With Sunday’s Super Bowl LX matchup between the Seahawks and Patriots on the horizon, it’s a good moment to revisit the standout performances from the past 25 Super Bowls. We ranked the top 10 Super Bowl MVPs from that span — a list that required some tough calls.
Close-game heroics often weigh heavily in these rankings. That can sometimes undervalue players who dominated throughout and effectively put the game away early, but dramatic finishes are what many fans remember most and what the Super Bowl often rewards.
Tom Brady accounted for five of the past 25 Super Bowl MVPs, yet he appears only twice in this top-10 list. The awards in this era skew toward offense: just four defensive winners in 25 years, and quarterbacks dominate the trophy count, with five receivers among the winners. Running backs have been rare MVPs — the last was Terrell Davis in the 1998 Super Bowl.
10. Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB, Super Bowl XLV (2011)
Rodgers didn’t need a last-minute heroics moment to earn MVP honors. He built early leads of 14-0 and 21-3 and steadied Green Bay as Pittsburgh threatened late, finishing with a mistake-free line: 304 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His efficient performance was the defining factor in the Packers’ victory.
9. Malcolm Smith, Seahawks LB, Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)
Picking a defensive MVP is always tricky, but Smith’s 69-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter was the turning point against Peyton Manning’s Broncos. That score stretched Seattle’s lead and helped fuel a 43-8 rout — the single biggest play in one of the strongest defensive Super Bowl showings of the last quarter-century.
8. Santonio Holmes, Steelers WR, Super Bowl XLIII (2009)
One of five wide receivers to claim MVP in this period, Holmes combined volume and clutch timing — nine catches for 131 yards — but it was his late-game, toe-tapping 6-yard touchdown catch with 35 seconds left that cemented the award. His catch in the corner of the end zone gave Pittsburgh the lead in one of the most pressure-packed moments in Super Bowl history.
7. Tom Brady, Patriots QB, Super Bowl XLIX (2015)
Placing this Brady performance slightly lower prevents the top of the list from being dominated by the same name. Down by 10 in the fourth quarter, Brady engineered two touchdown drives in the final eight minutes to turn the game around, finishing 37-of-50 for 328 yards and four touchdowns. His flawless play on the decisive drive helped seal the comeback, even as the final moments are often remembered for Russell Wilson’s late interception.
6. Eli Manning, Giants QB, Super Bowl XLVI (2012)
Manning’s second Super Bowl win over New England stands out for his late-game poise. He completed 30-of-40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown, orchestrating the key drives that set up Ahmad Bradshaw’s late go-ahead score. Rather than leaning on a single highlight play, Manning’s consistent production under pressure made the difference.
5. Jalen Hurts, Eagles QB, Super Bowl LVIII (2025)
Hurts dominated in the Eagles’ convincing win over the Chiefs, completing 17-of-22 for 221 yards and two passing touchdowns while also rushing for 72 yards and a score. He and his offense overwhelmed the back-to-back champions, turning what could have been a tight game into a lopsided victory by the fourth quarter.
4. Von Miller, Broncos OLB, Super Bowl 50 (2016)
Miller’s pass-rushing performance against the Panthers was a defensive masterclass: 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, one of which led directly to a touchdown. His relentless pressure helped neutralize the opposing offense and set the tone for Denver’s upset win.
3. Nick Foles, Eagles QB, Super Bowl LII (2018)
Perhaps the most unexpected MVP on this list, Foles stepped in after Carson Wentz’s injury and led a playoff run that culminated in an incredible Super Bowl showing. He went 28-of-43 for 373 yards and three touchdowns, and executed the famed “Philly Special” trick play — lining up, taking a direct snap and ultimately catching the touchdown pass himself.
2. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs QB, Super Bowl LVIII (2024)
Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl MVP, and his many big-game performances make this ranking close. His clutch play in the overtime victory over the 49ers — including the game-winning touchdown to Mecole Hardman three seconds into OT — showcased his poise under pressure. He finished with 333 yards on 34-of-46 passing and two touchdowns in a game that capped a dramatic title run.
1. Tom Brady, Patriots QB, Super Bowl LI (2017)
This was an easy pick for No. 1. Brady engineered the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, erasing a 28-3 deficit and leading five touchdown drives — including the 91-yard and 75-yard drives that tied the game and forced overtime. He completed 43-of-62 passes for 466 yards, a performance defined by sustained drives and relentless production when it mattered most.
Fan Take: Lists like this remind fans how much the Super Bowl rewards both late-game heroics and sustained excellence under pressure — performances that become part of NFL lore. For the sport, celebrating these moments reinforces the quarterback era’s impact while also highlighting rare defensive game-changers who can tilt the biggest stage.
