The 28-year-old Seattle Seahawks might be one of the worst quarterbacks ever to lift the Lombardi Trophy. But there is no shortage of similar precedents in the history of finals
In Santa Clara there will be no Matthew Stafford, the MVP of the season. And not even Josh Allen, the MVP of that past season. Not even Jalen Hurts, the MVP of the 2025 Super Bowl, and Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, probably the two best quarterbacks in the world, will also be missing. Because Super Bowl 60 will pit two teams against each other, Seattle and New England, dragged up to the very match that awards the NFL title by the super defenses, above all (here the economic focus on the Super Bowl). Yet everyone’s eyes will be on Sam Darnold, the passer of the Seahawks and on Drake Maye, the passer of the Patriots, because the role of quarterback implies: honors and burdens, showcase and pressure. However, they will not be asked to perform miracles, but rather to play the system. Not to overdo it. To Darnold because asking for a card would mean running the risk of going bust, to Maye because he is only a second year, albeit a damn promising one, and you pay for your inexperience in the playoffs, as he has shown in the previous rounds.
HEROES BY CASE
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To win the Super Bowl you don’t necessarily have to have a fantastic quarterback. And sometimes not even the best one on the gridiron. Football is played with 11 (different) players on both sides of the pitch and the single match increases the variables and unknowns. Anything can happen in an hour of football. Even that the team of carneade Nick Foles beats that of the titan Tom Brady – tells the recent story -. The charm of the NFL world. And then, with Seattle favored by the bookmakers, it could happen that Darnold, 28 years old, who at the beginning of these playoffs had never won in the post season, who until yesterday was considered a mistake made by the New York Jets who called him with pick no. 3 of the 2018 Draft, can win the Super Bowl. And maybe even MVP because the role offers pole position as a candidate if you have the support of an excellent offensive line and elite attacking point guards. If you have an armored support team, that is. It would be a sporting fairytale. The ugly duckling, the one who in the past, in 2019, had admitted, caught by a spy microphone, that he had “seen ghosts”, in a match against the Patriots, a defeat for the Jets, may he enter Heaven. He’s on the doorstep, knocking on the door. Would one of the worst quarterbacks ever win the Lombardi Trophy? Too early to say, his career is still in progress. Of course, unforeseeable quarterbacks in history celebrated among the confetti. Here is gazzetta.it’s top 5 of the worst quarterbacks to win the most important game.
5) JIM MCMAHON
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Great character, but so-so quarterback. With the main merit of being in the right place at the right time, as offensive director of the Chicago Bears who won Super Bowl XX in 1986 against the Patriots led by an exceptional defense and Walter Payton, the great running back. McMahon, an indomitable competitor with a rebellious spirit and no filters off the field, is remembered more for his explosive personality than for the quality of his throws, to be honest.
4) NICK FOLES
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What happened in February 2018 in Minneapolis during Super Bowl LII remains a mystery. Foles, the backup quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, found himself catapulted onto the stage when Carson Wentz suffered an injury at the height of a regular season as an MVP candidate. And Foles in the Super Bowl, opposed to the Pats of the Brady phenomenon, worked miracles. He threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns, triumphantly named MVP of the game. The iconic moment was the Philly Special, the trick play that allowed him to catch a touchdown pass.
3) JEFF HOSTETLER
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With an unlikely, ungainly moustache, “Hoss” didn’t have the look or even the talent of a showcase quarterback. But Phil Simms’ injury allowed him to lead the New York Giants to the triumph in Super Bowl XXV over Buffalo in 1991. Hostetler played a “clean” game without interceptions, then the runs of Ottis Anderson, the MVP of the game and the error of Scott Norwood, the kicker of the then favored Bills, at the end – a 47-yard kick wide to the right of the posts – did the rest.
2) DOUG WILLIAMS
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Modest career, but an unforgettable moment of glory. Capable of throwing 4 touchdown passes against Denver’s polystyrene defense, defeated by his Washington Redskins in 1988 in Super Bowl XXII closed by MVP. Williams was the first African-American quarterback to start in the big game, then he was even able to beat John Elway, the phenomenal equal opponent, taking advantage of the disparity in values between the two teams on the field.
1) TRENT DILFER
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He won Super Bowl XXXV, in 2001, as quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens who overwhelmed the New York Giants. Dilfer, system quarterback, did no damage, he simply went on autopilot and let the fate of the match be decided by Baltimore’s fabulous defense, led by Ray Lewis, the MVP of the match, and in attack he entrusted the oval to Jamal Lewis, the running back. Dilfer finished 12/25 throwing for just 153 yards. Yet they were enough to achieve sporting immortality.
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