Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award Winners

The Super Bowl is the single most bet-on event in the United States. There are so many different wagers that can be placed on the Super Bowl aside from the usual NFL games week in and week out. These bets are called propositions, which can stem from anything like how long it will take to sing the national anthem, to whether the first play from scrimmage will be a run or a pass.

One of the most common proposition bets is which player will be named the Super Bowl MVP. I’m going to go over the history of this award and break down how many different players from each position have won it. Your most recent Super Bowl MVP was Patrick Mahomes, who became one of just six players who have won the award multiple times. He has a chance to tie Joe Montana for second-most all-time in this year’s game.

47 of the 57 MVP Trophies have gone to an offensive skill position player. A running back has won the MVP seven times, while a wide receiver has won it eight times. There have been ten defensive players and one special teams player to hold the trophy. Desmond Howard won it in Super Bowl XXXI, totaling a Super Bowl record 90 punt return yards and 154 kickoff return yards with a touchdown.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has the most Super Bowl MVPs (5) of any player in history.  Joe Montana is the only player to have won the Super Bowl MVP exactly three times (1982, 1985, 1990). There have been four others win the awards twice. They are Bart Starr (1967, 1967), Terry Bradshaw (1979, 1980), Eli Manning (2008, 2012), and Patrick Mahomes (2020, 2023).

Harvey Martin and Randy White of the Dallas Cowboys were named co-MVPs of Super Bowl XII, which was the only time that has happened in the history of the big game.  Chuck Howley is the only player to win the Super Bowl MVP from a losing team.  He did it in 1971 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

Complete History of Super Bowl MVP Winners

Count of Winners by Position

Like you would expect, quarterbacks have taken home by far the most MVP trophies.  What you may find fascinating is that running backs have won the MVP the second most of any position.  As a sign of the times, however, keep in mind that no running back has won since Terrell Davis in 1998.

List of Players with the Most Super Bowl MVP Trophies