SUPER BOWL LVII
Mahomes MVP: how many times has an NFL season MVP won the Super Bowl?
As the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to make history, Patrick Mahomes could join a small group of MVP winners.
Our annual spectacular showpiece to conclude the National Football League season is almost upon us and as the Kansas City Chiefs face down the Philadelphia Eagles, one man in particular has something other than a famous ring to achieve. From humble beginnings, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has quickly grown into a dominating force and will put it all on the line again on Sunday. As the Most Valuable Player of the regular season, he now has the chance to join those who have followed it up with a Super Bowl LVII MVP win.
It is not very common for a player who wins the NFL Regular Season MVP award to also win the Super Bowl in the same season. In fact, it has only happened a few times in the history of the NFL, as shown below. But before we get to that, let’s check out Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes: MVP and Super Bowl, but not together
Patrick Mahomes won the NFL Regular Season MVP award in the 2018 season. During that season, he threw for 50 touchdowns and 5,097 yards, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 12-4 record and a division championship. With his strong arm and quick thinking, Mahomes quickly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, helping the Chiefs make it to the AFC Championship game. Although the Chiefs lost to the New England Patriots in that game, Mahomes’ standout performance cemented his status as one of the top young players in the league.
He won his first Super Bowl championship in the 2019 season, when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV. In that game, Mahomes completed 26 of his 42 pass attempts for 286 yards and two touchdowns, earning him the Super Bowl MVP award for his performance. With this championship win, Mahomes became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, cementing his status as one of the top players in the league. With another MVP in the bag, who can tell what’s ahead?
Who has won MVP for regular season and Super Bowl double?
- Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers, 1966
Bart Starr, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, had a stellar 1966 season, leading his team to a 12-2 record and earning the NFL MVP award. In the 1966 NFL Championship Game, better known as the first ever Super Bowl, Starr completed 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, earning him Super Bowl MVP honours as the Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys.
- Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, 1989
Joe Montana, the legendary quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, won his third Super Bowl and was named the Super Bowl MVP in 1989. Montana led the 49ers to a 14-2 regular season record and was named the NFL MVP for his efforts. In the Super Bowl, Montana completed 22 of 29 passes for a Super Bowl record 357 yards and two touchdowns, solidifying his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
- Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, 1996
Brett Favre, a three-time MVP and future Hall of Famer, led the Green Bay Packers to a 13-3 record in the 1996 season. Favre’s impressive play earned him the NFL MVP award and he continued his dominant play in the Super Bowl, throwing for 246 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers defeated the New England Patriots. Favre’s performance in the 1996 Super Bowl cemented his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
- Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams, 1999
Kurt Warner’s story is one of perseverance and determination. After spending years as a grocery store bagger and Arena Football League quarterback, Warner finally got his chance to start in the NFL in 1999. He made the most of it, winning the MVP award and leading the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory. In Super Bowl XXXIV, Warner threw for a then-Super Bowl record 414 yards and two touchdowns, earning him Super Bowl MVP honors.
Did Tom Brady ever win MPV and Super Bowl in same season?
Interestingly, despite Tom Brady’s record, he has not won the NFL Regular Season MVP and the Super Bowl in the same season.
Brady has won three NFL Regular Season MVP awards in his career (2007, 2010 and 2017), all for the New England Patriots, but in none of those seasons did they go on to win the Super Bowl. He has won seven Super Bowl championships throughout his career, but the MVP award for those Super Bowls was awarded to other players.