Who Is the Youngest Quarterback to Start a Super Bowl?
When Jalen Hurts took the field in Super Bowl 57 for the Philadelphia Eagles, he became the seventh-youngest NFL quarterback to ever start the Big Game at 24 years and 189 days old. Hurts’ counterpart in Glendale, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, was 51 days younger when he made his first title game appearance against the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl 54, making him the fifth-youngest.
For those wondering, the man in sixth place is Tom Brady, who was 24 years and 184 days old when he started and won his first Lombardi Trophy with the New England Patriots.
So who is the youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl? Let’s take a quick look at the top five.
5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl 54 (24 years, 138 days)
As mentioned, Patrick Mahomes was 24 years and 138 days old when he started Super Bowl 54 for the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers.
In the 31-20 victory to clinch the franchise’s first championship in half a century, Mahomes completed 26 of 42 passes for 286 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions to take MVP honors.
4. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams, Super Bowl 53 (24 years, 112 days)
Up next on the list is Jared Goff, who was 24 years and 112 days old when he started Super Bowl 53 for the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots.
After completing a then-career-high 64.9% of his passes and a career-best 32 touchdowns during the regular season, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick connected on just 50% of his targets (19-for-38) for 229 yards with zero touchdowns and an interception in a 13-3 loss.
3. David Woodley, Miami Dolphins, Super Bowl 17 (24 years, 97 days)
For those unfamiliar with David Woodley, he served as the bridge between Bob Griese and Dan Marino for the Miami Dolphins in the early 1980s.
An eighth-round pick out of LSU in 1980, Woodley was 24 years and 97 days old when he started Super Bowl 17 for the Dolphins following the 1982 strike-shortened season.
Facing a tough Washington team in the title game, Woodley completed just four of 14 passes for 97 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 27-17 loss.
2. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl 40 (23 years, 340 days)
While Ben Roethlisberger is only the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, he is the youngest to win it.
Roethlisberger was just 23 years and 340 days old when he took the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. He didn’t play particularly well, completing just nine of 21 passes for 123 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions, although he did rush for a score.
And his poor play ultimately didn’t matter as the Steelers took a 21-10 victory.
1. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, Super Bowl 19 (23 years, 127 days)
ln his first full season as a starter for the Miami Dolphins in 1984, Dan Marino won NFL MVP, throwing for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns (those numbers were unheard of back then) and led the team to a 14-2 record in the regular season.
After victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers to open the postseason, Marino was just 23 years and 127 days old when he took the field for Super Bowl 19 against the San Francisco 49ers. While he threw for 318 yards and a touchdown, he also completed just 58% of his passes (29-for-50), took four sacks, and tossed a pair of interceptions in a 38-16 loss.
Marino never went to the Super Bowl again.
