Super Bowl MVP Winners: A Comprehensive List & Deep Dive

Hello, sports enthusiasts! Today, we're diving headfirst into the world of football's biggest event, the Super Bowl, and shining a spotlight on those who've left their mark as Super Bowl MVP winners. So, grab a snack, get comfy, and let's journey through the annals of NFL history together, shall we? Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and super bowl mvp winners list.

What is the Super Bowl MVP Award?

Before we dive into our list of Super Bowl MVP winners, let's quickly brush up on what makes this award so special. The Super Bowl MVP (Most Valuable Player) award is presented annually to the player who has the most outstanding performance in the Super Bowl game. This prestigious honor is determined by a panel of media members, each representing a different media outlet.

The award was first handed out in Super Bowl V, with quarterback Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts becoming the inaugural recipient. Since then, it's become a coveted prize, symbolizing a player's exceptional skill, clutch performance, and invaluable contribution to their team's victory.

Super Bowl MVP Winners: The Complete List

Alright, guys, let's not keep you in suspense any longer. Here's a comprehensive list of Super Bowl MVP winners, from the first game in 1967 to the most recent one in 2022. We've included the player's position, team, and the year they won the award.

1960s

- Super Bowl I (1967): Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay Packers - Super Bowl II (1968): Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay Packers - Super Bowl III (1969): Joe Namath, QB, New York Jets - Super Bowl IV (1970): Len Dawson, QB, Kansas City Chiefs - Super Bowl V (1971): Johnny Unitas, QB, Baltimore Colts - Super Bowl VI (1972): Roger Staubach, QB, Dallas Cowboys - Super Bowl VII (1973): Jake Staub, LB, Miami Dolphins - Super Bowl VIII (1974): Lynn Swann, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers - Super Bowl IX (1975): Franco Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers - Super Bowl X (1976): Lynn Swann, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers - Super Bowl XI (1977): Fred Biletnikoff, WR, Oakland Raiders - Super Bowl XII (1978): Randy White and Harvey Martin, DT/DE, Dallas Cowboys (Co-MVPs) - Super Bowl XIII (1979): Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers - Super Bowl XIV (1980): Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

1980s

- Super Bowl XV (1981): Jim Plunkett, QB, Oakland Raiders - Super Bowl XVI (1982): Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl XVII (1983): John Riggins, RB, Washington Redskins - Super Bowl XVIII (1984): Marcus Allen, RB, Los Angeles Raiders - Super Bowl XIX (1985): Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl XX (1986): Richard Dent, DE, Chicago Bears - Super Bowl XXI (1987): Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants - Super Bowl XXII (1988): Doug Williams, QB, Washington Redskins - Super Bowl XXIII (1989): Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers

1990s

- Super Bowl XXIV (1990): Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl XXV (1991): Ottis Anderson, RB, New York Giants - Super Bowl XXVI (1992): Mark Rypien, QB, Washington Redskins - Super Bowl XXVII (1993): Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys - Super Bowl XXVIII (1994): Troy Aikman, QB, Dallas Cowboys - Super Bowl XXIX (1995): Steve Young, QB, San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl XXX (1996): Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys - Super Bowl XXXI (1997): Desmond Howard, KR, Green Bay Packers - Super Bowl XXXII (1998): Terrell Davis, RB, Denver Broncos - Super Bowl XXXIII (1999): John Elway, QB, Denver Broncos

2000s

- Super Bowl XXXIV (2000): Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis Rams - Super Bowl XXXV (2001): Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens - Super Bowl XXXVI (2002): Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots - Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004): Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots - Super Bowl XXXIX (2005): Deion Branch, WR, New England Patriots - Super Bowl XL (2006): Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers - Super Bowl XLI (2007): Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts - Super Bowl XLII (2008): Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants - Super Bowl XLIII (2009): Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers - Super Bowl XLIV (2010): Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

2010s

- Super Bowl XLV (2011): Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers - Super Bowl XLVI (2012): Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants - Super Bowl XLVII (2013): Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens - Super Bowl XLVIII (2014): Malcolm Smith, LB, Seattle Seahawks - Super Bowl XLIX (2015): Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots - Super Bowl 50 (2016): Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos - Super Bowl LI (2017): Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots - Super Bowl LII (2018): Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles - Super Bowl LIII (2019): Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

2020s

- Super Bowl LIV (2020): Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs - Super Bowl LV (2021): Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Super Bowl LVI (2022): Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Notable Trends & Fun Facts

Now that we've got our list of Super Bowl MVP winners all laid out, let's explore some interesting trends and fun facts about this prestigious award.

Quarterbacks Dominate

As you can see from our list, quarterbacks have a clear advantage when it comes to winning the Super Bowl MVP. They've taken home the award a whopping 31 times since its inception in 1967. The next most frequent position is wide receiver, with 7 wins.

Repeat MVPs

Only four players have managed to win the Super Bowl MVP award more than once:

1. 1. Tom Brady (QB, New England Patriots/Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 5 wins
2. 2. Joe Montana (QB, San Francisco 49ers/Kansas City Chiefs) - 3 wins
3. 3. Terry Bradshaw (QB, Pittsburgh Steelers) - 3 wins
4. 4. Eli Manning (QB, New York Giants) - 2 wins

Co-MVPs

In Super Bowl XII, defensive tackles Randy White and Harvey Martin of the Dallas Cowboys became the only players to share the Super Bowl MVP award.

Underdogs & Comebacks

Some of the most memorable Super Bowl MVP performances have come from players on underdog teams or those who've engineered incredible comebacks. Here are a few standout examples:

- Joe Namath (Super Bowl III, 1969) - Led the underdog New York Jets to a stunning upset over the Baltimore Colts, fulfilling his guarantee of victory. - Doug Williams (Super Bowl XXII, 1988) - Became the first African-American quarterback to start a Super Bowl and led the Washington Redskins to a historic victory over the Denver Broncos. - Tom Brady (Super Bowl LI, 2017) - Orchestrated the greatest Super Bowl comeback in history, erasing a 25-point deficit to secure a victory for the New England Patriots.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it, folks! Our comprehensive list of Super Bowl MVP winners, along with some fascinating trends and fun facts. Whether you're a die-hard football fan or just a casual observer, there's no denying the significance and allure of this coveted award.

As we look ahead to the future of the NFL, one thing is certain: the Super Bowl will continue to captivate audiences worldwide, and the Super Bowl MVP will remain a cherished symbol of excellence in the world of sports.

Until next time, keep your eyes on the prize, and remember to enjoy the game!