Even in the biggest game of the year, the Super Bowl, the quarterbacks for the two teams are often the biggest stars of the night. However, over the previous 59 NFL championship games, certain performances stand far above the rest. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 greatest performances by a QB in the Super Bowl.
10. Joe Namath – 206 passing yards at Super Bowl III
Compared to some of the other players on this list, Joe Namath’s 206 passing yards and no touchdowns in Super Bowl III aren’t very impressive. Many also feel Matt Snell should have won that year’s MVP award. However, not every legendary performance is about stats. The New York Jets don’t pull off what is viewed by some as the biggest upset in NFL history without “Joe Willy.”
His leadership and grit after guaranteeing victory are iconic and a seminal moment in NFL history. To this day, it is the only Super Bowl the Jets have won, and it took a truly special performance from a New York sports icon for it to happen.
9. Kurt Warner – 3 TDs, 377 passing yards at Super Bowl XLIII
Kurt Warner had the greatest rags-to-riches story in NFL history. He went from being a stockboy at a grocery store to becoming a two-time NFL MVP. However, after a career dip where it seemed like he was done as an elite talent, he had a surprise resurgence with the Arizona Cardinals late in his career and delivered one of his last legendary performances at Super Bowl XLIII.
While he had a big pick-six in the first half, he was a huge reason why his team still had a chance until the final minutes after throwing for three TDs and 377 yards. It will go down as one of the greatest Super Bowl QB performances in a losing effort.
8. Eli Manning – 2 TDs, 255 yards at Super Bowl XLVI
Although he has yet to get a nod to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there is no doubt that Eli Manning is a Super Bowl legend. He has won MVP honors twice, but his most memorable performance came against the then-undefeated Patriots in 2008.
At Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants great didn’t have stats that jumped off the page with 255 passing yards and a pair of TDs. However, he led one of the greatest game-winning drives in SB history that included, arguably, the most famous play in the history of the game when he evaded a strong Patriots pass rush to hit David Tyree on an improbable bomb that kept Big Blue’s title hopes alive.
At a time when Tom Brady seemed unbeatable, Manning outplayed him enroute to becoming a New York sports legend.
7. Drew Brees – 2 TDs, 288 passing yards at Super Bowl XLIV
In a clash of two of the greatest QBs of all-time, Drew Brees and his New Orleans Saints battled Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts at Super Bowl XLIV. While the latter threw for more yards, Brees was close to perfect, connecting on 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards, two TDs, and no INTs. It was another display of why he is one of the greatest players to ever play the position and will go down in New Orleans lore for helping bring the city its lone Super Bowl win.
6. Troy Aikman – 4 TDs, 140.7 passer rating at Super Bowl XXVII
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 delivered the Hall of Fame QB’s best.
In their first of two straight years battling the Buffalo Bills, Dallas obliterated the squad from New York 52-17. Aikman played a key role in the route with a highly efficient performance as he missed on just eight of his 30 pass attempts, threw for 273 yards, and posted four touchdowns against a talented Buffalo defense.
5. Nick Foles – 3 TDs, 373 passing yards at Super Bowl LII
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 as he would lose his starting job and become a journeyman QB in the league. 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, but he also went toe-to-toe with NFL legend Tom Brady. Throwing three touchdowns for 373 yards in an upset win over the Patriots. It was the greatest performance ever by a backup QB in the Super Bowl.
4. Phil Simms – 3 TDs, 150.9 passer rating at Super Bowl XXI
While the 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.
3. Steve Young – 6 TDs, 374 total yards at Super Bowl XXIX
The first of two appearances by a San Francisco 49ers quarterback on this list comes from Hall-of-Fame quarterback Steve Young. In the team’s matchup against San Diego in 1995, the lefty absolutely torched the Chargers‘ defense in a 49-26 Super Bowl XXIX drubbing.
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 unlikely to ever be eclipsed.
2. Tom Brady – 3 TDs, 505 passing yards at Super Bowl LII
No quarterback has gone to more Super Bowls than New England Patriots legend Tom Brady. While he has been victorious in many of them (seven to be exact), there are instances where the five-time Super Bowl MVP was also special in defeat. The best showing of his three losses came in a 2018 upset 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 single-game 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 Champions. His 505 yards are a record that will probably never be broken.
1. Joe Montana – 5 TDs, 147.6 passer rating at Super Bowl XXIV
Joe Montana’s performance in Super Bowl XXIV is the best of all time because his stat sheet combined what made both Young and Simms’ games so memorable. The 1990 MVP put on an other worldly showcase in leading the San Francisco 49ers to a destructive 55-10 win over the Denver Broncos.
Not only was the Hall-of-Famer highly efficient as he threw for an outstanding 147.6 passer rating and missed on just seven of his 29 passes, but he also nearly threw for 300 yards and had a then-record five TDs.
Super Bowl XXIV was his final game in a 49ers uniform, his last appearance in the Super Bowl, and it was the best game in his legendary career.
