Super Bowl 2011: Power Ranking the Top 25 Super Bowl MVPs Ever

Look at the list and it's filled with legends.

The Super Bowl has had plenty of blowouts and lots of epic, intense, dramatic finishes. Dynasties have been built and there have also been great individual performances as well.

But who stands out? When you look at all of the past Super Bowl MVPs, are some better than others?

Would you put Tom Brady over Troy Aikman? How about some of Joe Montana's performances? Do they rank above Steve Young? It's a discussion that will provoke lots of debate, but let's go for it.

Here are the top 25 Super Bowl MVPs ever:

25. Larry Brown, Dallas

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TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 28: Cornerback Larry Brown #24 of the Dallas Cowboys returns an interception for a forty four yard touchdown return during Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sun Devil Stadium on January 28, 1996 in Tempe, Arizona. Bro

The Dallas Cowboys cornerback had two interceptions in Super Bowl XXX and helped Dallas defeat Pittsburgh 27-17. The Steelers actually finished with more yards than Dallas in the game, but the Cowboys defense came away with four sacks also.

Few could've imagined this would also mark the end of the Cowboys dynasty in the 90s.

24. Ray Lewis, Baltimore

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to playing the Kansas City Chiefs in their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Doug Pen

The Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV. The Ravens linebacker had 107 tackles that season and led one of the best defenses in NFL history, which allowed only 4.3 yards per play and 16 total touchdowns. 

23. Phil Simms, New York Giants

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UNDATED: QUARTERBACK PHIL SIMMS OF THE NEW YORK GIANTS SETS AND THROWS A PASS DURING A GIANTS NFL GAME. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/ALLSPORT

All Bill Parcells asked of his quarterbacks was to just "drive the bus." That's what Simms did here in Super Bowl XXI, finishing with 268 yards passing and three touchdowns.

22. Len Dawson, Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback threw for 142 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl IV. Kansas City defeated Minnesota 23-7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans and rebounded from their loss to Green Bay three years before in the first Super Bowl.

21. Franco Harris, Pittsburgh

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Retired Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris watches the action versus the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field, September 7, 2006. The Steelers won 28-17. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Steelers running back rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown to help Pittsburgh to a 16-6 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX. It would be the first of four Super Bowls the Steelers would win over the next six seasons.

20. Roger Staubach, Dallas

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Dallas Cowboys great Roger Staubach on the sidelines during a Monday Night Football game September 19, 2005 in Irving, Texas. The Washington Skins defeated the Cowboys 14 - 13. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

He's been retired for a while, but the Cowboys quarterback is still a revered figure in the area. He threw for 119 yards and two touchdowns in Super Bowl VI, leading Dallas to a 24-3 victory over Miami.

19. Bart Starr, Green Bay

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DETROIT - FEBRUARY 05: Former Green Bay Packers quarterback and MVP of Super Bowl I & II Bart Starr is seen on the field as he is introduced prior to Super Bowl XL between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field on February 5, 2006

Like Staubach and many others, Starr remained a beloved figure decades after he retired. A two-time MVP, Starr threw for 202 yards and one touchdown in Green Bay's 33-14 victory over Oakland in Super Bowl II. 

18. Tom Brady, New England

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Tom Brady holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy as he stands on the podium after The New England Patriots defeated The Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Staduim in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Like him or not, Brady is a lock as a first-ballot Hall of Famer once his career is over. One of the reasons is his performance in Super Bowl XXXVIII, when he threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns in New England's 32-29 win over Carolina.

Brady won another MVP, but this one goes here because the first one also came in one of the Super Bowl's best games and it also began to establish Brady's legacy.

17. Jerry Rice, San Francisco

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former member of the San Francisco 49ers Jerry Rice looks on against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The greatest receiver ever and easily one of the classiest players the game has ever seen, Rice had 11 catches for 215 yards and one touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII.

16. Terrell Davis, Denver

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30 Dec 2001: Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos gains yardage against the Oakland Raiders during the game at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos won 23-17. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/Getty Images

What would happen if John Elway ever had a decent running back? We all found out with Davis, who finally helped Elway get over the hump, finishing with 30 carries for 157 yards and three touchdowns in Super Bowl XXXII.

Denver would win back-to-back Super Bowls and part of the fun came with watching Davis run, then salute the fans when he scored.

15. Drew Brees, New Orleans

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints holds his son Baylen Brees to celebrate after the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (

Here's a quarterback who was told he was too small coming out of high school, then out of Purdue. Now he's widely regarded as one of the NFL's best quarterbacks and added to his legacy last year when he completed 32-of-39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints' 31-17 victory over Indianapolis.

Brees deserves to be praised. He is one of the NFL's true gentlemen, but to lead a once-downtrodden franchise to the top and provide New Orleans with some pride after recovering from Hurricane Katrina is equally commendable.

14. Desmond Howard, Green Bay

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26 Jan 1997: Wide receiver Desmond Howard #81 of the Green Bay Packers returns a kick off for 99 yards during the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The return was a Super Bowl record. Mandatory Credit:

The Packers kick returner had 244 all-purpose yards, including a touchdown on a 99-yard kick return, in Green Bay's 35-21 victory over New England in Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome in New Orleans.

13. John Elway, Denver

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31 Jan 1999: John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos passes the ball during the Superbowl XXXIII against the Atlanta Falcons at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Broncos defeated the Falcons 34-19. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

Here's how you go out on top: Throw for 336 yards and one touchdown to help your team win the Super Bowl. That's what the Broncos quarterback did in Denver's 34-19 win over Atlanta in Super Bowl XXXIII.

12. Kurt Warner, St. Louis

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner stands on the field before the NFL game between the St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christia

Is there a crazier story you've ever heard? The former grocery store worker got his shot when Trent Green was injured and he helped lead St. Louis to a dramatic 23-16 victory over Tennessee in Super Bowl XXXIV. Warner finished with 414 yards and two touchdowns.

Warner also led a high-powered offense that became known as "The Greatest Show on Turf." 

11. Tom Brady, New England

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on in the first half against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Brady finished with 145 yards passing and a touchdown, as New England shocked St. Louis 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI. Brady had replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe that year, but Bledsoe later recovered, which prompted the debate about who should be New England's starting quarterback.

I think we all know now that the Patriots made the right choice.

10. Eli Manning, New York Giants

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PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 04: New York Giants Super Bowl MVP quarterback Eli Manning addresses the media during a press conference at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 4, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Gene Lower/Getty Images)

He finished with 255 yards and two touchdowns. Great numbers, but Manning goes up this high for the simple fact that he helped New York beat New England 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII. 

It's easily one of the greatest Super Bowls ever and probably one of the biggest upsets as well, since it was the Patriots' only loss of the season.

9. Larry Csonka, Miami

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DETROIT - FEBRUARY 03: Super Bowl MVPs Larry Csonka and Joe Namath attend the NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's press conference on Feburary 3,2006 at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan . (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Dolphins fullback had 33 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns in Super Bowl VIII and Miami defeated Minnesota 24-7 for its second straight Super Bowl.

8. Emmitt Smith, Dallas

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30 Jan 1994: Running back Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys dodges as he charges downfield with the ball during Super Bowl XXVIII against the Buffalo Bills at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia . Smith was named game MVP and the Cowboys won 30-1

Dallas defeated Buffalo 30-13 in Super Bowl XXVIII, winning its second title under Jimmy Johnson. Smith had 30 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns, the first member of "The Triplets" to be named Super Bowl MVP.

7. Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh

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PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 21: Retired Quarterback Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers holds up his old number during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on October 21, 2002 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won 28-10.(P

The Steeler won his first of two Super Bowl MVPs in Super Bowl XIII, when he threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns, leading Pittsburgh to a 35-31 victory over Dallas.

6. Joe Namath, New York Jets

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 24: Joe Namath, former Jets quarterback, looks on from the sidelines before the New York Jets take on the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Pho

Everyone's seen it: That legendary picture of Namath leaving the field, his index finger raised in the air. Namath called his shot and said the Jets would beat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

That's what they did, as Namath threw for 206 yards in a 16-7 victory.

5. Jake Scott, Miami

The Dolphins safety had two interceptions in Super Bowl VII, which Miami won 14-7. That also helped Miami finish the season with a perfect record, a feat that has still never been matched.

4. Doug Williams, Washington

The Redskins quarterback threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns in Super Bowl XXII, but many will remember the insane question that came after the game when a reporter asked: "How long have you been a black quarterback?"

Stupid, but still hilarious to this day.

3. Troy Aikman, Dallas

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and FOX broadcaster looks on before the Houston Texans play the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The other member of the Triplets to win an MVP, Aikman threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns in Super Bowl XXVII. The Cowboys dynasty of the 90s had begun, the Triplets were unstoppable and the next great Cowboys quarterback was in place.

2. Steve Young, San Francisco

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MIAMI - JANUARY 29: Quarterback Steve Young #8 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates following their Super Bowl XXIX against the San Diego Chargers at Joe Robbie Stadium on January 29, 1995 in Miami, Florida. The 49ers won 49-26. (Photo by George Rose/Ge

Back then, it was impossible to fathom anyone topping Joe Montana and his mystique, but Young carved out his own legacy as one of the game's greatest quarterbacks. Young threw for 325 yards and six touchdowns in Super Bowl XXIX, leading the 49ers to a 49-26 victory over San Diego.

1. Joe Montana, San Francisco

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SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 10: Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana pauses during a public memorial service for former 49ers coach Bill Walsh August 10, 2007 at Monster Park in San Francisco, California. NFL Hall of Famer Bill Walsh, who was kn

Greatest quarterback of all-time? You could definitely argue that about Montana.

He won three Super Bowl MVPs during his Hall of Fame career and helped build a dynasty in San Francisco along with Jerry Rice and coach Bill Walsh.

You could slide in any of his MVP performances here and it would work. In Super Bowl XXIV, he finished with 297 yards passing and five touchdowns, leading the 49ers to a 55-10 victory over Denver.