NFL
Who was the last non-quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP: Does Saquon Barkley have a chance?
Olly Taliku has worked with highly respected sports and gambling websites where he has produced hundreds of articles, as well as being published with Burton Albion and Chesterfield FC. At Burton Olly worked closely alongside the women's team, producing mainly matchday content including reports and interviews, while at Chesterfield he worked in a similar role but with the academy side, as well as some first team content. He also has experience as an accredited Premier League and EFL writer for Prost International where he worked during the 2021/22 season to produce matchday content as an on location reporter. Olly specialises in football as well as long form SEO content plus news, tips and betting but also produces content on basketball, baseball and American football.
Get to know Oliver Taliku betterPublished07 Feb 2025
Almost every year a quarterback is named Super Bowl MVP, but there are 26 rare exceptions where that is not the case and a non-quarterback has taken home the award – so could Saquon Barkley become number 27 this year?
Can Saquon Bakley really be crowned MVP?
It has been 27 years since a running back won Super Bowl MVP, but if anyone is going to beat that trend it is Saquon Barkley.
Barkley is a firm favorite for offensive player of the year after his debut season with the Philadelphia Eagles, but his first year away from New York could get even better at the Super Bowl.
Although it’s been 27 years since a running back won Super Bowl MVP, you only have to go back three years to find the last non-quarterback to win the coveted prize.
Cooper Kupp was crowned MVP at Super Bowl LVI for the Rams in 2022 with his two touchdowns and 99 all-purpose yards earning him the award over Matthew Stafford.
Barkley is without a doubt the most likely non-quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP and the running back is currently priced at +260 with most USA bookmakers to take home the award.
It is very rare that any player has better odds than either starting quarterback at the Super Bowl, but Barkley is priced significantly lower than teammate Jalen Hurts (+360).
The last running back to be crowned Super Bowl MVP was Terrell Davis in 1997, when he recorded 157 rushing yards in the Denver Broncos win.
Non-quarterback’s to win Super Bowl MVP
Here is a list of all 26 non-quarterback’s to be named Super Bowl MVP as well as their position, team and the year they won.
|
Player |
Position |
Super Bowl Game |
Team |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chuck Howley |
LB |
Super Bowl V |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Jake Scott |
S |
Super Bowl VII |
Miami Dolphins |
|
Larry Csonka |
RB |
Super Bowl VIII |
Miami Dolphins |
|
Franco Harris |
RB |
Super Bowl IX |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
Lynn Swann |
WR |
Super Bowl X |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
Fred Biletnikoff |
WR |
Super Bowl XI |
Oakland Raiders |
|
Harvey Martin |
DE |
Super Bowl XII |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Randy White |
DT |
Super Bowl XII |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
John Riggins |
RB |
Super Bowl XVII |
Washington |
|
Marcus Allen |
RB |
Super Bowl XVIII |
Los Angeles Raiders |
|
Richard Dent |
DE |
Super Bowl XX |
Chicago Bears |
|
Jerry Rice |
WR |
Super Bowl XXIII |
San Francisco 49ers |
|
Ottis Anderson |
RB |
Super Bowl XXV |
New York Giants |
|
Emmitt Smith |
RB |
Super Bowl XXVIII |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Larry Brown |
CB |
Super Bowl XXX |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Desmond Howard |
KR |
Super Bowl XXXI |
Green Bay Packers |
|
Terrell Davis |
RB |
Super Bowl XXXII |
Denver Broncos |
|
Ray Lewis |
LB |
Super Bowl XXV |
Baltimore Ravens |
|
Dexter Jackson |
S |
Super Bowl XXXVII |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
Deion Branch |
WR |
Super Bowl XXXIX |
New England Patriots |
|
Hines Ward |
WR |
Super Bowl XL |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
Santonio Holmes |
WR |
Super Bowl XLIII |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
Malcolm Smith |
LB |
Super Bowl XLVIII |
Seattle Seahawks |
|
Von Miller |
LB |
Super Bowl 50 |
Denver Broncos |
|
Julian Edelman |
WR |
Super Bowl LIII |
New England Patriots |
|
Cooper Kupp |
WR |
Super Bowl LVI |
Los Angeles Rams |
