MVP awards seem to go to the QBs most of the time, so when a player at a different position wins it, it is also noteworthy. There have been 8 wide receivers to win the Super Bowl MVP award, and I have ranked their performances:
8. Fred Biletnikoff Super Bowl XI
Biletnikoff’s performance is underwhelming when considering how explosive the rest of the players on this list are. He had relatively unimpressive statistics of 4 receptions, 79 yards, and 0 touchdowns, but the Raiders got a huge 32-14 win over the Vikings in the Super Bowl.
7. Julian Edelman Super Bowl LIII
The gap between 7 and 8 is the biggest gap on this list; Julian Edelman had an extremely impressive performance with 10 receptions, 142 yards, and no touchdowns. What holds this performance back is the fact that the Patriots had only 13 points, the game was overall boring, and there was not enough scoring to put this performance higher.
6. Deion Branch Super Bowl XXXIX
Deion Branch was massive in the Patriots 24-21 victory over the Eagles by having 11 receptions go for 133 yards. Deion Branch was important on the Patriots offense as he kept the offense moving strong, and his connection with Tom Brady in this game was the key to success in the offense.
5. Hines Ward Super Bowl XL
Hines Ward had an extremely impressive game against the Seahawks, where he had 6 total touches and 141 total yards to go along with a trick play touchdown. Antwaan Randle El threw an absolutely perfect pass on a trick play to Hines Ward for a 50-yard touchdown, which put the cap on this game and gave the Steelers their 5th Super Bowl win of all time.
4. Cooper Kupp Super Bowl LVI
Cooper Kupp, coming off of his triple crown season, was ready to continue his dominance in the Super Bowl, and that is exactly what he did, reeling in two touchdowns, including the game-winner, as well as 92 reception yards to lead the Rams to a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Kupp and Stafford had a connection in this game that we have seen a few times before between a Receiver and a quarterback, this connection ultimately led to the win.
3. Lynn Swann Super Bowl X
Lynn Swaan had one of the Best Super Bowl performances of all time and he was awarded with being the first wide receiver to ever win a Super Bowl MVP. He racked up 161 yards and a touchdown on only 4 receptions; however, he had one of the most famous catches of all time with his balance and ball tracking skills being able to complete the reception.
2. Santonio Holmes Super Bowl XLIII
Santonio Holmes was nearly perfect for the Steelers 2008 playoff run, which led to the final drive for the Steelers of the Super Bowl, where he had a fantastic drive where he got the Steelers into position to win the game and ultimately won the game for them. With a beautiful toe-tap touchdown in the corner of the endzone with 23 seconds left, the Steelers won the game 27-23. Holmes had 132 yards, 9 receptions, and 1 touchdown.
1. Jerry Rice Super Bowl XXII
Who else but the greatest receiver of all time, Jerry Rice. Rice has the most yards by a receiver in Super Bowl history with 211 against the Cincinnati bengals. He also caught 11 balls and a touchdown in the 49ers 20-16 win against the Bengals. Rice caught the game-tying touchdown pass, which set up the 49ers with a strong chance to win, and Joe Montana, as always, came up clutch and won the game.
