How is the Super Bowl MVP chosen? What to know about the award originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Lombardi Trophy isn’t the only piece of hardware that will be awarded at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz.
The most valuable player from the Kansas City Chiefs versus Philadelphia Eagles showdown at State Farm Stadium will take home the Pete Rozelle Trophy.
An MVP has been honored for every Super Bowl, but the trophy, which is named after longtime NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, was first given out at Super Bowl XXV. And one player in this year’s Big Game already owns one.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes earned MVP honors after leading the Chiefs to a comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. If Mahomes captures a second Pete Rozelle Trophy, he would join very exclusive company.
From that, other past winners, the voting process and more, here’s everything you need to know about the Super Bowl MVP award.
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Who elects the Super Bowl MVP?
Fans and the media vote on the Super Bowl MVP, though they don’t have an equal say.
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The NFL handpicks 16 media members covering the game to cast an MVP ballot and that select group accounts for 80 percent of the vote. The other 20 percent comes from the fans, who can vote online.
There are some questions about the voting deadline for media members. ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio reported in February 2022 that the league wants the ballots by the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter.
But the league responded by saying: “We are in touch with the panel during the fourth quarter, and often with the game in the balance, media will wait until the winner of the game is clear before giving us the final vote. There is not a hard deadline. If voters want to wait until immediately after the game concludes, that is fine.”
Can the Super Bowl MVP be from the losing team?
Yes, the Super Bowl MVP can come from the losing team. But it’s extremely rare.
How many Super Bowl MVPs have come from the losing team?
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley was named MVP of Super Bowl V after falling to the Baltimore Colts 16-13 on a late field goal. Howley recorded two interceptions and one fumble recovery to become the first defensive player to win Super Bowl MVP and the first and only player from the losing team to win the award.
Who has won the most Super Bowl MVPs?
The player with the most Super Bowl rings also has the most Super Bowl MVPs. Tom Brady was named MVP in five of his seven championship triumphs.
He won four Super Bowl MVPs with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The only other players with multiple Super Bowl MVPs are Joe Montana (3), Terry Bradshaw (2), Eli Manning (2) and Bart Starr (2).
Super Bowl MVPs by position
To no surprise, the quarterback position has produced the most Super Bowl MVPs – and by a wide margin.
A quarterback has taken home MVP honors in 31 of the 56 Super Bowls. The position with the second-most Super Bowl MVPs is wide receiver at eight.
Here’s a full breakdown of Super Bowl MVP winners by position:
Quarterback: 31
Wide receiver: 8
Running back: 7
Linebacker: 4
Defensive end: 2
Safety: 2
Cornerback: 1
Defensive tackle: 1
Returner: 1
List of Super Bowl MVPs
Super Bowl I: QB Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl II: QB Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl III: QB Joe Namath, New York Jets
Super Bowl IV: QB Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl V: LB Chuck Howley, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl VI: QB Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl VII: S Jake Scott, Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl VIII: RB Larry Csonka, Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl IX: RB Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl X: WR Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XI: WR Fred Biletnikoff, Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl XII: DE Harvey Martin and DT Randy White, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XIII: QB Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XIV: QB Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XV: QB Jim Plunkett, Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl XVI: QB Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XVII: RB John Riggins, Washington
Super Bowl XVIII: RB Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders
Super Bowl XIX: QB Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XX: DE Richard Dent, Chicago Bears
Super Bowl XXI: QB Phil Simms, New York Giants
Super Bowl XXII: QB Doug Williams, Washington
Super Bowl XXIII: WR Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXIV: QB Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXV: RB Ottis Anderson, New York Giants
Super Bowl XXVI: QB Mark Rypien, Washington
Super Bowl XXVII: QB Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXVIII: RB Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXIX: QB Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXX: CB Larry Brown, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXXI: Returner Desmond Howard, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XXXII: RB Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos
Super Bowl XXXIII: QB John Elway, Denver Broncos
Super Bowl XXXIV: QB Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams
Super Bowl XXXV: LB Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl XXXVI: QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXXVII: S Dexter Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVIII: QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXIX: WR Deion Branch, New England Patriots
Super Bowl XL: WR Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XLI: QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl XLII: QB Eli Manning, New York Giants
Super Bowl XLIII: WR Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XLIV: QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl XLV: QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XLVI: QB Eli Manning, New York Giants
Super Bowl XLVII: QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl XLVIII: LB Malcolm Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl XLIX: QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl 50: LB Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Super Bowl LI: QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl LII: QB Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl LIII: WR Julian Edelman, New England Patriots
Super Bowl LIV: QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LV: QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl LVI: WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
