The history of the Super Bowl is filled with football legends who shone brightly in the NFL’s ultimate game. Think of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw, who each won four Super Bowl rings or Mean Joe Green and Jack Lambert who led Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain” defense. Who can forget “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys, led by generational superstars like Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman? Or more recent winners like Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger?
But there are also a few one-off heroes, unheralded stars who emerged from obscurity – or the shadows of their more famous teammates – to make their mark. Here is a look at ten of the most surprising heroes of the Super Bowl.
10. Chuck Howley, Dallas LB, Super Bowl V (1971)
Howley was the first defensive player to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and even to this day, the only one from a losing team. In a 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Colts, Howley intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble. The next year, in Super Bowl VI, Howley had an interception and a fumble recovery in Dallas’ 24-3 win over Miami, but quarterback Roger Staubach got the MVP award.
9. Howard Griffith, Denver FB, Super Bowl XXIII (1999)
Known as “The Human Plow” for his formidable lead blocking abilities, Griffith led the typically thankless life of a fullback until Super Bowl XXXIII. There, the unsung Illinois grad carried four times for a pair of short-yardage touchdowns in a 34-19 victory over the Falcons — recording the lone two-touchdown game of his eight-year career.
8. Desmond Howard, Green Bay KR, Super Bowl XXXI (1997)
After New England pulled within 27-21 on Curtis Martin’s third-quarter touchdown, Howard returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards — a Super Bowl record — to ensure Green Bay’s first world championship in 29 years. The former Heisman Trophy winner finished with 154 kickoff return yards and a record 90 punt return yards, setting Super Bowl marks for total return yards (244) and combined net yards gained (244) on his way to MVP honors..
7. Mike Jones, St. Louis LB, Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)
Jones was originally a running back at Missouri, but switched to linebacker in the NFL. He was a solid, if unspectacular player, but will always be remembered for “The Tackle,” where he brought down Tennessee’s Kevin Dyson on the one yard line on the last play of the game to preserve the Rams 23-16 victory.
6. John Taylor, San Francisco WR, Super Bowl XXIII (1989)
With all the attention (rightly so) on San Francisco’s Jerry Rice, who was MVP after catching 11 passes for 215 yards, it was Taylor who ended up stealing the show. He caught only one pass all day, but it was the game-winner with less than a minute to play, giving the 49ers a 20-16 win over Cincinnati.
5. David Tyree, NY Giants WR, Super Bowl XLII (2008)
Four years after making one of the greatest plays in the history of the Super Bowl, Tyree is no longer in the NFL. His stunning 35-yard one-handed catch late in the fourth quarter helped the Giants – heavy underdogs to unbeaten New England – upset the Patriots in one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played.
4. Larry Brown, Dallas DB, Super Bowl XXX (1996)
A relatively unheralded defensive back, Brown helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXX and was named MVP after two second half interceptions. Brown parlayed his great game into a huge contract with the Oakland Raiders, but he never lived up to the hype and was out of the league by 1999.
3. Doug Williams, Washington QB, Super Bowl XXII (1988)
A high draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Williams left the NFL for the USFL before returning to back up Jay Schroeder at Washington. Considered erratic and inconsistent, Williams played well in relief of Schroeder and got the start in the Super Bowl. He turned in an MVP performance, throwing four touchdown passes (all in the second quarter) and helped pave the way for future African-American quarterbacks.
2. Timmy Smith, Washington RB, Super Bowl XXII (1988)
Smith was a little-used running back during the regular season, rushing for just 126 total yards. But as a replacement for the injured George Rogers in the Super Bowl, Smith scored two touchdowns and ran for an unbelievable 204 yards – still a Super Bowl record – as the Redskins blew out Denver 42-10. Two years later, his NFL career was over.
1. Dexter Jackson, Tampa Bay FS, Super Bowl XXXVII (2003)
The so-called Pirate Bowl between the Buccaneers and the Raiders wasn’t a contest for long. But Jackson managed to dominate the action during the game’s briefly competitive stages. Tampa Bay’s unheralded free safety set a Super Bowl record with two interceptions in the first half to jump-start the rout. The Bucs sprinted out to a 34-3 lead and held on for a 48-21 victory
