MVP / John Elway, Quarterback, Denver

VITAL STATISTICS

Completed 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards with one interception and one touchdown. Also rushed for a touchdown.

DEFINING MOMENT

80-yard touchdown pass play with Rod Smith that gave Denver a 17-3 lead late in the second quarter.

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT

In 1982, hit .318 in 42 games as an outfielder in the Yankees’ minor-league system.

OTHER KEY PLAYS

Completed seven of 10 passes for 73 yards in the third quarter, when the Broncos maintained their lead and controlled the clock. Ran for a three-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, extending lead to 31-6 and putting the game away.

IN HIS WORDS

“I don’t look at myself as similar to Michael Jordan. He had six championships. Mine doesn’t compare with that situation. But I always thought it would be nice to go out on top like he did, and that means win the Super Bowl.”

Most Valuable Players

* 1967--BART STARR, QB, Green Bay: Starr completed 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

* 1968--BART STARR, QB, Green Bay: Starr completed 13 of 24 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown.

* 1969--JOE NAMATH, QB, New York Jets: Three days before the game Namath said, “We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee it.” Namath completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards and no touchdowns as the AFL got their first Super Bowl victory. Equally deserving was Matt Snell, who rushed for 121 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes.

* 1970--LEN DAWSON, QB, Kansas City: Five days before the game, Dawson’s name was linked to a federal gambling investigation. Although eventually cleared, Dawson lost 10 pounds and rarely slept before the game, but still completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown.

* 1971--CHUCK HOWLEY, LB, Dallas: In a game featuring 14 penalties and 10 turnovers, Howley became the first MVP from a losing team after he intercepted two passes and forced a fumble.

* 1972--ROGER STAUBACH, QB, Dallas: Staubach completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Mike Ditka.

* 1973--JAKE SCOTT, S, Miami: Scott had two interceptions as the Dolphins completed the season undefeated.

* 1974--LARRY CSONKA, RB, Miami: Csonka rushed for 145 yards (more than double the total of the entire Minnesota backfield) and two touchdowns.

* 1975--FRANCO HARRIS, RB, Pittsburgh: Harris set Super Bowl records with 158 yards in 34 carries. He also scored a touchdown.

* 1976--LYNN SWANN, WR, Pittsburgh: Questionable until just before game time because of concussion suffered in the AFC championship game, Swann caught four passes for 161 yards and one touchdown.

* 1977--FRED BILETNIKOFF, WR, Oakland: Biletnikoff had four receptions for 79 yards. Also deserving was running back Clarence Davis, who rushed for 137 yards.

* 1978--RANDY WHITE, DT, and HARVEY MARTIN, DE, Dallas: How dominant was the Cowboy defense, led by White and Martin? Denver turned over the ball seven times, and Bronco quarterbacks Craig Morton and Norris Weese completed only eight of 25 passes for 61 yards with four interceptions.

* 1979--TERRY BRADSHAW, QB, Pittsburgh: Bradshaw passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns.

* 1980--TERRY BRADSHAW, QB, Pittsburgh: Despite three interceptions, Bradshaw was named MVP again after completing 14 of 21 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns.

* 1981--JIM PLUNKETT, QB, Oakland: Plunkett completed 13 of 21 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns, including one to Kenny King that covered 80 yards.

* 1982--JOE MONTANA, QB, San Francisco: Montana completed 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.

* 1983--JOHN RIGGINS, RB, Washington: Riggins wrapped up the MVP when he ran for a 43-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-one play in the fourth quarter to give the Redskins their first lead of the game.

* 1984--MARCUS ALLEN, RB, Los Angeles: Allen’s record-breaking 74-yard touchdown run on the last play of the third quarter wrapped up the award. He finished with 191 yards and two touchdowns in 20 carries.

* 1985--JOE MONTANA, QB, San Francisco: Montana completed 24 of 35 passes for 318 yards with one touchdown.

* 1986--RICHARD DENT, DE, Chicago: Dent led a Bear defense that held the Patriots to 123 yards total offense, including a record-low seven yards rushing. The Bears also forced six turnovers.

* 1987--PHIL SIMMS, QB, New York Giants: Simms completed 22 of 25 passes (a Super Bowl record 88%) for 268 yards and three touchdowns.

* 1988--DOUG WILLIAMS, QB, Washington: Williams led scoring drives of 80, 64, 74, 60 and 79 yards in the second quarter and finished with 340 yards passing and four touchdowns.

* 1989--JERRY RICE, WR, San Francisco: On a sprained ankle, Rice caught 11 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown.

* 1990--JOE MONTANA, QB, San Francisco: Montana completed 22 of 29 passes for 297 yards and a Super Bowl-record five touchdowns.

* 1991--OTTIS ANDERSON, RB, New York Giants: Anderson, the featured running back in a ball-control game that helped the Giants maintain possession for all but eight minutes of the second half, rushed for 102 yards in 21 carries, with one touchdown.

* 1992--MARK RYPIEN, QB, Washington: Rypien completed 18 of 33 passes for 292 yards and one touchdown.

* 1993--TROY AIKMAN, QB, Dallas: In a game featuring nine Buffalo turnovers, Aikman completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns.

* 1994--EMMITT SMITH, RB, Dallas: Smith sealed the MVP award when he accounted for 61 yards in the Cowboys’ 64-yard scoring drive in the third quarter that gave the team a 20-13 lead. Smith finished with 132 yards and two touchdowns in 30 carries.

* 1995--STEVE YOUNG, QB, San Francisco: Young stepped out of the shadow of Joe Montana by passing for a Super-Bowl record six touchdowns. His final numbers: 24 for 36 for 325 yards.

* 1996--LARRY BROWN, CB, Dallas: The game turned on Brown’s two interceptions, which led to 14 Dallas points in a 27-17 victory over Pittsburgh.

* 1997--DESMOND HOWARD, KR, Green Bay: For the first time, a special teams player was chosen MVP. Howard returned a kick 99 yards for a touchdown and finished with 244 return yards.

* 1998--TERRELL DAVIS, RB, Denver: Davis rushed 30 times for 157 yards (5.2 yards a carry) and three touchdowns.

* 1999--JOHN ELWAY, QB, Denver: Elway completed 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards and one touchdown. Rushed for one touchdown.