'The Greatest Show on Turf' - in perhaps the greatest team victory in Super Bowl history. Louis could not get its offense going in the first half but put together impressive drives in the.
From a four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback drafted in the sixth round, to an MVP quarterback of the first two Super Bowls, the greatest players in Super Bowl history delivered when the stakes were the highest.
To rank the 50 greatest players in Super Bowl history, ESPN's Stats & Information group put together a ballot of the 120 greatest players in football's biggest game based on their statistics and overall performance. Then our expert panel of writers, editors, broadcasters and other experts voted on head-to-head matchups with more than 3,000 votes cast. The result is the 50 greatest players in Super Bowl history.
We released Nos. 50-31 on Tuesday and Nos. 30-11 on Wednesday. Check out the top 10 players in Super Bowl history below.
- From Santonio Holmes' toe-tap to Malcolm Butler's interception, check out the greatest endings in Super Bowl history. Check out the greatest plays from the duo of DK Metcalf and A.J.
- 50 Greatest Super Bowl Performances of All Time By Aaron Tallent, 2/4/20, 8:00 AM EST Jerry Rice showed why he's the GOAT in Super Bowl XXIII With 201 passing yards and three touchdowns, Tampa Bay.
- A GW field goal by a rookie kicker; Super Bowl V is one of the Greatest Super Bowls of All-Time. Greatest Super Bowl of All-Time – My Faves Tomorrow is Super Bowl LV. The day before the Super Bowl, I always get a little nostalgic.
If you want to get involved in the discussion or just follow along, #SuperBowl50Rank is the Twitter hashtag to use. You also can follow along here: @ESPNNFL.
Steve Young
QB | San Francisco 49ers | Super Bowls: XXIV, XXIX
Video: Why Young ranks No. 10
Who can forget the scene of Young, on the Niners' sideline late in their 49-26 blowout of the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX, asking a teammate to remove the 'imaginary' monkey off his back? And why not? Emerging from Joe Montana's shadow, Young's tour de force included a record six TD passes, no interceptions and 325 yards passing while completing 24 of 36 attempts against the Chargers. Yes, he was MVP of the game. -- Paul Gutierrez
Kurt Warner
QB | St. Louis Rams/Arizona Cardinals | Super Bowls: XXXIV, XXXVI, XLIII
Video: Why Warner ranks No. 9
A better bounce or two along the way, and one could make the case that Warner should be in the top three on this list. Alas, the Rams and Cardinals came up just shy of making Warner three-for-three in his Super Bowl appearances. But it speaks to his greatness on the biggest stage that he's in the top 10 here with just one Super Bowl victory on his résumé. In three cracks at the big game, Warner averaged 385.3 passing yards per game and was responsible for the three most prolific passing days in Super Bowl history. He's one of just three quarterbacks to lead multiple teams to the Super Bowl. -- Nick Wagoner
Eli Manning
QB | New York Giants | Super Bowls: XLII, XLVI
Video: Why Manning ranks No. 8
Manning is a combined 49-of-74 (66.2 percent) for 551 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in his two Super Bowls -- both victories over the Patriots. But those victories will be best remembered for two indelible throws: the one David Tyree caught on his helmet to keep a fourth-quarter drive alive against the unbeaten Patriots in XLII, and the brilliant, toe-tapping, sideline catch by Mario Manningham in the fourth quarter of XLVI. Manning's game-winning drive in XLII started with 2:39 left and the Giants down 14-10. His game-winning drive in XLVI began with 3:46 left and the Giants down 17-15. Even if he never plays in another Super Bowl, Eli Manning goes down as one of the most clutch quarterbacks in Super Bowl history. -- Dan Graziano
Terry Bradshaw
QB | Pittsburgh Steelers | Super Bowls: IX, X, XIII, XIV
Video: Why Bradshaw ranks No. 7
Bradshaw is easily one of the greatest big-game quarterbacks in the game's history. He was the first quarterback to win more than two Super Bowls. He was a two-time Super Bowl MVP. His 112.8 passer rating in four Super Bowl appearances is the third highest. He averaged 11 yards per completion on his way to 932 yards and nine touchdowns combined, including four on Dallas' vaunted defense in Super Bowl XIII. In his first two Super Bowl wins, Bradshaw set a turnover-free tone with zero interceptions. -- Jeremy Fowler
John Elway
QB | Denver Broncos | Super Bowls: XXI, XXII, XXIV, XXXII, XXXIII
Video: Why Elway ranks No. 6
When it comes to Super Bowls, few players live with more disappointment from the title game than Elway. Yet, he kept committing himself to get back, always joking that it got to a point when his mom wasn't sure he should want to make it back to a Super Bowl. There were the 39-20, 42-10 and 55-10 losses in the title game with Elway before the Broncos were finally able to break through. Elway won back-to-back championships in his final two seasons -- 1997 and 1998 -- with his helicopter play against the Packers in XXXII being the signature effort for a Hall of Fame player who never quit trying to get over the last hurdle. -- Jeff Legwold
Emmitt Smith
RB | Dallas Cowboys | Super Bowls: XXVII, XXVIII, XXX
Video: Why Smith ranks No. 5
Perhaps it's fitting the NFL's all-time leading rusher is the top back in Super Bowl history. Smith's five rushing touchdowns are a Super Bowl record, and he is second to Franco Harris in carries (70) and third in yards behind Harris and Larry Csonka (289). He was named MVP of Super Bowl XXVIII with 30 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills. He also had two touchdowns in Super Bowl XXX against the Steelers. -- Todd Archer
Jerry Rice
WR | San Francisco 49ers/Oakland Raiders | Super Bowls: XXIII, XXIV, XXIX, XXXVII
Video: Why Rice ranks No. 4
So, if conventional wisdom has it that Jerry Rice is the GOAT regardless of position or era, how in the world are three players ranked ahead of him? Montana fans wonder, as well, especially with their symbiotic relationship early on, along with Rice's combined 589 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 33 catches in four Super Bowls (three rings and MVP of Super Bowl XXIII). Twice he scored three TDs, and he scored in all four games. -- Paul Gutierrez
Joe Montana
QB | San Francisco 49ers | Super Bowls: XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV
Video: Why Montana ranks No. 3
Fans of Joe Cool demand a recount. Not a single one of his four rings is tarnished or accompanied by a scandal affixed with a '-gate.' Montana was at his best on the biggest of stages, winning three Super Bowl MVPs. He threw for 11 touchdowns, 1,142 yards and completed 68 percent of his passes without getting picked off. He also rushed for a pair of touchdowns and, oh yeah, never lost a Super Bowl game, unlike the guy ranked at the top, who already has dropped two. Recount? Yes, please. -- Paul Gutierrez
Troy Aikman
QB | Dallas Cowboys | Super Bowls: XXVII, XXVIII, XXX
Video: Why Aikman ranks No. 2
Aikman finds himself in the Hall of Fame because of winning and accuracy. He won all three of his Super Bowl appearances and completed a Super Bowl-record 70 percent of his passes in those games. His best performance was his first, completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions, in Super Bowl XXVII to beat the Bills. Only two quarterbacks had more touchdown passes in a Super Bowl than Aikman. -- Todd Archer
Tom Brady
QB | New England Patriots | Super Bowls: XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLII, XLVI, XLIX
Video: Why Brady ranks No. 1
When asked which Super Bowl ring is his favorite, Tom Brady's response is always the same: 'The next one.' Brady's relentless pursuit of the 'next one,' which is a yearlong endeavor in which he shapes his eating habits and sleep patterns around being at his best on the football field, is as strong as ever at the age of 38. Brady is only the third quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to four Super Bowl wins, joining his boyhood idol Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw, and he's a three-time Super Bowl MVP, which matches Montana for the most ever. Brady is also the all-time leader in Super Bowl passing yards (1,605), touchdown passes (13) and starts (six). What makes Brady rise up on the biggest stage of professional football? 'I think his consistency,' said Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who has worked directly with Brady for nine seasons. 'Even though these games have a finality to them that some games in the regular season or preseason don't have, he approaches it the same way.' And there is no end in sight. Brady hopes to play well into his 40s and at this point hasn't shown much, if any, signs of decline. -- Mike Reiss
#SuperBowl50Rank: 50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1
The Super Bowl is meant to be a battle between the two best teams in football. They are often thrilling, memorable affairs that capture the attention of a nation. With so many worthy candidates, it is difficult to choose, but here stands the eight best Super Bowl games of all time.
Super Bowl LI (2017)
New England Patriots – 34 / Atlanta Falcons – 28
The first half featured a Falcons beatdown of the Patriots. Some people wrote off Brady as past his prime and saw this as a sign of a fading Pats dynasty. So much for that theory. Coach Belichick must have given one heck of a halftime speech because the Pats came out on fire in the second half. Down 28-3, they stormed back to force the first ever Super Bowl overtime, and eventually won it all on a pitch to running back James White. It’s the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history and gave Brady his fifth ring.
Super Bowl XLIX (2015)
New England Patriots – 28 / Seattle Seahawks – 24
This game was just flat out exciting. Russell Wilson and the “Legion of Boom” were trying to win back-to-back Super Bowls against one of the greatest franchises in sports with legendary QB Tom Brady under center. This back and forth contest ultimately ended at the goal line when the Seahawks opted to pass instead of hand the ball to All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch. Wilson’s dart was picked off by Malcom Butler in the end zone to seal Brady and head coach Bill Belichick’s fifth Super Bowl win together.
Super Bowl XLVII (2013)
Baltimore Ravens – 34 / San Francisco 49ers – 31
Dubbed the “Harbaugh Bowl,” this game featured two brothers coaching against one another, a lengthy power outage, and a riveting comeback by the 49ers which fell short in the 4th quarter when QB Colin Kaepernick couldn’t connect with wideout Michael Crabtree on 4th down. The Ravens held on to win and veteran defensive players Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were able to end their storied careers on high notes.
Super Bowl XLIII (2009)
Pittsburgh Steelers – 27 / Arizona Cardinals – 23
This game had two of the most epic plays in Super Bowl history. The Steelers got a huge boost from James Harrison’s wild length of the field interception return before halftime, which was only topped by an unbelievable touchdown catch for the ages. With 37 seconds left, Ben Roethlisberger zipped a pass into the corner of the end zone where a fully extended Santonio Holmes pulled it down to secure the huge win.
Super Bowl XLII (2008)
New York Giants – 17 / New England Patriots – 14
After finishing the regular season undefeated, the Patriots were attempting to become the first team since Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins in 1972 to win it all with a perfect record. They were heavy favorites against an over-manned Giants squad, but Eli Manning and David Tyree came up with one of the most clutch plays in Super Bowl history. Avoiding an almost sure sack on 3rd and 5, Manning heaved up a prayer that Tyree pinned against his helmet and somehow held on. Thus, the “helmet catch” was born, and the Giants would go on to score and win the game a few plays later.
Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)
New England Patriots – 20 / St. Louis Rams – 17
This is the win that started it all for the Pats. The Rams and their “Greatest Show on Turf” were predicted to beat a relatively unproven New England squad. Belichick, however, devised a crafty defensive scheme which stifled the Ram’s high-powered offense, kicker Adam Vinatieri kicked a clutch field goal to dash St. Louis’ hopes and thus began the dynasty.
Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)
St. Louis Rams – 23 / Tennessee Titans – 16
Kurt Warner went from grocery store bagger to NFL Super Bowl MVP culminating in a dominant 400-yard performance and a Super Bowl victory with the “Greatest Show on Turf”. The game was back and forth and is best remembered for Kevin Dyson’s outstretched arm, coming up just a yard short of the end zone denying the Titans their first Super Bowl win.
Super Bowl XXXII (1998)
Denver Broncos – 31 / Green Bay Packers – 24
John Elway and the Denver Broncos were the butt of many jokes after losing three Super Bowls in increasingly embarrassing fashion from 1987 to 1990, but Denver finally overcame their prior reputation with this first of two consecutive victories. The Packers were down by as much as 10 but came back to tie it with Brett Favre’s third touchdown of the game with 13:32 left in the fourth quarter. But Terrell Davis, who had been suffering from a migraine during the game, returned to score a record-breaking third rushing touchdown with 1:45 remaining.
Super Bowl XXV (1991):
New York Giants – 20 / Buffalo Bills – 19
This Super Bowl would be the first of four straight appearances where the Bills would lose. They were a 49-yard Scott Norwood field goal away from winning and potentially setting a course for Buffalo football history.
Super Bowl XXIII (1989)
San Francisco 49ers – 20 / Cincinnati Bengals – 16
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in what would be the final NFL game coached by the legendary Bill Walsh. Joe Montana allegedly pointed to actor John Candy in the stands while down 16-13 in the fourth quarter, before leading the Niners on a 92-yard drive, which culminated in a John Taylor touchdown reception with 39 seconds remaining.
Super Bowl XVII (1983)
Washington Redskins – 27 / Miami Dolphins – 17
The final score does not reflect how close the game was until the final minutes, nor does it reflect Miami’s dominance in the first half. John Riggins made a legendary touchdown run in the fourth quarter to give Washington the lead, and a Joe Theismann touchdown pass to Charlie Brown sealed the victory for the Redskins.
Super Bowl XVI (1982)
San Francisco 49ers – 26 / Cincinnati Bengals – 21
Coming off two of the greatest conference championships ever (the “Freezer Bowl” in Cincinnati, and Dwight Clark’s catch in the NFC title game), the first cold-weather Super Bowl did not disappoint as Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers won their first title at the Pontiac Silverdome. Cincinnati made a valiant effort to erase a 20-0 halftime deficit, but four field goals from Niners kicker Ray Wersching put the game out of reach.
Super Bowl XIII (1979)
Pittsburgh Steelers – 35 / Dallas Cowboys – 31
For the longest time, Super Bowl XIII was considered to be the best Super Bowl of them all, and to this day is still one of the most memorable. Veteran Cowboys tight end Jackie Smith’s third-quarter drop in the end zone prompted announcer Verne Lundquist to call him “the sickest man in America,” as the Pittsburgh Steelers emerged victorious in this rematch of Super Bowl X.
Super Bowl X (1976)
Pittsburgh Steelers – 21 / Dallas Cowboys – 17
The Dallas Cowboys were up 10-7 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but a safety, two field goals and a 64-yard touchdown reception by Super Bowl MVP Lynn Swann put the Steelers up for good. Super Bowl X is also notable for the backdrop of the Bicentennial, and its role in the 1977 John Frankenheimer movie Black Sunday, which was partially filmed during and shortly after the game at Miami’s Orange Bowl.
Super Bowl VII (1973)
Miami Dolphins – 14 / Washington Redskins – 7
Miami’s perfect season was put in jeopardy by a botched snap and an errant throw by Garo Yepremian, which led to a 49-yard touchdown by Mike Bass that cut the Dolphins’ lead in half with just over two minutes to play in the game. However, the Dolphins’ legendary “No Name Defense” kept Washington from further capitalizing.
Super Bowl III (1969)
New York Jets – 16 / Baltimore Colts – 7
Ranking All Super Bowls
The New York Jets were expected to lose by as much as 18 points, but Joe Namath’s guarantee won out against NFL MVP Earl Morrall and the Baltimore Colts. Although Namath did not score a touchdown in New York’s 16-7 victory over the Colts, his performance and leadership both on and off the field led to him being awarded the game’s MVP.
Super Bowl I (1967)
Green Bay Packers – 35 / Kansas City Chiefs – 10
This is the one that started it all. Veteran flanker Max McGee came off the bench after a night of partying to score two TDs, including the first in Super Bowl history. The score was close at halftime, with Green Bay leading Kansas City 14-10, but the Packers pulled away with three touchdowns in the second half.
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