Top 20 quarterback performances in Super Bowl history

MIAMI, FL - January 14, 1968: Quarterback Bart Starr #15 of the Green Bay Packers turns to hand the ball off against the Oakland Raiders during Super Bowl II at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Packers won the game 33-14. Starr played for the Packers from 1956-71. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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21 Jan 1985: Quarterback Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers calls the snap count from under center during the Niners 38-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, CA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire) /

12. Joe Montana, Super Bowl XIX

You can’t have a list of great Super Bowl performances without Montana, and this is his first appearance on our rankings. We’ll start with Montana’s second Super Bowl, which resulted in the second championship for the 49ers.

This game is also memorable for being Marino’s lone trip to the Super Bowl, and he threw for 318 yards with a touchdown in the game, but also tossed two big interceptions. Montana was simply the smoother operator, completing 24 of 35 attempts for 331 yards and three touchdowns.

The 49ers put together six scoring drives under Montana’s watch, including three straight touchdowns in the second quarter to turn a 10-7 deficit into a 28-10 lead. The game was virtually over after that, but Montana led the 49ers to 10 more points in the third for good measure.

Montana’s virtuoso effort earned him his second Super Bowl MVP, and it wouldn’t be the last time that he would shine on the biggest stage in sports.

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