I’m offering no analysis here, so I’ve carefully avoided labeling any of these performances “the best.” These are the best statistical passing performances in Super Bowl history. Rushing stats mean nothing here, nor do late-game heroics. The statistics I’ve taken into account are attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, interceptions, completions per attempt, yards per attempt, touchdowns per attempt and interception per attempt. Eligibility restricted anyone with fewer than 10 pass attempts. The year next to each player’s name actually represents the year of the NFL season being completed by the Super Bowl, not the year in which the big game occurred.
50. Daryle Lamonica, 1967, Oakland Raiders. Lost 33-14 to Green Bay Packers. 15/34, 208 Y, 2 TD, 1 INT.
49. Jim Kelly, 1991, Buffalo Bills. Lost 37-24 to Washington Redskins. 28/58, 275 Y, 2 TD, 4 INT.
48. Jim McMahon, 1985, Chicago Bears. Defeated New England Patriots 46-10. 12/20, 256 Y, 0 TD, 0 INT.
47. Bart Starr, 1967, Green Bay Packers. Defeated Oakland Raiders 33-14. 13/24, 202 Y, 1 TD, 0 INT.
46. Steve McNair, 1999, Tennessee Titans. Lost 23-16 to St. Louis Rams. 22/36, 214 Y, 0 TD, 0 INT.
45. Stan Humphries, 1994, San Diego Chargers. Lost 49-26 to San Francisco 49ers. 24/49, 275 Y, 1 TD, 2 INT.
44. Jim Plunkett, 1983, Los Angeles Raiders. Defeated Washington Redskins 38-9. 16/25, 172 Y, 1 TD, 0 INT.
43. Ken Stabler, 1976, Oakland Raiders. Defeated Minnesota Vikings 32-14. 12/19, 180 Y, 1 TD, 0 INT.
42. Terry Bradshaw, 1979, Pittsburgh Steelers. Defeated Los Angeles Rams 31-19. 14/21, 309 Y, 2 TD, 3 INT.
41. Brad Johnson, 2002, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Defeated Oakland Raiders 48-21. 18/34, 215 Y, 2 TD, 1 INT.
40. Roger Staubach, 1977, Dallas Cowboys. Defeated Denver Broncos 27-10. 17/25, 183 Y, 1 TD, 0 INT.
39. Roger Staubach, 1971, Dallas Cowboys. Defeated Miami Dolphins 24-3. 12/19, 119 Y, 2 TD, 0 INT.
38. Troy Aikman, 1995, Dallas Cowboys. Defeated Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17. 15/23, 209 Y, 1 TD, 0 INT.
37. Ben Roethlisberger, 2008, Pittsburgh Steelers. Defeated Arizona Cardinals 27-23. 21/30, 256 Y, 1 TD, 1 INT.
36. Jim Kelly, 1993, Buffalo Bills. Lost 30-13 to Dallas Cowboys. 31/50, 260 Y, 0 TD, 1 INT.
35. Jeff Hostetler, 1990, New York Giants. “Defeated” Buffalo Bills 20-19. 20/32, 222 Y, 1 TD, 0 INT.
34. Peyton Manning, 2006, Indianapolis Colts. Defeated Chicago Bears 29-17. 25/38, 247 Y, 1 TD, 1 INT.
33. Ben Roethlisberger, 2010, Pittsburgh Steelers. Lost 31-25 to Green Bay Packers. 25/40, 263 Y, 2 TD, 2 INT.
32. Eli Manning, 2007, New York Giants. Defeated New England Patriots 17-14. 19/34, 255 Y, 2 TD, 1 INT.
31. Matt Hasselbeck, 2005, Seattle Seahawks. Lost 21-10 to Pittsburgh Steelers. 26/49, 273 Y, 1 TD, 1 INT.
30. John Elway, 1986, Denver Broncos. Lost 39-20 to New York Giants. 22/37, 304 Y, 1 TD, 1 INT.
29. Terry Bradshaw, 1975, Pittsburgh Steelers. Defeated Dallas Cowboys 21-17. 9/19, 209 Y, 2 TD, 0 INT.
28. Dan Marino, 1984, Miami Dolphins. Lost 38-16 to San Francisco 49ers. 29/50, 318 Y, 1 TD, 2 INT.
27. John Elway, 1998, Denver Broncos. Defeated Atlanta Falcons 34-19. 18/29, 336 Y, 1 TD, 1 INT.
26. Mark Rypien, 1991, Washington Redskins. Defeated Buffalo Bills 37-24. 18/33, 292 Y, 2 TD, 1 INT.
25. Brett Favre, 1996, Green Bay Packers. Defeated New England Patriots 35-21. 14/27, 246 Y, 2 TD, 0 INT.
24. Bart Starr, 1966, Green Bay Packers. Defeated Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. 16/23, 250 Y, 2 TD, 1 INT.
23. Roger Staubach, 1978, Dallas Cowboys. Lost 35-31 to Pittsburgh Steelers. 17/30, 228 Y, 3 TD, 1 INT.
22. Kurt Warner, 2001, St. Louis Rams. Lost 20-17 to New England Patriots. 28/44, 365 Y, 1 TD, 2 INT.
21. Ken Anderson, 1981, Cincinnati Bengals. Lost 26-21 to San Francisco 49ers. 25/34, 300 Y, 2 TD, 2 INT.
20. Tom Brady, 2007, New England Patriots. Lost 17-14 to New York Giants. 29/48, 266 Y, 1 TD, 0 INT.
19. Tom Brady, 2004, New England Patriots. Defeated Philadelphia Eagles 24-21. 23/33, 236 Y, 2 TD, 0 INT.
18. Brett Favre, 1997, Green Bay Packers. Lost 31-24 to Denver Broncos. 25/42, 256 Y, 3 TD, 1 INT.
17. Donovan McNabb, 2004, Philadelphia Eagles. Lost 24-21 to New England Patriots. 30/51, 357 Y, 3 TD, 3 INT.
16. Peyton Manning, 2009, Indianapolis Colts. Lost 31-17 to New Orleans Saints. 31/45, 333 Y, 1 TD, 1 INT.
15. Jake Delhomme, 2003, Carolina Panthers. Lost 32-29 to New England Patriots. 16/33, 323 Y, 3 TD, 0 INT.
14. Joe Montana, 1988, San Francisco 49ers. Defeated Cincinnati Bengals 20-16. 23/36, 357 Y, 2 TD, 0 INT.
13. Jim Plunkett, 1980, Oakland Raiders. Defeated Philadelphia Eagles 27-10. 13/21, 261 Y, 3 TD, 0 INT.
12. Terry Bradshaw, 1978, Pittsburgh Steelers. Defeated Dallas Cowboys 35-31. 17/30, 318 Y, 4 TD, 1 INT.
11. Aaron Rodgers, 2010, Green Bay Packers. Defeated Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25. 24/39, 304 Y, 3 TD, 0 INT.
10. Kurt Warner, 1999, St. Louis Rams. Defeated Tennessee Titans 23-16. 24/45, 414 Y, 2 TD, 0 INT.
9. Drew Brees, 2009, New Orleans Saints. Defeated Indianapolis Colts 31-17. 32/39, 288 Y, 2 TD, 0 INT.
8. Doug Williams, 1987, Washington Redskins. Defeated Denver Broncos 42-10. 18/29, 340 Y, 4 TD, 1 INT.
7. Tom Brady, 2003, New England Patriots. Defeated Carolina Panthers 32-29. 32/48, 354 Y, 3 TD, 1 INT.
6. Joe Montana, 1984, San Francisco 49ers. Defeated Miami Dolphins 38-16. 24/35, 331 Y, 3 TD, 0 INT.
5. Kurt Warner, 2008, Arizona Cardinals. Lost 27-23 to Pittsburgh Steelers. 31/43, 377 Y, 3 TD, 1 INT.
4. Phil Simms, 1986, New York Giants. Defeated Denver Broncos 39-20. 22/25, 268 Y, 3 TD, 0 INT.
3. Troy Aikman, 1992, Dallas Cowboys. Defeated Buffalo Bills 52-17. 22/30, 273 Y, 4 TD, 0 INT.
2. Joe Montana, 1989, San Francisco 49ers. Defeated Denver Broncos 55-10. 22/29, 297 Y, 5 TD, 0 INT.
1. Steve Young, 1994, San Francisco 49ers. Defeated San Diego Chargers 49-26. 24/36, 325 Y, 6 TD, 0 INT.
