The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will kick off Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. A big game on the biggest stage can often make a player's career as his name is etched in history. Here are the best performances in Super Bowl history that players will be trying to emulate on Sunday:
6) QB Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams - Super Bowl XXXIV
Warner passed for a Super Bowl record 414 yards, as Rams barely squeezed past the Titans 23-16. What makes his performance even more astonishing is that Warner was just four years removed from being a grocery clerk, and was the Rams' scout-team quarterback the year prior. His signature moment was a 73-yard TD pass to Isaac Bruce with under two minutes left to give the Rams a lead for good.
5) QB Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl XXIV
Montana has plenty of Super Bowl MVPs to choose from, but his 297 yards and five TDs on his 22 of 29 passes during the Niners' 55-10 steamrolling of the Broncos really stands out. The win gave Montana his fourth Super Bowl ring.
4) RB Timmy Smith, Washington Redskins - Super Bowl XXII
Smith rarely saw the field in his regular season, rushing for only 126 yards on 29 carries during the regular season. However, he broke out in a big way, setting a then-Super Bowl record with 204 rushing yards on 22 carries in the Redskins' 42-10 blowout of the Broncos, including 122 yards on five carries (including a 58-yard TD run) in the second quarter alone.
3) QB Phil Simms, New York Giants - Super Bowl XXI
Simms had the best game of his life and was nearly perfect in the Super Bowl, completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards, and three TDs as the Giants beat the Broncos 39-20.
2) WR Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl XXIII
Rice gained a spectacular 215 yards on 11 catches as the 49ers rallies to beat the Bengals 20-16. He caught three passes on the game-winning drive and was named MVP.
1) QB Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl XXIX
Young finally emerged from Joe Montana's shadow when he went 24-for-36 for 325 yards and a record six touchdown passes with no interceptions in San Francisco's 49-26 blowout win over the Chargers. Oh yeah, he also had 49 yards rushing on just five carries in a game that might never be matched.
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