was for John. In his final NFL game, Elway produced 336 passing yards and an 80-yard touchdown to Rod Smith, helping the Broncos to a commanding win over the Atlanta Falcons. — Holder
John Elway won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos and was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII (Paul Spinelli via Associated Press)
Super Bowl XXXIV: Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis
The former Arena Football League quarterback’s Hall of Fame trajectory started this season. He filled in for an injured Trent Green and directed the “Greatest Show on Turf.” Warner threw for 414 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-16 Super Bowl win against the Tennessee Titans. Some, however, might have forgotten Warner’s showing, as the game was decided by the final play, a game-saving tackle at the 1-yard line by linebacker Mike Jones. — Jones
Super Bowl XXXV: Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore
Who needs offense? The Baltimore Ravens rode their defense to a 34-7 win over the Giants and secured the franchise’s first Super Bowl. Lewis didn’t have gaudy stats (five total tackles, four passes defended), but there was no denying he was the engine behind Baltimore’s dominant defense. Lewis also was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year during the regular season. — Jones
Super Bowl XXXVI: Tom Brady, QB, New England
This one started it all for Brady. He only threw for 145 yards and a touchdown in one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, as the Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams and their “Greatest Show on Turf.” Ty Law scored on a pick six, and Adam Vinatieri booted the game-winning field goal at the buzzer, but Brady still walked away with the honor. — Holder
Super Bowl XXXVII: Dexter Jackson, S, Tampa Bay
Playing the Raiders, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a unique advantage. Their new coach, Jon Gruden, coached the Raiders for four seasons before being traded to Tampa Bay. Gruden had enough intel on Oakland’s MVP quarterback Rich Gannon that the defense flustered him for most of the night. In the 48-21 victory, Jackson had two of Gannon’s five interceptions, both coming in the first half. Jackson was just the second safety to win MVP. — Jones
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Super Bowl XXXVIII: Tom Brady, QB, New England
The Patriots put the 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Brady’s shoulders, as New England pulled off its second buzzer-beater Super Bowl win in three seasons. Brady completed 32 of 48 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed his final five passes in the game’s final 1:08 to set up Vinatieri’s game-winning kick. — Holder
Super Bowl XXXIX: Deion Branch, WR, New England
Maybe voters grew tired of giving Brady the MVP. Or maybe voters wanted to make up for not voting for Branch in the previous Super Bowl after he caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. Regardless, the Patriots wide receiver produced his second consecutive monster Super Bowl game with 11 catches for 133 yards in the 24-21 win over the Eagles. — Holder
Super Bowl XL: Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh
Much of the game’s buildup was about running back Jerome Bettis, as the game was played in his hometown of Detroit. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was still early in his career and completed only nine passes and had two interceptions. Ward had five catches for 123 yards and a touchdown — and that touchdown catch was from wideout Antwaan Randle-El and not Roethlisberger. Even with the quarterback struggles, Ward still had a big game and tallied an 18-yard run. — Jones
Super Bowl XLI: Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
The Colts quarterback shook off the notion that he couldn’t win the big game, as Indianapolis beat the Bears 29-17. His numbers didn’t scream MVP — 247 yards with a touchdown — but Manning seemed like the no-brainer choice given he was the biggest name and his team won the Super Bowl. — Holder
Peyton Manning threw for 247 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI. (Rob Tringali / Sportschrome / Getty Images)
Super Bowl XLII: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
Nothing like Eli Manning and the Giants to ruin a potential perfect season for Brady and the Patriots. The ever-lasting memory occurred when David Tyree made the catch on the top of his helmet. A second memory came on Manning’s game-winning touchdown throw to Plaxico Burress. The quarterback had 255 passing yards and orchestrated two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to pull off a 17-14 win, a monster upset that gave New England its only loss of the season. — Holder
Super Bowl XLIII: Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh
The Steelers wide receiver amassed big-time numbers with nine catches for 131 yards in a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals. His game-winning touchdown grab along the edge of the end zone, however, provided the lasting moment of Super Bowl XLIII. Additionally, Holmes’ reception from Ben Roethlisberger with 35 seconds left in the game stopped a furious fourth-quarter comeback by the Cardinals. — Holder
Super Bowl XLIV: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans
Brees gave the New Orleans Saints one of the greatest moments in the history of the city by playing with precision in the team’s lone Super Bowl win. The Saints quarterback one-upped Peyton Manning, a New Orleanian, and the Colts by completing 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, Tracy Porter finished this game off with the pick six on Manning. — Holder
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Super Bowl XLV: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay
It still seems wild that this is Rodgers’ only appearance in the Super Bowl. It was no surprise the Packers would lean on him to win. Green Bay ran the ball only 13 times for 50 yards. Never before had a team won the Super Bowl with that few rushing attempts. But Rodgers found Jordy Nelson for a touchdown and Greg Jennings for two scores to hold off the Steelers. — Jones
Super Bowl XLVI: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
The Giants trusted Manning with the ball, and he completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards and one touchdown in a 21-17 win and another Super Bowl victory over the Patriots. He orchestrated the final touchdown drive starting from the 12-yard line with 3:46 remaining and ended with a go-ahead Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown run with 1:04 to go. The famed 38-yard connection with Mario Manningham opened that drive. — Holder
Super Bowl XLVII: Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore
So much happened in this game. Flacco threw three first-half touchdown passes to put the Ravens up 21-6 at halftime. Jacoby Jones opened the second half with a record-setting 109-yard kickoff return. The power went out in the Superdome for 34 minutes after that score. But Flacco had enough offense, coupled with some timely defense late, to hold off the 49ers 34-31. He threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns. — Jones
Super Bowl XLVIII: Malcolm Smith, LB, Seattle
In a 43-8 blowout win over the Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks linebacker helped give credence to the team’s “Legion of Boom” defense. Smith returned an interception off Peyton Manning for a touchdown, and he added a fumble recovery and 10 tackles in the Seahawks’ lone Super Bowl win. — Holder
Super Bowl XLIX: Tom Brady, QB, New England
Brady chalked up monster numbers and his third MVP award with 328 yards and four touchdowns on 37-of-50 passing to push New England past Seattle. He threw two of those touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help the Patriots regain the lead. There’s no MVP award for Brady, however, if Malcolm Butler didn’t pick off Russell Wilson at the goal line — or, perhaps, if Marshawn Lynch ran the ball on that play instead. — Holder
Tom Brady threw for 328 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl XLIX win. (Barry Chin / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Super Bowl 50: Von Miller, LB, Denver
The Broncos couldn’t rely on Peyton Manning to save them, as he only had 141 passing yards and one interception. But the Denver defense was as dominant, and Miller made life tough on league MVP Cam Newton. Denver only had 11 first downs and 194 net yards of offense, but Miller had six tackles, two forced fumbles and 2 1/2 sacks in a 24-10 victory. — Jones
Super Bowl LI: Tom Brady, QB, New England
The third-quarter score — 28-3 — will be synonymous with this Super Bowl. It’s also a point of agony for the Falcons and their fans. Brady completed 43 of 62 passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-28 overtime win and massive comeback. There’s an argument for James White as MVP, though, considering he scored three touchdowns (including the final two) and a two-point conversion. — Holder
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Super Bowl LII: Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia
Foles went from backup to legend in helping the Eagles win their first Super Bowl. He beat Tom Brady. He made “Philly Special” a part of the local football vernacular when he caught a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass from tight end Trey Burton on the play with that name. Carson Wentz was having an MVP-caliber season before his knee injury, but Foles made sure the Eagles did not fall off. Along with his reception, Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-33 win. — Jones
Super Bowl LIII: Julian Edelman, WR, New England
The Patriots wide receiver emerged in an otherwise lackluster Super Bowl. Edelman tallied 10 receptions for 141 yards as New England outlasted the Rams 13-3. He basically edged running back Sony Michel, who accounted for 94 rushing yards and the only touchdown of the game. — Holder
Super Bowl LIV: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City
The herding of a new GOAT began that night. Mahomes went 26-of-42 passing for 286 yards and two touchdowns and propelled the Chiefs to their first Lombardi Trophy since Super Bowl IV with a 31-20 victory over the 49ers. He guided touchdown drives on three consecutive possessions to give Kansas City the win. — Holder
Super Bowl LV: Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay
When Brady signed with Tampa Bay, he brought instant credibility and parlayed it into postseason success. Any questions as to whether he needed to be in New England to win were answered by the Bucs’ dominant 31-9 win over the Chiefs. It also was the first time a team played in its home stadium for the Super Bowl. Brady threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns. — Jones
Super Bowl LVI: Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
After more than 50 years of no team playing the Super Bowl in its home stadium, it happened in back-to-back years with the Rams playing at SoFi Stadium. Kupp was good, finishing with eight catches for 92 yards and two scores. He captured the triple crown for receiving in the regular season, so it was no surprise he showed up in the biggest game of the season. — Jones
Super Bowl LVII: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City
Mahomes and the Chiefs stormed back against the Eagles with two of the quarterback’s three touchdown passes occurring in the fourth quarter. He then guided Kansas City to a game-winning drive after the Eagles tied it late in the fourth quarter with a Harrison Butker chip-shot field goal to give Kansas City a 38-35 come-from-behind win and another Super Bowl victory. — Holder
(Top photos of Tom Brady and Joe Montana: Heinz Kluetmeier / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images; and Focus on Sport / Getty Images)
