- The first Super Bowl was played on Jan. 15, 1967.
- Chuck Howley was the first (and last) Super Bowl MVP to win the award on a losing team.
- Deion Branch had 133 receiving yards in Super Bowl XXXIX. He had just three other games in his entire career with more receiving yards.
The first Super Bowl was played on Jan. 15, 1967. The Super Bowl MVP award has been there since the beginning, and legends like the best NFL quarterbacks of all time maximized their squad’s NFL odds of winning it all with iconic performances.
Then, some lesser-known athletes had their brightest day on the biggest stage.
Below, I make seven guesses of players who won the award you may have never heard of.
7 Super Bowl MVPs You’ve Never Heard Of
| Player | Position | Super Bowl |
| Deion Branch | WR | XXXIX |
| Dexter Jackson | DB | XXXVII |
| Chuck Howley | LB | V |
| Malcolm Smith | LB | XLVIII |
| Ottis Anderson | RB | XXV |
| Larry Brown | CB | XXX |
| Jake Scott | S | VII |
Deion Branch, Wide Receiver
The Patriots dynasty was something to behold in the 2000s, and Branch took home one of the Super Bowl MVP awards. However, considering the career he ultimately had, his Super Bowl MVP award is still one of the more intriguing ones.
Branch won the award in Super Bowl XXXIX, which was played in 2005 against the Philadephia Eagles.
Branch had a massive game for the Patriots, catching 11 passes for 133 yards. He didn’t catch a touchdown, as Tom Brady’s two passing touchdowns went to David Givens and now former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Happy 42nd birthday to two time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion Branch!! (@deionbranch84)
Courtesy: @CardsGonePro#SuperBowl #GoPats #Seahawks
— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) July 18, 2021
During his career, Branch only had three games with more than 133 receiving yards, and two came in the playoffs.
Regardless of his regular-season accomplishments, Branch always came up big in the postseason.
Dexter Jackson, Safety
Jackson appeared in seven postseason games throughout his NFL career, but he came up huge in the one where it mattered most in Super Bowl XXXVII. This game featured his Tampa Bay Buccaneers squashing the Oakland Raiders 48-21. The Buccaneers picked off Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon five times, and Jackson had two of them.
Do you think Dexter Jackson bought Rich Gannon's pump fake? He actually turned his hips in the opposite direction during the pump fake. pic.twitter.com/3xfVWHLbyn
— Zoltán Buday (@PFF_Zoltan) February 2, 2021
He became the third defensive back to win the Super Bowl MVP award.
Chuck Howley, Linebacker
In one of the uglier Super Bowls regarding quality of play, Super Bowl V brought us the rare instance of a player on the losing team winning the MVP award with Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley.
PFHOF senior finalist Chuck Howley’s 19-yard, athletic INT on Johnny Unitas in Super Bowl V. The Colts beat Howley’s Cowboys 16-13 but Howley won MVP with two picks. He was a big-play man, returning his 43 career takeaways for 13.7 yards per return and 3 TD. @Profhofcantonf pic.twitter.com/jD0kl8uMnN
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) July 31, 2022
His Cowboys lost 16-13, but Howley was named MVP after recording two interceptions against the Baltimore Colts. Back then, sacks and other key defensive statistics hadn’t been recorded yet.
Howley didn’t accept the award because his team lost, and he is still the only player to win it on a losing team.
Malcolm Smith, Linebacker
Malcolm Smith, the most recent Super Bowl MVP on this list, was a member of the Seattle Seahawks’ Legion of Boom defence that dismantled the Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos offence. The Seahawks won the game 43-8.
Smith had a pick-six in that game that went for 69 yards, recovered a fumble, and made nine tackles.
Malcolm Smith's Pick Six! #SBGoldenPlay https://t.co/67OUF9ts8T
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2016
He was the first defensive player since Dexter Jackson to win Super Bowl MVP honours.
Ottis Anderson, Running Back
In a close finish with a final score of 20-19, New York Giants running back Ottis Anderson took home the MVP award at Super Bowl XXV.
#SuperBowl Trivia: Miami Hurricane Ottis “OJ” Anderson was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXV. pic.twitter.com/chANSKmiMQ
— GO ‘CANES! (@83_87_89_91_01) January 30, 2023
He had 21 carries, going for 102 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one pass for seven yards.
Because of his efforts, the Giants limited the Buffalo Bills and quarterback Jim Kelly to less than 20 minutes of possession time.
Larry Brown, Cornerback
Five years after Anderson’s Super Bowl MVP performance, we had another relatively obscure winner with Larry Brown.
His Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX.
Brown, a 12th-round pick, became the first cornerback to win the award.
Lombardi No. 5 for the @dallascowboys (1/28/1996):
✨ Classic @SuperBowl match-up against the Steelers
🧲 Former 12th-round pick CB Larry Brown (2 INTs) becomes first CB to win MVP
2⃣2⃣ @EmmittSmith22 turned picks into points with two TD runs pic.twitter.com/WblPJMWTl8— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) August 6, 2019
In the Super Bowl, Brown intercepted Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell twice with 77 interception return yards. He nearly had a pick-six on his second one.
Jake Scott, Safety
Let’s turn the clock back and venture to Super Bowl VII.
This was one of the lowest-scoring Super Bowls ever, with undefeated Miami defeating Washington 14-7.
This concluded the first undefeated season, though teams played just 14 regular-season games in the early 1970s.
BOTD Jake Scott
Super Bowl VII MVP#Dolphins pic.twitter.com/3WcMaiNYGO— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) July 20, 2021
With it being such a low-scoring matchup, Scott, a safety, took home the award with two interceptions for 62 yards. One of his interceptions was returned 55 yards out of his team’s end zone during a critical juncture of the fourth quarter to help solidify Miami’s perfect season.
The content provided in this blog is intended for entertainment purposes only. All views and opinions expressed are the authors and reflect their individual perspectives on sports, betting, and related topics. This content should not be considered professional betting advice or the official views of BetMGM LLC. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know is experiencing issues related to gambling, seek help from a licensed health professional. This blog is not liable for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from betting activities.
