Why do Super Bowl winning head coaches see the value in playing their starters (especially including their starting QB) in pre-season games?
The short answer is that they believe it gives their team a competitive advantage by putting all of their players on the roster "to the test” as a means to toughen up their minds and bodies for the season ahead. As they say, “Iron sharpens iron.”
Coaches will tell you that playing pre-season games builds team character and chemistry, while at the same time, helps the players get into stronger football shape.
Here is a list of the last 10 Super Bowl winning teams who had the opportunity to play their starters in the pre-season, with how many snaps they gave their starting QB:
- 53 —- KC —- Mahomes (26 snaps)
- 52 —- KC —- Mahomes (36 snaps)
- 51 —- LAR —- Stafford (0 snaps)
- 49 —- KC —- Mahomes —- (32 snaps)
- 48 —- NE —- Brady —- (68 snaps)
- 47 —- PHI —- Wentz —- (49 snaps) —- Foles —- (65 snaps)
- 46 —- NE —- Brady —- (54 snaps)
- 45 —- DEN —- Manning —- (62 snaps)
- 44 —- NE —- Brady —- (84 snaps)
- 43 —- SEA —- Wilson —- (87 snaps)
The anomaly here is the Rams.