Throughout the long history of the NFL Championship game, the legendary Super Bowl QB performances are what still resonate with football fans. But what truly is the cream of the crop when it comes to quarterback play in Super Bowl history? Well, look no further because we offer up the seven best Super Bowl QB performances of all time.
7. Nick Foles – 3 TDs, 373 passing yards at Super Bowl LII (2018)
Nick Foles had one of the great comeback stories in Philadelphia Eagles history. After being a Pro Bowler in his second season, his career went into a downward spiral. He lost his starting job and became a journeyman quarterback. Eventually, he got a second chance in Philly in 2017 and was thrust into a difficult spot. Leading the team to the Super Bowl after starting QB Carson Wentz went down with a season-ending injury.
However, not only did Foles lead the Eagles to the big game, he went toe-to-toe with NFL legend Tom Brady. Throwing three touchdowns and for 373 yards in an upset win over the New England Patriots. It was the greatest performance ever by a backup QB in the Super Bowl.
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6. Joe Namath – 206 passing yards at Super Bowl III (1969)
Compared to some of the other players on this list, Joe Namath’s 206 passing yards and no touchdowns in Super Bowl III isn’t very impressive. Many feel also Matt Snell should have won the game’s MVP award. However, not every legendary Super Bowl QB performance is about stats. The Jets don’t pull off what is still viewed by some as the biggest upset in NFL history without “Joe Willy.”
His leadership and grit after guaranteeing victory is iconic and a seminal moment in NFL history. To this day it is still the only Super Bowl the New York Jets have won. And it took a truly special performance from a New York sports icon for it to happen.
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5. Troy Aikman – 4 TDs, 140.7 passer rating at Super Bowl XXVII (1993)
In the 1990s, the Dallas Cowboys recaptured their dynasty magic of the 70s with a fantastic offense led by quarterback Troy Aikman. Of their three championships in the decade, 1993 offered up a legendary Super Bowl QB performance.
In their first of two straight years battling the Buffalo Bills in the big game, Dallas obliterated the squad from New York 52-17. The Hall-of-Fame signal-caller was key in the routing with a highly efficient performance where he only missed on eight of his 30 pass attempts, threw for 273 yards, and posted four touchdowns against a talented Buffalo defense.
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4. Tom Brady – 3 TDs, 505 passing yards at Super Bowl LII (2018)
No quarterback has gone to more Super Bowl games than New England Patriots legend Tom Brady. While he has been victorious in many of them (seven) there are some instances where the five-time Super Bowl MVP was still special in defeat. The best showing of his three losses came in a 2018 upset defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.
In the Patriots’ 41-33 setback to Nick Foles and the Eagles, the future Hall-of-Famer set a new Super Bowl QB record when he threw for an insane 505 yards. And despite 48 dropbacks, Brady never threw an interception and was only sacked once by the NFC Champion squad. His 505 yards in regulation is likely an NFL Championship record that will never be broken.
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3. Steve Young – 6 TDs, 374 total yards at Super Bowl XXIX (1995)
The first of two appearances by the San Francisco 49ers quarterback on this list comes from Hall-of-Famer Steve Young. In the team’s matchup against San Diego in 1995, the lefty absolutely torched the Chargers’ defense in a 49-26 drubbing by the legendary team.
That season’s NFL MVP showed why he was deserving of the honor as he posted a 134.7 passer rating, 374 yards threw the air, and a record six touchdown passes. A number, just like Brady’s 505 yards, that is likely to never be eclipsed.
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2. Phil Simms – 3 TDs, 150.9 passer rating at Super Bowl XXI (1987)
While the New York Giants went to the Super Bowl twice during Phil Simms’ tenure with the team, an injury limited him to only one appearance in the big game. However, in his lone chance to showcase his abilities to the world, he delivered one of the absolute greatest Super Bowl QB performances of all time.
In an era still led by run-first offenses, Simms posted the most efficient day in NFL championship history when he went 22 for 25 on his passes, threw for 268 yards, and tossed three touchdowns in a game where he had an unbelievable 150.9 passer rating. Just think about it: Phil Simms had as many touchdown passes on the day as he had incomplete passes. Truly amazing.
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1. Joe Montana – 5 TDs, 147.6 passer rating at Super Bowl XXIV (1990)
Joe Montana’s Super Bowl QB performance in 1990 is the best of all time because his stat sheet combined both of what made Young and Simms’ games so memorable. The Super Bowl XXIV MVP had an out-of-body performance in leading his team to a destructive 55-10 win over the Denver Broncos.
Not only was the Hall-of-Famer highly efficient as he posted an outstanding 147.6 passer rating, and missed on just seven of his 29 passes, but he was also just shy of a 300-yard game by three yards and tossed a near-record five touchdown passes. It was his final game in a 49ers uniform. His last appearance in the Super Bowl. And it was arguably the best game in his legendary career.
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