The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of sports. Players dream of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy when they enter the league, and although we have seen 58 Super Bowls during the NFL‘s existence, only a small percentage of players can actually say they have had the chance to win one. That is even more true for quarterbacks.
With the QB position getting younger and younger each year, who is the youngest QB to ever win a Super Bowl?
Who Is the Youngest Quarterback to Ever Win a Super Bowl?
The youngest QB to ever win a Super Bowl would be longtime Pittsburgh Steeler Ben Roethlisberger. At the young age of 23 years and 340 days, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to an 11-5 season that culminated in a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 40.
The Seahawks were the favorite to win the championship that year, coming off a 13-3 season that lofted them to the top seed in the NFC. Their offense was close to the top in the league in several metrics, including points scored per game (28.2), rushing yards per game (153.6), and yards gained per play (5.8).
It was Seattle’s first Super Bowl appearance in the team’s 30-year history. They got there on the legs of running back Shaun Alexander, who led the league with 1,880 rushing yards and scored an NFL-record 28 touchdowns, for which he was rewarded with the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. QB Matt Hasselbeck also had one of the best seasons of his career, passing for 3,455 yards and 24 touchdowns.
However, no matter how good their offense was, it was no match for the Pittsburgh defense. This defense was one of the best in the league, ranking third in rushing yards allowed, third in yards allowed per game, second in red zone conversion percentage allowed, and fourth in total yards per game.
With a linebacker group that included Joey Porter, James Farrior, Clark Haggans, and Larry Foote, the Steelers terrorized opposing QBs.
Roethlisberger, meanwhile, relied heavily on his run game and was efficient when he needed to throw the ball. Running back Willie Parker was the team’s leading rusher with 1,202 yards and recorded 18 catches for 218 yards and five touchdowns. In short-yardage situations, the team relied on 255-pound running back Jerome Bettis, who rushed for 368 yards and scored nine touchdowns.
Has a Rookie Quarterback Ever Been to a Super Bowl?
No, a rookie QB has never been to the Super Bowl. The closest rookie passers have gotten are the AFC and NFC Championship Games. One of those rookies was Roethlisberger, in his first season with the Steelers. Some other names include Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez.
Only in recent years have rookie QBs even regularly seen the field in their first seasons. It used to be common practice for a rookie to sit for a few seasons to learn behind a veteran, similar to what we saw with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.
Additionally, rookies that do start right away are usually not on very good teams. If they are selected high in the draft, their organizations tend to be in rebuilding mode. Rookies also have a history of not performing very well in the playoffs, with a .355 winning percentage in elimination games.
Youngest Quarterback To Start a Super Bowl
Although Big Ben is the youngest QB to win a Super Bowl, he was not the youngest to start in the big game. That honor goes to Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino. Marino was 23 years and 127 days old when he started Super Bowl 19 against the San Francisco 49ers.
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In a battle of future Hall of Famers, Marino took on Joe Montana in the first Super Bowl to see both QBs throw for over 300 yards each. Although Miami got up to a lead in the first quarter, Montana’s impressive 21-point second quarter put this game away, and San Francisco went on to win 38-16.
Super Bowl 58 featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers features a QB close to the same age that Marino was when he started in Super Bowl 19. 49ers sensation Brock Purdy is only 24 years old.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!