Super Bowl MVPs and Stats: Super Bowl LVI MVP Predictions

Tom Brady has won the most career Super Bowl MVP awards with a total of five (shocking, we know). Statistically, quarterbacks are most likely to win the award, and while the Stafford vs. Burrow matchup will be an interesting one, there are other players just as deserving of the Super Bowl LVI MVP award. Tune in Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EST for Super Bowl LVI, celebrate at an official Super Bowl party, and read below for our MVP predictions and the complete list of Super Bowl MVPs.
Super Bowl LVI MVP Predictions
5. Evan McPherson
Okay, listen: no kicker has ever been named Super Bowl MVP, but if anyone is going to change history, McPherson could be the guy to do it. The Bengals rookie is 12-for-12 on field goals in the playoffs, kicking the team into two straight postseason victories. While we aren’t holding our breath for a kicker to snag the award, if Bengals vs. Rams stays a close game, McPherson could be the team’s saving grace yet again.
4. Aaron Donald
Only three defensive linemen (one being defensive tackle) have won the Super Bowl MVP award in its 55-year history. Two games ago, the Bengals gave up nine sacks — it’s not farfetched to believe Donald can knock Burrow off his feet a few times on Sunday. As one of the best defensive players in the NFL, Donald had 12.5 sacks during the regular season and added 1.5 more in the playoffs. If he puts up numbers, we could witness another defensive tackle claim Super Bowl MVP.
3. Cooper Kupp
With 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, Kupp has been Stafford’s go-to guy. In the postseason alone, Kupp has 25 catches for 386 yards and four touchdowns — and gone over 140 yards in each of the last two games. Without a doubt, Kupp is in the running for Super Bowl MVP, assuming he plays up to standard on Sunday. If the Rams win and Kupp puts up the numbers he has been, we could see the MVP award go to a wide receiver (which only happens occasionally).
2. Joe Burrow
While the Rams are most “likely” to win, an underdog story is never boring. Burrow may have absorbed nine sacks two games ago, but he’s been on his A-game ever since. He’s the reason the Bengals claimed an AFC Championship over the Kansas City Chiefs, and he will likely be the reason the team wins or loses on Sunday. Super Bowl LVI will be Burrow’s second Super Bowl appearance as a pro and if he can perform the way he did against the Chiefs, he has great potential to win the Super Bowl MVP award.
1. Matthew Stafford
Statistically, quarterbacks are most likely to win the Super Bowl MVP award. So if history repeats itself, we’ll see the award toggle between Stafford and Burrow. Stafford is an obvious choice for two reasons: he’s the quarterback on the team most likely to win, and he’s the quarterback of the “home” team. Like we mentioned in our Super Bowl Winners post, a Bengals win would be a fun story, but the Rams are an all-star team made to win. If Stafford plays the way he has been, he’ll likely cement himself as not only Super Bowl MVP, but a Hall of Famer.
Super Bowl MVPs and Stats
NO. | PLAYER | HIGHLIGHTS |
I | Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay | Two touchdown passes |
II | Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay | 202 yards passing, 1 TD |
III | Joe Namath, QB, New York Jets | 206 yards passing |
IV | Len Dawson, QB, Kansas City | 142 yards passing, 1 TD |
V | Chuck Howley, LB, Dallas | Two interceptions, fumble recovery |
VI | Roger Staubach, QB, Dallas | 119 yards passing, 2 TDs |
VII | Jake Scott, S, Miami | Two interceptions |
VIII | Larry Csonka, FB, Miami | 33 carries, 145 yards rushing, 2 TDs |
IX | Franco Harris, RB, Pittsburgh | 158 yards rushing, 1 TD |
X | Lynn Swann, WR, Pittsburgh | 4 catches, 161 yards, 1 TD |
XI | Fred Biletnikoff, WR, Oakland | 4 catches, 79 yards |
XII | Harvey Martin & Randy White, DL, Dallas | Led Dallas defense that forced eight turnovers |
XIII | Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh | 318 yards passing, 4 TDs |
XIV | Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh | 309 yards passing, 2 TDs |
XV | Jim Plunkett, QB, Oakland | 261 yards passing, 3 TDs |
XVI | Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco | 157 yards passing, 1 TD |
XVII | John Riggins, RB, Washington | 166 yards rushing, 1 TD |
XVIII | Marcus Allen, RB, Los Angeles Raiders | 20 carries, 191 yards rushing, 2 TDs |
XIX | Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco | 331 yards passing, 3 TDs |
XX | Richard Dent, DE, Chicago | 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles |
XXI | Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants | 268 yards passing, 3 TDs |
XXII | Doug Williams, QB, Washington | 340 yards passing, 4 TDs |
XXIII | Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco | 11 catches, 215 yards, 1 TD |
XXIV | Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco | 297 yards passing, 5 TDs |
XXV | Ottis Anderson, RB, New York Giants | 102 yards rushing, 1 TD |
XXVI | Mark Rypien, QB, Washington | 292 yards passing, 2 TDs |
XXVII | Troy Aikman, QB, Dallas | 273 yards passing, 4 TDs |
XXVIII | Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas | 30 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs |
XXIX | Steve Young, QB, San Francisco | 325 yards passing, 6 TDs |
XXX | Larry Brown, CB, Dallas | Two interceptions |
XXXI | Desmond Howard, KR, Green Bay | 244 all-purpose yards, 99-yard kick return TD |
XXXII | Terrell Davis, RB, Denver | 30 carries, 157 yards, 3 TDs |
XXXIII | John Elway, QB, Denver | 336 yards passing, 1 TD |
XXXIV | Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis | 414 yards passing, 2 TDs |
XXXV | Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore | Led a dominant Ravens defense |
XXXVI | Tom Brady, QB, New England | 145 yards passing, 1 TD |
XXXVII | Dexter Jackson, CB, Tampa Bay | Two first-half interceptions |
XXXVIII | Tom Brady, QB, New England | 354 yards passing, 3 TDs |
XXXIX | Deion Branch, WR, New England | 11 catches, 133 yards |
XL | Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh | 5 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD |
XLI | Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis | 247 yards passing, 1 TD |
XLII | Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants | 255 yards passing, 2 TDs |
XLIII | Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh | 9 catches, 131 yards, 1 TD |
XLIV | Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans | 32-of-39, 288 yards, 2 TDs |
XLV | Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay | 24-of-39, 304 yards, 3 TDs |
XLVI | Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants | 30-of-40, 296 yards, 1 TD |
XLVII | Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore | 22-of-33, 287 yards, 3 TDs |
XLVIII | Malcolm Smith, LB, Seattle | INT for TD, fumble recovery, 10 tackles |
XLIX | Tom Brady, QB, New England | 37-of-50, 328 yards, 4 TDs |
50 | Von Miller, LB, Denver | Six tackles, 2.5 sacks, one pass defended |
LI | Tom Brady, QB, New England | 43-of-62, 466 yards, 2 TDs |
LII | Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia | 28-of-43, 373 yards, 3 TDs, 1 TD reception |
LIII | Julian Edelman, WR, New England | 10 catches, 141 yards |
LIV | Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City | 26-of-42, 286 yards, 2 TDs |
LV | Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay | 21-of-29, 201 yards, 3 TDs |