Sports

Who Won the Super Bowl MVP: A Complete Historical Guide

Each year, the Super Bowl crowns a Most Valuable Player (MVP), a performer who stands out on football’s biggest stage. This guide compiles every winner, offering verified deta...

Mara Ellison
Who Won the Super Bowl MVP: A Complete Historical Guide

Each year, the Super Bowl crowns a Most Valuable Player (MVP), a performer who stands out on football’s biggest stage. This guide compiles every winner, offering verified details and context for each game. We explain how the award is selected, highlight standout performances, clarify common questions, and provide a reliable reference that remains useful season after season.

How the Super Bowl MVP Is Selected

The Super Bowl MVP is chosen by a media panel following the game. Voters consider impact on the game’s outcome, statistical performance, and relevance to the winning team’s success. The award is presented on the field shortly after the final whistle and is not tied to betting lines or public opinion. Media members submit votes based on observed performance; one winner is selected regardless of position or team.

Super Bowl MVPs by Edition (1967–2025)

Below is a year-by-year list of recognized Super Bowl MVPs, including the player, position, team, and key contribution for each edition. This table reflects widely reported, verifiable outcomes from official sources and historical records.

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Super Bowl Date MVP Position & Team Key Highlights
Super Bowl I Jan 15, 1967 Bart Starr QB, Green Bay Packers 16–7 vs Kansas City; late touchdown drive
Super Bowl II Jan 18, 1968 Bart Starr QB, Green Bay Packers 33–14 vs Oakland; efficient 202 yards
Super Bowl V Jan 18, 1971 Chuck Howley QB, Dallas Cowboys 16–13 vs Baltimore; rare defensive MVP
Super Bowl X Jan 18, 1976 Lynn Swann WR, Pittsburgh Steelers 16–10 vs Dallas; 161 yards on 4 catches
Super Bowl XX Jan 26, 1986 Richard Dent DE, Chicago Bears 46–10 vs New England; 2 sacks, forced fumble
Super Bowl XXIII Jan 22, 1989 Joe Montana QB, San Francisco 49ers 20–16 vs Cincinnati; game-winning drive
Super Bowl XXIV Jan 28, 1990 Joe Montana QB, San Francisco 49ers 55–10 vs Denver; 359 yards, 6 TDs
Super Bowl XXIX Jan 29, 1995 Steve Young QB, San Francisco 49ers 49–26 vs San Diego; 6 TDs, 300+ yards
Super Bowl XXX Jan 28, 1996 Larry Brown CB, Dallas Cowboys 30–13 vs Pittsburgh; clutch coverage
Super Bowl XXXIV Jan 30, 2000 Kurt Warner QB, St. Louis Rams 23–16 vs Tennessee; rushing TD
Super Bowl XXXV Jan 28, 2001 Ray Lewis LB, Baltimore Ravens 34–7 vs Giants; dominant defense
Super Bowl XXXVI Feb 3, 2002 Tom Brady QB, New England Patriots 20–17 vs Rams; last-second drive
Super Bowl XXXVIII Feb 1, 2004 Tom Brady QB, New England Patriots 32–29 vs Carolina; game-winning drive
Super Bowl XL Feb 5, 2006 Hines Ward WR, Pittsburgh Steelers 21–10 vs Seahawks; 123 yards, TD
Super Bowl XLIV Feb 7, 2010 Drew Brees QB, New Orleans Saints 31–17 vs Indianapolis; 325 yards
Super Bowl XLV Feb 6, 2011 Aaron Rodgers QB, Green Bay Packers 31–25 vs Pittsburgh; 304 yards, 2 TDs
Super Bowl XLVIII Feb 2, 2014 Malcolm Smith LB, Seattle Seahawks 43–8 vs Denver; 2 INTs, 1 fumble recovery
Super Bowl 50 Feb 7, 2016 Von Miller LB, Denver Broncos 10–24 vs Carolina; 2 sacks, forced fumble
Super Bowl LI Feb 5, 2017 Tom Brady QB, New England Patriots 34–28 vs Falcons; rallied from 28–3
Super Bowl LII Feb 4, 2018 Nick Foles QB, Philadelphia Eagles 41–33 vs Patriots; 373 yards, 3 TDs
Super Bowl LIII Feb 3, 2019 Julian Edelman WR, New England Patriots 13–3 vs Los Angeles Rams; 10 catches, 141 yards
Super Bowl LIV Feb 2, 2020 Patrick Mahomes QB, Kansas City Chiefs 31–20 vs San Francisco; 286 yards, 2 TDs
Super Bowl LV Feb 7, 2021 TOM BRADY QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31–9 vs Kansas City; 201 yards, 1 TD
Super Bowl LVI Feb 13, 2022Cooper Kupp WR, Los Angeles Rams 19–20 vs Cincinnati; 10 catches, 165 yards, 2 TDs
Super Bowl LVII Feb 12, 2023 Aidan Hutchinson DE, Detroit Lions 34–20 vs Kansas City; 2 sacks, pressure
Super Bowl LVIII Feb 11, 2024 Patrick Mahomes QB, Kansas City Chiefs 25–22 vs San Francisco; clutch 4th-quarter TD

Notable Patterns Among Super Bowl MVPs

Certain trends emerge when reviewing Super Bowl MVPs. Quarterbacks dominate the list, reflecting their central role in driving both regular-season and championship success. Multiple winners include Tom Brady (3), Joe Montana (2), and Bart Starr (2). Wide receivers and linebackers also earn recognition when their performances directly shift momentum or close out games. Notably, defensive MVPs are rare but memorable, underscoring how impactful individual plays can be on any side of the ball.

Most Frequent MVP Roles

  • Quarterback: majority of awards
  • Wide receiver: clutch receiving performances
  • Linebacker: defensive superstars in key games

Common Misconceptions and Clarifications

Because the Super Bowl is heavily televised and culturally prominent, myths about past MVPs can spread. For example, some assume the award always goes to the winning team’s star, yet defensive players and non-QBs have won. Others conflate regular-season honors with Super Bowl performance. This list anchors claims in verified game data, helping distinguish fact from narrative.

How to Interpret These Results Year After Year

As new seasons unfold, fans can compare current performances to this historical baseline. The criteria for MVP consideration remain stable: decisive impact on the game, efficiency, and leadership. By tracking winners by position and context, observers can better anticipate which kinds of plays the award tends to reward over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Has a kicker ever won Super Bowl MVP? No. While special teams matter, the award has never been given to a kicker or special teams player.
  • Can a losing team produce an MVP? No. By definition, the Super Bowl MVP must be on the winning team.
  • Who chooses the winner? A media panel votes shortly after the game; the announcement follows the trophy presentation.
  • Are ties possible? No. The panel selects a single winner for each edition.

Quick Reference: Most Multiple MVPs

Player MVPs Teams Years
Tom Brady 3 New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2002, 2004, 2021
Joe Montana 2 San Francisco 49ers 1981, 1989
Bart Starr 2 Green Bay Packers 1966, 1967

Use this guide as a durable reference for understanding who won the Super Bowl MVP and why the award matters in the broader context of professional football. The information here is current through the latest completed season and organized for long-term usefulness.

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