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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(Original Caption) 49ers quarterback Joe Montana raises his arm in celebration after throwing a touchdown pass to Jerry Rice in the fourth quarter. Bengal Sam Kennedy looks on. /

4. Joe Montana, Super Bowl XXIII

Montana’s second appearance on our countdown is a notable one. In fact, Montana’s effort against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII is the only one from a winning quarterback on our list not to earn MVP honors.

The MVP of that game was future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who caught 11 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. Montana was no slouch against the Bengals either, completing 23 of 36 attempts for 357 yards and two touchdowns.

This performance belongs this high because of the 49ers’ legendary final drive. To recap, the Bengals grabbed a 16-13 lead with 3:44 to go and pinned the 49ers on their 8-yard line after the kickoff.

This situation could make even the most confident man nervous, but Joe Montana was the coolest customer alive. Montana entered the huddle and pointed out where actor John Candy was sitting in the stands, settling the nerves of his teammates.

What happened next was a 92-yard drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown to John Taylor with 34 seconds to go to grab the lead for good. Montana may not have been the MVP of this game, but his performance at the end was simply legendary.

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