The Best MVP Performances from a Non-QB in The Big Game
The Big Game MVP award usually goes to the winning quarterback. 33 times from the 58 games played between 1967 and 2024. Patrick Mahomes joined only Tom Brady (5) and Joe Montana (3) in winning three MVPs in The Big Game when leading Kansas City to glory in 2024.
The NFL's fixation with quarterbacks often means other players are overlooked. However, there have been 25 times when non-QBs have played so well that they've deserved The Big Game's top individual honour.
There have been eight wide receivers to win The Big Game MVP, and seven running back MVP winners. The last non QB to win The Big Game MVP was Rams' wide receiver Cooper Kupp in 2022. Quarterbacks are certainly in vogue right now.
What's truly remarkable, though, is the quality of the defensive players to win The Big Game MVP down the years. You don't often lead the headlines when you're playing defence.
From safety Jake Scott to linebacker Von Miller, some of the most memorable performances in the history of The Big Game come from those who wouldn't automatically have the spotlight cast upon them.
Miller (2016) remains the last defensive player MVP winner in The Big Game. It might take a few years yet until another joins that list.
Desmond Howard – Green Bay vs New England | 1997
Desmon Howard remains the only special teams player to ever win The Big Game MVP. The return specialist scored a 99-yard touchdown from kick off, which broke The Big Game record. In total he returned 154 kick off yards and 90 punt yards, which proved crucial to Green Bay’s strategy.
Green Bay won a mesmerising game 35-21 and were six points in the lead entering the final four minutes of the game. New England had just scored through Curtis Martin when Howard received the kick off.
He'd already produced a solid display but his remarkable charge straight through the heart of the Patriots line sealed victory for his side. Brett Favre threw two touchdowns for Green Bay that day but the MVP award went to Howard.
Malcolm Smith – Seattle vs Denver | 2014
When a defensive-minded team totally stifles an ultra-offensive unit then it's only fair that a linebacker is named MVP. This happened in 2014 when Seattle demolished the Denver offence in a 43-8 victory at XLVIII.
The Broncos were all about their passing game but Peyton Manning had a miserable day. He threw two interceptions – one to Malcolm Smith, who then ran 69 yards to cross into the end zone. Smith also recovered a fumble and nailed nine tackles.
Seattle's defensive tactics suited Smith. The team all-but prevented Denver from rushing the ball, and they were hot to Manning's plays. Smith thoroughly deserved his MVP.
Larry Csonka – Miami vs Minnesota | 1974
It took eight games for a running back to finally win The Big Game MVP award but Larry Csonka made sure it was worth the wait. The Ohioan was in his sixth year with the Miami Dolphins and was at the peak of his career when he laced his boots to face the Minnesota Vikings in Houston.
Csonka scored two touchdowns that day, both from within five yards, as Miami cruised to a 24-7 victory over Minnesota. But it wasn't just his touchdowns. Csonka carried 145 yards that day – 111 more than his closest teammate. He was given the ball 33 times.
Quarterback Bob Griese threw the ball just seven times. The playbook was clear: give it to Larry.
Von Miller – Denver vs Carolina | 2016
Peyton Manning led the headlines at The Big Game 50 as he led Denver to victory over Carolina – but he wouldn't have had the fairytale ending to his career without Von Miller. Miller won the game for the Broncos. The linebacker nailed 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. His first strip sack gave Malik Jackson the ball in the Panthers' end zone. His second, deep in the fourth quarter, ended any hope of a Panthers comeback.
The cameras all focused on Manning after the game and many believed he would get The Big Game MVP. However, there's no disputing that Miller – the fourth Linebacker MVP in history – deserved the award.
Richard Dent – Chicago vs New England | 1986
New England knew they’d be in for a rough ride when they prepared to face Chicago at the Louisiana Superdome in January 1986. The Bears had a formidable defense that had helped them win 15 regular season games. The NFL odds all pointed to a Bears win and they didn’t disappoint. What’s also unsurprising is a defensive player won The Big Game MVP that year.
Richard Dent marshalled the Bears secondary. As a team they recorded seven sacks and restricted the Pats to just seven net rushing yards. New England's QB Steve Grogan threw a touchdown but also two interceptions. Replacement Tony Eason failed to land a pass in six attempts.
Dent himself managed 1.5 sacks, blocked a pass and forced two fumbles. New England just couldn't break through and the Bears had built a 44-2 lead by the time Grogan, early in the fourth quarter, found Irving Fryar in the end zone from eight yards.
The 46-10 final score was a testament not only to Chicago's offence – spearheaded by Jim McMahon – but to Dent and his defensive unit.
Jake Scott – Miami vs Washington | 1973
The Big Game VII has not gone down as a classic. Miami scored touchdowns in the first and second quarters, then restricted Washington to zero points until two minutes remained on the clock. The 14-7 victory was well deserved, largely due to Miami's control of the game.
There were few standout performances, which is perhaps why safety Jake Scott caught the eye with two dazzling interceptions. He covered 63 yards with the ball, stymying Washington's offensive plan and forcing their secondary back out on the field. It was only a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter that earned Washington a touchdown. There was no way this Dolphins defensive line was going to give up a point. Scott won The Big Game the following year with Larry Csonka named MVP.
Terrell Davis – Denver vs Green Bay | 1998
Bookmakers priced Denver as huge 9/2 underdogs to win The Big Game in 1998, with some offering odds as short as 1/8 on Green Bay Packers taking the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Those odds shrunk even further when Green Bay took an early lead through Antonio Freeman.
But then running back Terrell Davis laced up his boots. He scored three rushing touchdowns – all from one yard out – as Denver not only turned the game on its head but completely upset the NFL odds.
Amazingly, Davis didn't feature in the second quarter due to suffering a migraine. He returned after recovering his vision and rounded off a 92-yard drive to put Denver 24-17 up. Green Bay hit back through Freeman again, only for Davis to win the game for Denver – and the MVP award from Freeman – with a final score with 1:45 on the clock.
Larry Brown – Dallas vs Pittsburgh | 1996
Only one quarterback (Steve Young) won The Big Game MVP across five seasons between 1994 and 1998. Larry Brown was a non-QB to earn the award in the middle of that trend with a stunning defensive performance from cornerback in the Dallas Cowboys' 27-17 win over Pittsburgh.
The Steelers were confident heading into the game, with Neil O'Donnell playing shotgun. But Brown played the game of his life to twice read the QB's gameplan. He collected two passes, including a crucial interception that led Emmitt Smith to a four-yard touchdown with 3:43 on the clock.
Dallas were 20-17 ahead when Brown caught his second interception and that all-but killed the game for Pittsburgh. After the game the spotlight again fell on a defensive player, rather than swinging to the winning quarterback. Troy Aikman may have even felt a little sore not to have earned the gong that day.
John Riggins – Washington vs Miami | 1993
Very few people get to play out their dream Big Game, but John Riggins did just that. Then 33, the veteran proved unstoppable at The Big Game XVII as he won the game for Washington against the much-fancied Miami.
Riggins was involved in everything. He carried the ball 38 times across 166 yards – the fourth game in a row he'd gone +100 rushing yards. He was involved in all of Washington's scoring drives before crossing into the end zone himself in the fourth quarter.
His 43-yard burst with 10 minutes on the clock flipped the game in Washington's favour for the first time all afternoon. They would run out 27-17 victors, with Riggins the big focus. It's perhaps not surprising that he caught the attention of onlookers after coming into The Big Game in such good form.
Riggins put in arguably two better campaigns for Washington after The Big Game win, helping them reach the postseason on both occasions. He retired after the 1985 season well into his late 30s.
Jerry Rice - San Francisco vs Cincinnati | 1989
Jerry Rice's performance at The Big Game XXIII is widely considered the best from a non-QB, mainly because his game was so good that it prevented Joe Montana from winning The Big Game MVP that year.
San Francisco hadn't exactly stood out during the 1986 NFL season. They topped the NFC West but with a 10-6 record and only came to life in the playoffs, when they beat Minnesota 34-9 and then Chicago 28-3 to make The Big Game.
Their defence in the regular season was bang average but coach Bill Walsh switched it on during the playoffs. This, coupled with Montana's deadly arm, appeared to complete the puzzle.
The Bengals appeared the superior team at Joe Robbie Stadium on 22 January 1989 and they weren't behind in the contest until 34 seconds remaining, when John Taylor caught Montana's missile. But Rice won the MVP award for his own exceptional touchdown earlier in the game and his all-round play.
Rice broke The Big Game record when catching 11 passes for 215 yards. The ball just stuck to him. His relationship with Montana that day borderline on the telepathic.