10 Quarterbacks With the Most Super Bowl Wins of All-Time
We judge NFL quarterbacks by a lot of different statistics, but winning the Super Bowl is probably the ultimate accomplishment for a signal caller. With so much pressure on the shoulders of anyone playing "the most important position in sports," delivering on the biggest stage can define a quarterback’s legacy and take them from great player to legend status. Here, we look at the 10 most successful quarterbacks in Super Bowl history.
Top 10 Quarterbacks With the Most Super Bowl Wins
1. Tom Brady
No surprise here. The Goat leads all QBs with seven Super Bowl rings in 10 appearances. But for Tom Brady, Super Bowl success was a surprise at first, as he rose from being a 6th round draft choice and Drew Bledsoe’s backup, to leading the Patriots to a massive upset of the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. After that, championship-level success became the standard for Brady, as he went on to appear in more than twice as many Super Bowls than any other QB.
Brady had no shortage of iconic moments during his seven championships. In fact, there have been 19 game-winning scoring drives in Super Bowl history. Brady led six of them. He's also the first QB to lead a team to win a Super Bowl in overtime.
2. Joe Montana
Tied for second on the list of winningest Super Bowl quarterbacks is San Francisco 49ers great Joe Montana. Montana won four championships in a nine-year period with the Niners, consistently rising to the occasion in the most pressure-packed moments. Joe Cool threw 11 touchdown passes and zero interceptions in his four Super Bowl appearances, winning all four. His most memorable moment came in Super Bowl XXIII, in which he led a 92-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the waning minutes to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals.
3. Terry Bradshaw
For a franchise to lead the league in all-time Super Bowl wins, quarterback play is critical. The Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most titles among NFL franchises, and quarterback Terry Bradshaw is a big reason why. Bradshaw, like Montana, is 4-0 all-time in Super Bowls. Perhaps more impressive than his pristine record is the fact that he averaged 11.1 yards per pass attempt in those four victories, as his aggressive downfield throwing style helped the Steel Curtain dominate the sport throughout the 1970s.
4. Patrick Mahomes
The only active player on our list, Mahomes could end at the top someday. Mahomes already has three Super Bowl victories and four appearances under his belt, and he's only 29 years old. What has made Mahomes so special in his Super Bowl wins is his creativity and clutch playmaking ability. Mahomes has brought his best in the fourth quarter and overtime, with the Chiefs outscoring Super Bowl opponents 49-20 in those periods. Something tells us Mahomes isn’t done winning championships just yet.
5. Troy Aikman
Despite decades of playoff futility, the Dallas Cowboys remain one of the most popular NFL teams. One reason for that is Troy Aikman, who led the Cowboys to three championships in four seasons, with all three of those Super Bowl wins coming by double-digits. Aikman took advantage of a near perfect situation during those championship years, leaning on Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, as well as an elite offensive line protecting him. But none of that would have mattered without Aikman's ability to consistently execute at a high level, as the 1990s Cowboys enjoyed one of the most dominant runs of all time.
6. Eli Manning
Of all the quarterbacks on this list, none had a more perplexing NFL journey than Eli Manning. Manning posted a record of 117-117 over the course of his regular season career, turning the ball over 300 times between interceptions and lost fumbles. But when playoff time came around, Manning found another gear. During the 2007 and 2011 postseasons, Manning led the Giants to an 8-0 record with two Super Bowl wins, while completing 63% of his passes and throwing for 15 TDs to only 2 interceptions. The fact he beat Brady both times in the Super Bowl only adds to the stunning accomplishment. Manning will also be remembered for his part in iconic passes to David Tyree and Mario Manningham, two of the most famous throws in Super Bowl history.
7. Peyton Manning
Eli Manning’s older brother — and more accomplished overall quarterback — Peyton also has two Super Bowl triumphs under his belt. Manning won his first championship as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, leading a devastating offense featuring elite wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne to a Super Bowl XLI win over the Chicago Bears. He also won Super Bowl 50 as a member of the Denver Broncos, with Denver’s defense grinding the Carolina Panthers into submission, while Manning kept a steady hand on the wheel.
8. John Elway
After his first eight playoff appearances ended without a championship, many wondered if John Elway — one of the greatest QBs of his generation — would ever get his hands on a Lombardi Trophy. But an aging Elway and the Broncos eliminated all doubt by winning back-to-back Super Bowls at the tail end of his legendary career. Elway had rushing touchdowns in both of his Super Bowl wins over the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons, respectively, showcasing his customary athleticism and fearlessness in those games. Elway announced his retirement almost immediately after his team won Super Bowl XXXIII.
9. Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger went to three Super Bowls in his career and won two of them, which is not too shabby for a quarterback who played college ball at Miami (OH) out of the MAC. Roethlisberger’s ability to make throws other quarterbacks wouldn't or couldn't set him apart in key situations. His game-winning touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII was a throw that will go down in Super Bowl history, as he helped the Steelers earn championships five and six in franchise history.
10. Bob Griese
Before Terry Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh Steelers took over as the dominant team of the decade, the Miami Dolphins won two Super Bowls in three seasons in the early 1970s. Bob Griese was their quarterback on that run, which included the modern NFL's only undefeated season in 1972. To this day, whenever the last undefeated team in any NFL season loses its first game, the ‘72 Dolphins celebrate another year of their unblemished record standing alone in the record books, with Griese’s quarterback play being firmly recognized as the engine of their success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which quarterback has the most Super Bowl wins?
Tom Brady has the most Super Bowl wins of all time. He has won seven Super Bowls in his 10 appearances in the big game. Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw are tied for second, with four wins apiece.
Which quarterbacks have won three Super Bowls?
The list of quarterbacks who have started and won at least three Super Bowls consists of Brady, Montana, Bradshaw, Patrick Mahomes and Troy Aikman. Earl Morrall also won three Super Bowls, one with the Baltimore Colts and two with the Miami Dolphins, as a backup QB. Steve Young won one Super Bowl as a backup and two more as a starter with the San Francisco 49ers.
Who has the most passing touchdowns in Super Bowls?
Tom Brady has thrown the most touchdowns in Super Bowl history. He threw 21 touchdown passes in his 10 Super Bowl appearances.
Who are some notable QBs that have never won a Super Bowl?
While our focus has been on quarterbacks with multiple Super Bowl wins, many great quarterbacks never won the big one. That list includes great players like Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Fran Tarkenton, Boomer Esiason, Warren Moon, Dan Fouts, Randall Cunningham, Philip Rivers, Donovan McNabb, Matt Ryan and Steve McNair.
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