// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var spt_ranking_SB_QBs = new Array(); spt_ranking_SB_QBs.ID = "spt_ranking_SB_QBs"; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.ID_WB = 16780486; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.sPubDate = "1/27/2007 10:28:11 PM GMT"; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.navsectionID = "3032874" spt_ranking_SB_QBs.appFmt = 9; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.itemsPerPage = 1; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.appWidth = 624; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.appHeader = ""; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.appFooter = "For more, see Coldhardfootballfacts.com"; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.appNavStyle = 4; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.bDhtml = 0; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.appLayout = 3; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.copyHeight = 450; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.copyWidth = 490; spt_ranking_SB_QBs.copyMargin = 9; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Intro","Patriots quarterback Tom Brady salutes the crowd.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040119/040119_superlookahead_vmed_10am.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Winslow Townson", "AP", "286", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Our daily little barroom brawl with football data turned into a complete bloodbath as we considered the topic of the greatest Super Bowl quarterbacks of all time. The data has been beaten into submission and is just oozing out from page upon page of information about the best and worst quarterbacks in Super Bowl history.

Why expend so much effort? Well, quarterbacks are the single most important players on the field, and it’s their performances that hold the key to Super Bowl success. Rex Grossman and Peyton Manning will not step on the field against each other in Super Bowl XLI, but the battle between the two is the most important encounter in the biggest game of the year.

So here’s what we did: We looked at every quarterback who has played in at least two Super Bowls and then rated them from top to bottom and placed them in one of four different categories (essentially, these are ranked top to bottom based upon Super Bowl passer rating):

  • The Six Legends: these are quarterbacks who played well and won every time they appeared in the big game.
  • The Four Champions: these are quarterbacks who played well in Super Bowl victory and not so well in Super Bowl defeat.
  • The Three Cling-Ons : these are quarterbacks who won Super Bowls, but who owe much of their Super Bowl success to great running games.
  • The Five Disasters: these guys played like gimpy hunchbacks in their Super Bowl appearances.

    Our effort revealed quite a bit about Super Bowl history. Consider this: The six quarterbacks with the six highest Super Bowl passer ratings also happen to be the six winningest Super Bowl performers –- a combined 18-0 among the six of them.

    The NFL requires 40 pass attempts to be considered for the Super Bowl record books. But our method -- QBs who appeared in two or more games -- is actually a more inclusive and accurate way to measure Super Bowl success. First and foremost, our method includes a handful of quarterbacks who appeared in more than one Super Bowl but who did not attempt 40 or more passes.

    Both methods eliminate one-hit wonders like Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI and Steve Young in Super Bowl XXIX. Our method also eliminates Super Bowl duds like Rich Gannon who, in his one Super Bowl appearance, attempted 44 passes but was picked off 5 times. It’s unlikely Simms or Young could replicate their record-setting performances in another Super Bowl appearance. It’s also hard to believe that Gannon would be equally as awful if he had another Super Bowl shot. And it’s simply not fair to compare these one-game performances against quarterbacks who have played in as many as three, four or five Super Bowls.

    Here, then, is our look at the first-to-worst Super Bowl quarterbacks, from a legendary Joe Montana to a gimpy Craig Morton.

    -- Kerry J. Byrne, Coldhardfootballfacts.com"; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","LEGENDS","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "These are the quarterbacks who, time and again, put up the biggest numbers in the biggest game. Eighteen quarterbacks have played in two or more Super Bowls. Our six Super Bowl legends have the top six Super Bowl passer ratings of all time. Not so coincidentally, these six QBs -- the most prolific passers in Super Bowl history -- have won nearly half of all the 39 Super Bowls ever played. They are a sterling 18-0 on football’s biggest stage. Bottom line: Great passers and clutch performers will lead you to victory each and every time. The career Super Bowl passer ratings of The Legends range from 99.9 to 127.8."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Joe Montana","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/050126_superBowlQBSS/050125_superBowlQB_montana.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "John Gaps Iii", "AP", "293", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Joe Montana, 49ers

    Games: 4 (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
    Wins: 4
    MVPs: 3 (XVI, XIX, XXIV)

    Overview: Montana is the undisputed king of Super Bowl quarterbacks. The Cold, Hard Football Facts say it all: Montana boasts the highest passer rating in Super Bowl history and has completed more passes for more yards and more TDs, while winning more Super Bowl MVP awards, than any quarterback in history.

    The signature moment: Is there any other? In Super Bowl XXII, the 49ers trailed the Bengals, 16-13, with just over three minutes remaining when they took over on their own 8-yard line. Legend has it that Montana broke the tension in the huddle by pointing out comedian John Candy, who was in the stands that day. The Cold, Hard Football Facts have it that he led the 49ers on an 11-play, 92-yard drive culminating in a 10-yard TD pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds to play. Montana passed for a then-Super Bowl record 357 yards with 2 TDs and 0 INTs. San Francisco won, 20-16."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16793320","Montana's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Jim Plunkett","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/050126_superBowlQBSS/050125_superBowlQB_Plunkett.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Stephen Dunn", "Getty Images", "273", "386", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Jim Plunkett, Raiders

    Games: 2 (XV, XVII)
    Wins 2
    MVPs 1 (XV)

    Overview: Plunkett won the 1970 Heisman Trophy at Stanford, but his NFL career was considered something of a bust before he became one of Al Davis’s prized reclamation products in 1979. He was virtually flawless in his two Super Bowl appearances. Plunkett backed up Dan Pastorini in 1980 but came off the bench in the sixth game of the season. He eventually led the Raiders to a 27-10 upset over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XV and was named the game’s MVP. The 1980 Raiders were the first wild-card team to win a Super Bowl and one of just three in history. He also guided the 1983 Raiders to a dominating 38-9 upset over Washington in Super Bowl XVIII. He joins Montana as the only quarterbacks to appear in more than one Super Bowl and never throw an INT. Cold, Hard Football Facts.com loyalists know about the importance of not throwing INTs in the playoffs.

    Signature moment: Philly quarterback Ron Jaworski got most of the hype heading into Super Bowl XV. But Plunkett quickly stole the show. He threw two first-quarter TD passes. The second was an 80-yard hook-up with running back Kenny King, which stood as the longest play in Super Bowl history for many years."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16793972","Plunkett's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Terry Bradshaw","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/050126_superBowlQBSS/050125_superBowlQB_bradshaw.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "Getty Images file", "298", "193", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Terry Bradshaw, Steelers

    Games 4 (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
    Wins 4
    MVPs 2 (XIII, XIV)

    Overview: Bradshaw was the No. 1 pick in the 1970 draft and came out of Louisiana Tech as the proverbial big-armed country quarterback. He was one of the most athletic players ever to take a snap from center. But he was prone to mistakes. He did not throw more than 18 TD passes in a season until his 9th year, but he could rack up interceptions with the best of them, tossing 19, 22 and 25 INTs in three of those same eight years.

    But in the bright lights of the Super Bowl, he became that gunslinging southern QB Pittsburgh fans had expected back in 1970. He completed just 58.3 percent of his Super Bowl pass attempts, but Bradshaw is the only QB to average more than 10 yards per attempt (11.1 YPA) during his Super Bowl appearances. His long-bomb aerial assault in the biggest game of the year is the sole reason why his two top targets, Lynn Swann (pictured here making one of his spectacular Super Bowl catches) and John Stallworth, are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both had regular-season receiving numbers that simply do not warrant the sport’s top individual honor. But paired with Bradshaw, they caught one Super Bowl deep ball after another. Bradshaw was the first QB to toss four TD passes in a single game (Super Bowl XIII, a 35-31 win over Dallas) and his 318 yards in that game, at the end of his 9th year in the league, were a personal best at the time. It was a remarkable transformation for a QB whose best moments early in his career had come when he handed the ball off to Franco Harris. In Super Bowl IX, for example, Pittsburgh’s first championship, the Steelers attempted just 14 passes and rushed the ball a record 57 times as Harris earned MVP honors.

    Signature moment: The Steelers held a 15-10 lead over Dallas with just over three minutes to play in Super Bowl X when Bradshaw connected on a 64-yard TD pass to Swann that put the game out of reach. Pittsburgh held on for a 21-17 win. The game-winning bomb was a portent of things to come. In Super Bowls XIII and XIV, Bradshaw proved the greatest big-game, big-play passer in football history, as he threw TD tosses of 28, 75, 7, 18, 47 and 73 yards. His 9 Super Bowl TD passes averaged 36.1 yards."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794349","Bradshaw's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Troy Aikman","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/050126_superBowlQBSS/050125_superBowlQB_aikman.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Bob Galbraith", "AP", "262", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Troy Aikman, Cowboys

    Games: 3 (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
    Wins: 3
    MVPs: 1 (XXVII)

    Overview: Aikman, a 2006 Hall of Fame finalist, doesn’t finish high on the career lists in most major passing categories. And he played on a team whose most famous player was Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Loudmouth wideout Michael Irvin, meanwhile (a fellow 2006 Hall of Fame nominee), did his fair share to steal headlines. But Aikman proved he was much more than a role player, and earned Hall of Fame consideration, on Super Bowl Sunday. He completed a record 70 percent of his Super Bowl pass attempts and was picked off just once in three games. While opposing QBs in the Super Bowl (Jim Kelly of Buffalo twice and Neil O’Donnell of Pittsburgh) melted down on game day, Aikman was a rock of stability for a team otherwise known for its wild antics on and off the field.

    Signature moment: Aikman proved he was a big-time player in his very first Super Bowl appearance (XXVII, a 52-17 win over Buffalo), the first of Dallas’s three titles of the 1990s. He passed for 273 yards and 4 TDs with no INTs and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794348","Aikman's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Bart Starr","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/050126_superBowlQBSS/050125_superBowlQB_Starr.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "247", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Bart Starr, Packers

    Games: 2 (I, II)
    Wins: 2
    MVPs: 2

    Overview: The only thing keeping Bart Starr from the top of the all-time Super Bowl quarterback list is his moment in history. Starr was simply born too early. He won three NFL titles before the invention of the Super Bowl, and then won the first two Super Bowls and was the MVP of both. Starr played in six NFL championship games in an eight-year period and was a dominant performer in the big games. His postseason passer rating of 104.8 remains No. 1 all time -- better than Montana, Bradshaw, Aikman and a slew of other legendary modern QBs. And remember, Starr played in an era dominated by defense when current pass interference rules did not exist. One shudders to think what his playoff numbers would have looked like had he played in the post-1978 NFL, which opened up the passing game.

    Signature moment: Starr wasted no time putting his stamp on Super Bowl lore. Halfway through the first quarter of Super Bowl I, he connected with backup receiver Max McGee for a 37-yard touchdown, the first score in Super Bowl history. Starr completed 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT (one of just three INTs in his entire postseason career) and earned MVP honors.="; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794347","Starr's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Tom Brady","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050206/050206_tombrady_vmed_9pm.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Mike Blake", "Reuters", "298", "197", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Tom Brady, Patriots

    Games: 3 (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)
    Wins: 3
    MVPs: 2 (XXXVI, XXXVIII)

    Overview: Brady became the first quarterback to lead his team to a walk-off game-winning Super Bowl drive in Super Bowl XXXVI at the end of just his second year in the league and his first as a starter. He won Super Bowl XXXVIII in similar fashion, leading New England to another game-winning field goal, this time with a full 5 seconds to play. Brady won Super Bowls in his 17th, 52nd and 71st NFL starts. No quarterback has had so much success so quickly. Comparisons early in his career to Montana were laughed off by many of the “pundits” but their passing stats are very similar, both in the regular season and in the Super Bowl. Look at how the two stack up after their first three Super Bowls. The numbers virtually mirror each other, game by game.

    Signature moment: In a 17-17 tie against St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI, the heavy-underdog Patriots took over on their own 17-yard line with no timeouts, 81 seconds on the clock and an inexperienced QB at the helm -- Brady was in just his 17th NFL start. While Super Bowl commentator John Madden urged New England to play for overtime, Brady coolly led the Patriots into field goal position by completing 5 of 8 passes (two balls were thrown away intentionally) for 52 yards. Kicker Adam Vinatieri nailed a 48-yard field goal to give New England the first of three Super Bowl championships in four years."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794346","Brady's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","CHAMPIONS","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "These are quarterbacks who had mixed success in their Super Bowl careers. All were champions at least once, but all suffered disappointments as well. They generally played well in their Super Bowl appearances, but each committed key turnovers in their losses. The Champions went 5-5 in Super Bowl play, and their career Super Bowl passer ratings range from 84.8 to 97.6."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Brett Favre","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040107/040107_vmed_favre_10p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Elsa", "Getty Images file", "294", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Brett Favre, Packers

    Games: 2 (XXXI, XXXII)
    Wins: 1 (XXXI)
    MVPs: 0

    Overview: For a five-year period from 1994 to 1998, Favre stood as the greatest quarterback who ever lived. He averaged 35.2 TD passes (and 15.8 INTs) per season and threw for more than 3,860 yards each year. He won three NFL MVP awards during this span, and his run peaked with a 35-21 win over New England in Super Bowl XXXI. Favre completed 14 of 27 passes for 246 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INT. He played well again in Super Bowl XXXII (25 for 42, 256 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT), but his two second-quarter turnovers led to 10 Denver points and proved to be Green Bay’s downfall.

    Signature moment: Just two plays into his first Super Bowl appearance, Favre tossed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rison. He struck again early in the second quarter, with a then-Super Bowl record 81-yard bomb to Antonio Freeman. The score gave the Packers a 17-14 lead and they never trailed again. The image of Favre excitedly running off the field following the TD, his helmet in hand and a smile on his face, marked the height of the Favre Era in Green Bay."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794336","Favre's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Roger Staubach","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/050126_superBowlQBSS/050125_superBowlQB_Staubach.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Getty Images file", "258", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Roger Staubach, Cowboys

    Games: 4 (VI, X, XII, XIII)
    Wins:2 (VI, X)
    MVPs: 1 (VI)

    Overview: Staubach won the Heisman Trophy as a junior at Navy in 1963, but his military obligations kept him out of the NFL until 1969. When he got a shot as a regular starter in 1971, he quickly paid dividends for a Dallas franchise that had a reputation as one that could not win the big game. (The Cowboys lost NFL championship games to Green Bay in 1966 and 1967 and lost Super Bowl V to Baltimore.) With Staubach clearly in charge in 1971, the Cowboys hammered Miami in Super Bowl VI, 24-3. Staubach earned MVP honors for completing 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards and 2 TDs. It was Miami’s last loss before going undefeated in 1972. Staubach also played well in Super Bowl XII, a 27-10 win over Denver. He led furious comebacks in Super Bowls X and XIII, but his total of 4 INTs in those two games helped contribute to a pair of four-point losses to Pittsburgh (21-17 and 35-31).

    Signature moment: In the third quarter of Super Bowl XIII, Staubach tossed a 10-yard scoring strike to Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith -- who dropped the ball. Dallas had to settle for a field goal and lost by four points. If the ball had been caught, it might have made Dallas, and not Pittsburgh, the team of the 1970s. It might also have given Staubach a third ring, a second Super Bowl MVP award and a Super Bowl passer rating of 100.0, propelling him up the list of greatest Super Bowl QBs."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16795816","Staubach's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Kurt Warner","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040208/040208_warner_vmed.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "John Gress", "REUTERS", "283", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Kurt Warner, Rams

    Games: 2 (XXXIV, XXXVI)
    Wins: 1 (XXXIV)
    MVPs 1 (XXXIV)

    Overview: A former supermarket stock boy and arena league player, Warner burst onto the pro football scene with St. Louis in 1999 when intended starter Trent Green went down with a preseason injury. Warner surprisingly orchestrated one of the greatest seasons by a passer in NFL history, completing 65.1 percent of his throws for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns. This Cinderella season concluded with a 23-16 victory over Tennessee in Super Bowl XXXIV. Warner was back at his bombing best in 2001, the P.T. Barnum of “the Greatest Show on Turf,” completing 68.7 percent of his passes for 4,830 yards and 36 TDs. It all fell apart in Super Bowl XXXVI against New England, however. Warner was beat up and bloodied and picked off twice in a 20-17 loss. He’s never recovered. After passing for 98 TDs in just 43 games from 1999 to 2001, he has played in just 29 games since Super Bowl XXXVI and thrown just 21 TDs.

    Signature moment: The heavily favored Rams sported a 3-0 lead halfway through the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVI when Warner stepped back and eyed Isaac Bruce along the right sideline. He pulled the trigger under a heavy pass rush (some say Warner has hit with an illegal blow to the head by New England linebacker Mike Vrabel) and his pass was picked off by New England cornerback Ty Law, who returned it 47 yards for a touchdown. The Rams never regained the lead and Warner, a two-time NFL MVP, never regained his reputation as one of the league’s top gunslingers."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16795815","Warner's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Len Dawson","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Len Dawson, Chiefs

    Games: 2 (I, IV)
    Wins: 1 (IV)
    MVPs: 1 (IV)

    Overview: Dawson was an NFL backup for five years before being rescued by the AFL’s Dallas Texans and coach Hank Stram in 1962. The Dawson-led Texans won the 1962 AFL title but then moved to Kansas City. Their success continued with another AFL championship in 1966. After that game, Kansas City became ceremonial cannon fodder in the first AFL-NFL Championship Game (Super Bowl I), a 35-10 loss to mighty Green Bay at the peak of the Packers dynasty. Green Bay led just 14-10 at the half, but a Dawson pass was picked off by Willie Wood, who returned the ball 50 yards to set up a short Green Bay TD drive that broke open the game. Dawson and the Chiefs returned to the Super Bowl three years later and hammered a Vikings squad that entered the game as one of the most powerful teams in NFL history.

    Signature moment: In the third quarter of Super Bowl IV, against the heavily favored Vikings, Dawson completed a 46-yard TD pass to tight end Otis Taylor that capped the scoring in a 23-7 Kansas City victory. The clip of the play makes every Super Bowl highlight show to this day. Dawson, the game’s MVP, was highly efficient, completing 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. It was a historic moment in pro football history, the last game before the AFL-NFL merger was finalized for the 1970 season. Everyone remembers that Joe Namath and the Jets legitimized the AFL with a victory over the Colts in Super Bowl III. But Dawson and the Chiefs proved that the New York victory was no fluke and that the AFL had indeed become the equal of the NFL on the eve of the merger."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16795814","Dawson's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","CLING-ONS","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "These are quarterbacks who played in multiple Super Bowls and won at least one championship despite putting up pedestrian numbers. The quarterbacks on this list share something in common: They played for teams with dominant running games that could overcome their quarterback’s inability to produce in the passing game. The best move these quarterbacks made was handing the ball off to a Super Bowl MVP running back. The Cling-Ons went 5-5 in Super Bowl play and their career Super Bowl passer ratings range from 57.1 to 72.7. "; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Bob Griese","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/050126_superBowlQBSS/050125_superBowlQB_Griese.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Getty Images file", "273", "380", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Bob Griese, Dolphins

    Games: 3 (VI, VII, VIII)
    Wins: 2 (VII, VIII)

    Overview: Griese stands as proof that football prizes team accomplishments over individual statistics. He was ushered into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, but he rarely did anything more notable than hand the ball off while leading arguably the most lethal ground attack in modern NFL history. Even his Hall of Fame bio describes him as “the poised leader of a classic ball-control offense that generated an awesomely efficient running attack.” This legacy was never more evident than it was in Griese’s three Super Bowl appearances. In his two victories, Griese attempted just 18 total passes. His Super Bowl passer rating of 72.7 is only slightly below his pedestrian career passer rating of 77.1.

    Signature moment: Griese handed the ball off a then-record 51 times in Miami’s 24-7 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl VIII. He attempted just 7 passes, completing 6 for 73 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INTs."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794333","Griese's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","John Elway","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040130/040130_football_hof_elway_hmed_9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Doug Mills", "AP file", "273", "415", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "John Elway, Broncos

    Games: 5 (XXI, XXII, XXIV, XXXII, XXXIII)
    Wins: 2 (XXXII, XXXIII)
    MVPs: 1 (XXXIII)

    Overview: Elway has a reputation as a big-game gunslinger. The Cold, Hard Football Facts prove he was anything but a big-game player on Super Bowl Sunday. Elway threw at least 1 INT in all five of his Super Bowl appearances, including six in the three losses. His performance in Super Bowl XXIV, a 55-10 loss to San Francisco, was one of the worst by a quarterback in Super Bowl history (10 of 26, 108 yards, 0 TD, 2 INTs, 19.4 rating). With the arrival of Mike Shanahan as its coach, Denver became a team powered by the run and Elway rode the coattails of running back Terrell Davis to victory. The Broncos shed their cloak of vincibility with a 31-24 win over Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII. Elway had his usual subpar Super Bowl passing performance (12 of 22 for 123 yards with 0 TDs, 1 INT), but MVP Davis rushed for 157 yards and a Super Bowl record 3 TDs. Elway pulled it all together in Super Bowl XXXIII, a 34-19 win over Atlanta. He passed for 336 yards in the final game of his career, earned MVP honors, erased a legacy of Super Bowl duds and rode off into the sunset one of the most celebrated players in league history. Denver rushed 75 times and passed 51 times in its two Super Bowl victories.

    Signature moment: Denver and Green Bay were locked in a 17-17 tie late in the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXII when the Broncos faced a 3rd and 6 at the Green Bay 12. Elway dropped back to pass but then ran through an opening in the Green Bay defense. He dove for the first down, only to get whacked by safety LeRoy Butler. Elway spun around in midair like a helicopter, but had reached the first-down marker. Davis soon scored to give the Broncos a 24-17 lead. It’s only fitting that the most memorable play of Elway’s Super Bowl career is not a spiraling pass hanging in the air, but a gritty rush attempt near the goal line. Elway also rushed for a 1 yard TD in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXII. "; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794326","Elway's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Joe Theismann","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Joe Theismann, Redskins

    Games: 2 (XVII, XVIII)
    Wins: 1 (XVII)

    Overview: Theismann spent the first three years of his career in Canada and did not become a full-time NFL player until 1978, his eighth year in pro ball. His legacy took a dramatic turn for the better with the arrival of coach Joe Gibbs and offensive line coach Joe Bugel in 1981.

    By 1982, Washington’s offensive line -– “the Hogs” -– had become the most powerful force in the NFL. The Redskins ended the strike-shortened 1982 season with an 8-1 record. Riggins led the team into the postseason, amassing 510 yards on 136 carries in four playoff games. The season concluded with a 27-17 victory over Miami in Super Bowl XVII. Theismann earned NFL MVP honors in 1983, leading what was then the most prolific scoring offense in NFL history (541 points). The 1983 Redskins were a perfectly balanced offensive machine, scoring 29 touchdowns through the air and 30 on the ground. But the Raiders shut down the Washington ground game in Super Bowl XVIII and without his safety net, Theismann proved incapable of carrying the Redskins. He threw two INTs, including one at the end of the half that was returned by Raiders linebacker Jack Squirek for a back-breaking touchdown.

    Signature moment: The Redskins trailed Miami, 17-13, with 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XVII when Theismann wisely decided to hand off to Riggins on a daring 4th-and-1 play. The Diesel raced off left tackle, ran over Dolphins cornerback Don McNeal, and rumbled 43 yards for the go-ahead TD in what ended a 27-17 Washington victory. Riggins earned MVP honors with his record 38 attempts and then-record 166 yards on the ground. The Redskins gained a Super Bowl record 276 rushing yards. "; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794318","Theismann's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","DISASTERS","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "The five players on our Disasters list include three Hall of Fame quarterbacks and the only two quarterbacks to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl. It also includes the worst Super Bowl performers in NFL history, quarterbacks who routinely hobbled around like crippled hunchbacks in the biggest game of the year. The Disasters went 1-10 in Super Bowl play and even that record is deceiving. The lone victory came in a game that pitted two Disasters against a third one, Super Bowl V. The three quarterbacks combined for six interceptions in a game that featured 11 total turnovers and was ulitmately decided by a late INT that set up a game-winning field goal. Their career Super Bowl passer ratings range from 20.0 to 56.9. "; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Jim Kelly","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070127/070127_superbowl_qb_vmed3p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "Lennox McLendon / AP file", "266", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Jim Kelly, Bills

    Games: 4 (XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII)
    Wins: 0

    Overview: Kelly resurrected the moribund Buffalo franchise when he arrived in 1986 after two seasons in the USFL. He quickly established himself as one of the most prolific passers in the history of the game, leading Buffalo’s high-tempo, no-huddle K-Gun offense with great success. But he was a complete dud in the Super Bowl. He was picked off seven times in just 145 Super Bowl pass attempts, including four INTs in a 37-24 loss to Washington in Super Bowl XXVI (when he was shown up by journeyman QB Mark Rypien, the game’s MVP). His two TD passes that day came in fourth-quarter garbage time, after Washington held a 37-10 lead. The next year he was knocked silly by Dallas in Super Bowl XXVII and was forced out of the game in the second quarter of a humiliating 52-17 loss. Kelly is the only quarterback to lead his team to four straight Super Bowls. He’s also the only QB to lose four Super Bowl games.

    Signature moment: Buffalo’s Scott Norwood missed a 47-yeard field goal with seconds remaining in Super Bowl XXV. A successful kick would have given the Bills a win in their first Super Bowl appearance and, even with losses in the next three games, it would have spared the franchise, the city of Buffalo and the quarterback himself from wearing the enduring tag of big-game losers."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16794312","Kelly's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Fran Tarkenton","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Fran Tarkenton, Vikings

    Games: 3 (VIII, IX, XI)
    Wins: 0

    Overview: No quarterback routinely led better teams in the regular season. No quarterback routinely played with better defenses. No quarterback of his era was more prolific in the passing game. No quarterback routinely imploded so badly on Super Bowl Sunday. When Tarkenton retired in 1978 after 18 years in the league, he was the NFL’s all-time leader in attempts (6,487), completions (3,668), passing yards (47,003), and TD passes (342). He was also one of the best running QBs in modern NFL history, rushing for 3,674 yards in his career. But more than any other quarterback in Super Bowl history, Tarkenton shows us that there is sometimes a startling gap between a player’s regular-season production and his Super Bowl production.

    The signature moment: In one of the most replayed moments in Super Bowl history, Tarkenton threw an INT in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XI that was returned 75 yards for a TD by Oakland defensive back Willie Brown. The score gave Oakland a 32-7 lead (Minnesota backup QB Bob Lee threw a late TD pass) and was Tarkenton’s sixth INT (as compared to just 1 TD pass) in three Super Bowl games."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16795655","Tarkenton's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Johnny Unitas","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070124/070124_unitas_hmed_4p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "AP file", "273", "408", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Johnny Unitas, Colts

    Games: 2 (III, V)
    Wins: 1 (V)

    Overview: Johnny Unitas may very well be the greatest quarterback of all time. He led the Colts to two straight titles in 1958 and 1959 and, in an era of defensive dominance, put up gaudy statistics that would have earned him Pro Bowl status even by modern standards. But in 1968, Unitas was 34 years old, in his 13th season and returning from a season-long injury by the time he got his first Super Bowl opportunity. He simply did not play well in either Super Bowl III or Super Bowl V. He replaced starter Earl Morrall in the second half of Super Bowl III after the Baltimore offense had been stagnant. The Colts trailed 16-0 by the time Unitas got into the game. He led Baltimore to its only score but also threw an INT that stifled any hopes of a miraculous comeback. Although Unitas got the start in Super Bowl V, he was extremely ineffective before getting injured and replaced by Morrall in an error-filled game. The two combined to lead Baltimore to a 16-13 victory over Dallas, but it remains one of the worst offensive performances by any team in Super Bowl history. How bad was it? The teams combined for 11 turnovers, including 3 INTs by Unitas and Morrall, and the MVP of the game was a linebacker on the losing team (Chuck Howley).

    Signature moment: The Colts trailed the Cowboys, 6-0, early in the second quarter of Super Bowl V and had been incapable of moving against the Dallas defense. Unitas fired a pass that was mishandled by receiver Eddie Hinton, bounced off Cowboys defensive back Mel Renfro, and ended up in the hands of tight end John Mackey, who raced 45 yards to complete a 75-yard scoring play. It was the only TD pass Unitas threw in just under four quarters of Super Bowl play and was symbolic of a game that proved a comedy of errors. Fittingly, kicker Jim O’Brien’s extra point attempt was blocked. "; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16795654","Unitas' stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Earl Morrall","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Earl Morrall, Colts

    Games 2 (III, V)
    Wins: 1 (V)

    Overview: Morrall is one of the more interesting journeymen in NFL history. He played 22 seasons for six different teams and was a Pro Bowl performer with two of them: the Steelers in 1957 and the Colts in 1968. He played second fiddle to Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton for a year with the N.Y. Giants, to Hall of Famer Unitas for four years in Baltimore, and to Hall of Famer Bob Griese for five years in Miami.

    He also had more than his fair share of success when given time to play. He was the primary quarterback on two of the greatest teams in NFL history (1968 Colts, 1972 Dolphins), played on four Super Bowl teams (1968 Colts, 1970 Colts, 1972 Dolphins, 1973 Dolphins) and saw significant playing time in two Super Bowls.

    Morrall replaced an injured Johnny Unitas in 1968 and and led the Colts to a spectacular 13-1 season. The 1968 Colts were, in fact, the most dominant regular-season team in modern NFL history. In 1972 in Miami, Bob Griese went down with a broken leg in Week Five. Morrall came off the bench to win 11 straight games, including two in the playoffs, as part of the only undefeated campaign in NFL history. Morrall was then benched for Super Bowl VII, as Griese returned from injury.

    Perhaps Miami coach Don Shula sat Morrall for Super Bowl VII because he remembered the quarterback’s performance in Super Bowl III. After all, Shula was Morrall’s coach that season in Baltimore. Morrall tossed three INTs in the famous 16-7 loss to the AFL Jets and is the player most singularly responsible for the greatest upset in NFL history.

    Signature moment: Super Bowl V limped to an inglorious conclusion as Baltimore linebacker Mike Curtis returned an interception 13 yards to the Dallas 28 in the waning moments of the game. Morrall hardly sparkled that day, but he managed to successfully take two straight snaps without losing the football. Rookie kicker Jim O’Brien then stepped in and kicked the game-winning 32-yard field goal with five seconds to play. "; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16795653","Morrall's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("","Craig Morton","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i-1].body = "Craig Morton, Cowboys, Broncos

    Games: 2 (V, XII)
    Wins: 0

    Overview: Morton has two claims to fame. Forty years into the Super Bowl Era, he remains the only quarterback to play for two different teams in the Super Bowl, the 1970 Cowboys and the 1977 Broncos. But he then proved to be the worst Super Bowl quarterback in history. Morton managed to defy the laws of physics by tossing 7 interceptions in just 41 Super Bowl pass attempts. His awful 3-INT effort in Super Bowl V was followed by a truly mind-numbing Super Bowl XII performance in which he completed four passes to his own Broncos teammates and four passes to Dallas defenders. Morton posted a perfect 0.0 rating in Super Bowl XII.

    Signature moment: Morton and the 1970 Cowboys were put into perfect position for a victory in comedic Super Bowl V when they took over the ball on the Baltimore 48-yard line with just 2 minutes to play in a 13-13 ballgame. The Cowboys quickly managed to lose 25 yards (24 on a spot holding penalty). On 2nd-and-35, Morton threw to running back Dan Reeves, who completely whiffed on the ball. It was then picked off by Baltimore linebacker Mike Curtis. The ball ended up on the Dallas 28 and O’Brien kicked his game-winning field goal two plays later."; spt_ranking_SB_QBs[i++] = new Array("http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16795652","Morton's stats","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/bg_medblue2.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "40", "1", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); // END editorial data