Coming Friday: Best games
50. Isaac Bruce — Part of the “Greatest Show on Turf,” Bruce caught 73-yard touchdown pass for game-winning points in XXXIV against Titans.
49. Deion Branch — Two-time Super Bowl champion earned MVP trophy in XXXIX after catching 11 passes for 133 yards for Patriots.
48. Timmy Smith — One-game wonder rushed for a Super Bowl record 204 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Redskins’ XXII victory over the Broncos.
47. Jim Kelly — He might have gone 0-for-4 in Super Bowls, but it wasn’t because of the Bills QB.
46. Len Dawson — After losing Super Bowl I to Packers, the Chiefs’ QB won MVP in Super Bowl IV, the last game played by an AFL team.
45. Ottis Anderson — Earned MVP of XXV by rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown in helping the Giants own the ball for 40:33 and upset the heavily favored Bills.
44. Art Shell — Dominant offensive tackle and three-time Super Bowl champion, who helped the Raiders compile 266 yards rushing against the Vikings in XI, 117 yards rushing against the Eagles (XV) and 231 rushing against the Redskins (XVIII).
43. Desmond Howard — Emerged as first special teams player to win the MVP award in XXXI after returning a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also had 90 yards in punt returns, accounting for 244 all-purpose yards as Packers beat the Patriots.
42. Ray Lewis — A two-time champ, the middle linebacker led one the NFL best defenses in 2000 season and earned MVP award in XXXV when he had three solo tackles, two assists and blocked four passes as Ravens dominated Giants. Retired after Ravens defeated the 49ers in XLVII.
41. Mark Rypien — MVP of XXVI throwing for 292 yards and two touchdowns as Washington defeated the Bills, making Rypien the first Canadian-born quarterback to start in the NFL and win the Super Bowl MVP award.
40. Cliff Branch — Three-time Super Bowl champion, who caught 14 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns, showing his “Commitment to Excellence.”
39. Ricky Sanders — Lost in Doug Williams’ MVP performance in XXII, Sanders caught nine passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns, while returning three kickoffs for 46 yards. At the time, he set Supe records for most receiving yards, most total yards (235), most TDs in one quarter (two), most receiving yards in one quarter (168) and longest TD reception (80 yards).
38. Joe Flacco — Passed for 287 yards and three TDs to earn MVP honors and help Ravens defeat the 49ers in XLVII, the first Super Bowl to feature two brothers (Jim and John Harbaugh) as opposing coaches.
37. Ben Roethlisberger — Two-time Super Bowl champion has yet to capture an MVP award in big game, but passed for 256 yards and engineered game-winning drive in XLIII against Cardinals that ended with 6-yard TD pass to Santonio Holmes.
36. Eli Manning — Two-time Super Bowl MVP credited with ended Patriots unbeaten season in XLII and validating it again in XLVI, making him 2-0 against Tom Brady in the big one.
35. Terrell Davis — MVP of XXXII, the Mile High saluter rushed for 157 yards and three TDs to lead Broncos to first ever Super Bowl victory despite missing most of second quarter with a migraine headache.
34. Ronnie Lott — Four-time Super Bowl champion was leader of 49ers’ defense.
33. Drew Brees — Won MVP award for XLIV delivering Saints their first Super Bowl victory, completing 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two TDs.
32. Peyton Manning — Five-time NFL MVP added Super Bowl MVP in XLI when he passed for 247 yards and one TD to defeat the Bears.
31. Manny Fernandez — Unsung hero of Super Bowl VII, with 17 tackles and one sack against the Redskins to help preserve the Dolphins’ undefeated season. Totaled 28 tackles, three sacks and a recovered a fumble in three Super Bowl appearances.
30. Brett Favre — Three-time NFL MVP never won Super Bowl MVP award, but passed for 246 yards and two TDs in XXXI win over Patriots and 256 yards and three TDs in XXXII loss to Broncos.
29. Michael Irvin — The Playmaker among playmakers didn’t win a Super Bowl MVP award, but caught seven passes for 114 yards and two TDs in XXVII and added 141 more yards in the Cowboys’ other two Super Bowl wins in the 1990s.
28. Richard Dent — Member of legendary 1985 Bears defense. MVP in XX destruction of Patriots after recording 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a batted pass.
27. Chuck Howley — Became first defensive player to be named MVP after intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble in Super Bowl V loss to Colts. Also had fumble recovery and interception in VI victory over Dolphins.
26. Joe Namath — Guaranteed victory and brought credibility to AFC with upset win over Colts in III. Namath did his part, completing 17 of 28 for 206 yards.
25. Mike Webster — Before his legacy was aligned with CTE, the Steelers’ center was dominant figure on offensive line that paved way for four Super Bowl victories.
24. L.C. Greenwood — Used his gold-colored shoes to sack Roger Staubach four times in X and was anchor in Steel Curtain defense that won four titles.
23. Reggie White — Capped a surprising free-agency decision to sign with Packers by leading storied franchise to victory in XXXI over Patriots, recording three sacks.
22. John Stallworth — Four-time Super Bowl champion who held or holds Super Bowl records for career average per catch (24.4 yards), and single-game average per catch of 40.33 yards in XIV. Caught 75-yard TD pass to help beat Cowboys in XIII.
21. John Riggins — Washington gained 276 rushing yards in XVIII with Riggins accounting for 166, including a 43-yard TD run for team’s first lead.
20. Larry Csonka — Became first running back to earn Super Bowl MVP award after setting record in VIII with 145 yards rushing on 33 carries as Dolphins scored 24 unanswered points to win a second consecutive Super Bowl.
19. Jim Plunkett — Resurrected Raider and former Heisman Trophy winner was MVP of XV when Oakland upset the Eagles, 27-10, to become first wild-card team to win it all. Threw two of his three TDs in first quarter to get Raiders off to a fast start. He finished with 261 yards passing for the game. Threw for 172 yards and one TD in XVIII win over Washington.
18. Roger Staubach — Led Cowboys to their first Super Bowl victory with masterful effort in Super Bowl VI. The Dallas defense didn’t allow a touchdown in 24-3 win over Dolphins and the offense rushed for 252 yards, but “Roger the Dodger” passed for a modest 119 yards and two TDs to claim MVP.
17. Kurt Warner — Former back-up got his chance and led Rams to victory in XXXIV, earning MVP in the first of his three Super Bowl appearances. Owns three highest single-game passing yardage totals in Super Bowl history.
16. Emmitt Smith — Three-time Super Bowl champion was MVP of XXVIII after Cowboys running back ran for 132 yards and two TDs to defeat the Bills.
15. Phil Simms — Set record for highest completion percentage in a Super Bowl connecting on 22 of 25 for 268 yards and three TDs in XXI against Broncos. Giants QB was named MVP and was first to utter, “I’m going to Disney World.”
14. Aaron Rodgers — XLV MVP after passing for 304 yards and three TDs in sterling performance to beat the Steelers and return the Lombardi Trophy to Green Bay.
13. John Elway — Lost first three Super Bowl appearances before winning back-to-back in XXXII and XXXIII. MVP of XXXIII, the last game of his career, passing for 336 yards on one TD to beat the Falcons. He also scored rushing TDs in four difference Super Bowls.
12. Lynn Swann — Four-time Super Bowl champion with Steelers became first receiver to win MVP honors after four catches for 161 yards and one touchdown in Super Bowl X. He totaled 364 receiving yards in four Super Bowls.
11. Marcus Allen — XVIII MVP with Raiders after rushing for 191 yards and two TDs against Redskins, including a classic zig-zag run of 74 yards.
10. Charles Haley — Only five-time Super Bowl champion. Was a disruptive force on Super Bowl Sundays with the 49ers (twice) and Cowboys (three times).
9. Doug Williams — Shattered stereotypes by passing for 340 yards overall and four TDs in the second quarter of XXII to beat the Broncos and become the first African-American quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.
8. Steve Young — Escaped the shadow of Montana by being named XXIX MVP after throwing for 325 yards and six TDs and rushing for 49 yards in beatdown of Chargers.
7. Troy Aikman — Triplets ringmaster had his glory moment in XXVII when he threw for 273 yards and four TDs in 52-17 rout of Bills at Rose Bowl, only be out-shined by Michael Jackson’s half-time performance.
6. Franco Harris — Four-time Super Bowl champion who always delivered in big games. He rushed for 158 yards and a TD to win MVP of IX.
5. Terry Bradshaw — A perfect 4-for-4 in Super Bowls with Steelers. Never has gotten enough credit for getting the most out of the talent around him.
4. Tom Brady — Super Bowl losses shouldn’t tarnish Super Bowl success. A three-time Super Bowl MVP and a four-time champion. He holds just about all the Super Bowl passing record, but losses to Giants also are part of his legacy.
3. Jerry Rice — Mississippi Valley State sensation made him and two different quarterbacks Super Bowl MVPs. On a bad ankle the three-time Super Bowl champion caught 11 passes for 215 yards and a TD in XXIII against the Bengals to become third receiver to earn MVP honors.
2. Bart Starr — The pressure for the Packers to defeat the upstart AFL in the first two title games was enormous. If it wasn’t named the Lombardi Trophy, it would be the Starr Trophy.
1. Joe Montana — Joe Cool was at his best when pressure was at its greatest. The four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP totaled 11 TDs and zero INTs in four Super Bowls. #GOAT