Super Bowl MVP: Prize Money, how it is selected and full list updated until today

Since the beginning of the Super Bowl era, the NFL has recognized the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the championship game. However, starting with Super Bowl XXV, this recognition is accompanied by a trophy, which honors the legendary commissioner, Pete Rozelle. While this award is the least important of the night, it is a recognition of the players who have stood up for their teams to win the title.

In Super Bowl LVIII, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes entered a select group of players who have won the Super Bowl MVP on three occasions. Interestingly, two of these awards came in games against the San Francisco 49ers.

Related:

• Super Bowl 2026: Date, time, location, and everything to know
• Where to watch the Super Bowl 2026? TV channel and streaming
• Super Bowl Halftime Show 2026: Everything about Bad Bunny's performance
• How much do tickets for the Super Bowl cost in 2026?
• Super Bowl Winners List: All teams that have won the Vince Lombardi

The record belongs to Tom Brady, with five awards: four with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While the rest of the players who won the award on more than one occasion are: Joe Montana (3), Terry Bradshaw (2), Eli Manning (2), Bart Starr (2) and Patrick Mahomes (2).

How is the Super Bow MVP chosen?

This recognition is awarded by voting, a percentage corresponds to the fans (20%) in an online vote and another, the most important part (80%), by a group of 16 specialized journalists.

Normally the winning team's quarterback is chosen as the Super Bowl MVP. However, in previous years it has been awarded to players in other positions: defensive players, linemen and even a kick returner. On one occasion, journalists even voted for a player from the losing team. However, these are very rare cases, which happened more than 50 years ago.

This is about Chuck Howley, linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, in Super Bowl V, where his team fell 16-13 to the Baltimore Colts with a field goal at the end. That afternoon, Howley had two interceptions and recovered a fumble to become the first defensive player and the only player from the losing team to win the award so far.

By position, quarterbacks have won the trophy 33 of 59 times, while since 2000, they have won it 16 times. Of the remaining years, offensive players have the upper hand. Receivers have won eight times and running backs seven:

This is the breakdown by position:

• Quarterback: 33
• Receiver: 8
• Runner: 7
• Linebacker: 4
• Defensive end: 2
• Safety: 2
• Cornerback: 1
• Defensive tackle: 1
• Returner: 1

Super Bowl MVP players

• 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, NY Giants
• Super Bowl XXVI: QB Mark Rypien, Washington Redskins
• 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: PR 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
• Super Bowl LVII: QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
• Super Bowl LVIII: QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
• Super Bowl LIX: QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
• Super Bowl LX: RB Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

What does the Super Bowl MVP get?

The Super Bowl MVP does not receive any additional specific cash award for this title. However, all players on the winning team receive a cash bonus for winning the Super Bowl.

Is it possible for the MVP to be from the losing team?

Many would expect that the MVP prize is only awarded to players of the winning team. Although it is very rare, it happened once in the past that a player from the losing team went home with the glamorous accolade.

Has a non QB ever won MVP?

One of the most notable exceptions to the quarterback dominance in MVP awards occurred in the 1970s. For the first and only time, the Super Bowl MVP was awarded to a defensive player from the losing team, Chuck Howley of the Dallas Cowboys.

Running backs have also seen their fair share of MVP recognition, often attributed to their role in teams that leverage a potent ground game. Adrian Peterson's 2012 season stands out in this regard.

Who is the favorite to win this season?

In 2026, prior to the game there are some candidates for MVP, among which stands out Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks with odds of +500. Further up among the favorites is Patriots quarterback Drake Maye with odds of +240. It only took him two seasons to reach the biggest game in the NFL and to break a record of the legendary Tom Brady. With odds of +130, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is the favorite to win the Super Bowl MVP.