Super Bowl MVP 2012: Eli Manning Reaches Legendary Status with 2nd Award

Take that haters—Eli Manning is now a NFL legend.

Manning shredded the Patriots secondary in Super Bowl 46, outdueling Tom Brady for the second time on football's biggest stage. He completed 75 percent of his passes and led yet another fourth-quarter comeback to earn his second Super Bowl MVP award.

Now, no one can question Eli's status as a surefire Hall of Famer.

With the victory, the man formerly known as the "other" Manning joined the following players as the only starting quarterbacks with two Super Bowl titles: Jim Plunkett, Bart Starr, Ben Roethlisberger, Bob Griese, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, John Elway, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady.

Notice some big names not on that list? Steve Young, Brett Favre, that one Peyton guy? Eli's got more rings than them all.

Even more prestigious is the group of players with at least two Super Bowl MVPs: Montana, Bradshaw, Brady and now Eli. That's it.

As unlikely as it seemed just a few months ago, Manning has officially carved his face onto the Mount Rushmore of successful Super Bowl quarterbacks. And he did it with another clutch fourth-quarter performance.

To hell with Tim Tebow—the fourth quarter is Eli Time.

Manning performed surgery on the Patriots in the final quarter, completing 10-of-14 passes for 118 yards. The defining play of the night was his gorgeous 38-yard connection with Mario Manningham that started off their nine-play, 88-yard game-winning drive.

It was an emphatic reminder that when the game is on the line, Eli is the best quarterback in the league.

He was collected but fiery, patient but aggressive. He protected the ball and completed throws that only a handful of guys in history could have made.

It was a masterpiece of a game, the Mona Lisa of Eli's increasingly da Vinci-like career. It earned him his second Super Bowl title, his second Super Bowl MVP and some bragging rights in his own household.

Most importantly, it solidified Manning's status as a NFL legend.