10 most unlikely Super Bowl MVPs
Kurt Warner
Quarterback, St. Louis Rams
Kurt Warner won the 1999 NFL MVP and was also the MVP of Super Bowl 34 as the Rams beat the Tennessee Titans 23-16. It should come as a surprise to no one the Rams quarterback won the Super Bowl MVP, but on the other hand, some context is required.
Warner is an unlikely MVP because no one could have predicted it in August. He was the backup quarterback to free agent signing Trent Green going into the season. However, a knee injury forced Warner into a starting role. The rest, as they say, is history. Warner was the third string quarterback during the 1998 season. Before that? He was bagging groceries.
Perhaps one of the most surprising success stories in any sport, Warner’s a great example of why you should never give up on your dreams. Sometimes you need a little luck to get where you want to be, but with a bit of hard work, luck tends to find you.
He’s also unlikely because the Rams nearly lost the game. Super Bowl 34 came down to the last play, with Kevin Dyson getting taken down a yard shy of the end zone. Warner’s NFL career was one long Disney movie, so it’s not surprising no one expected him to be a Super Bowl MVP.