While every NFL wants to go out on top, few get that opportunity to do so. For a select group of quarterbacks, they were able to retire on their terms after winning the Super Bowl.
Which quarterbacks retired after winning a Super Bowl?
When I said a select group, I meant a minuscule group at that. In the 54 previously-played Super Bowls, only two winning quarterbacks chose to retire as their next move rather than a return, choosing to go out on top of the mountain. What is even more amazing is both QBs played for the same franchise when it happened.
Super Bowl XXXIII was the last game John Elway played
After finally winning his first Super Bowl in 1997, Denver Broncos’ quarterback John Elway decided to come back for one final ride in Mile High.
The defending Super Bowl champion Broncos entered the game with an AFC-best 14–2 regular season record. The Falcons were making their first Super Bowl appearance after also posting a 14–2 regular season record.
Related | NFL Super Bowl Predictions Against the Spread
The 1998 Broncos fired on all cylinders during the regular season. As a result, they ranked second in the NFL with 501 points and third in total offense with 6,276 yards. While Elway threw for over only 2,806 yards, he didn’t need to do much more.
RB Terrell Davis had one of the greatest single seasons ever in 1998. Davis rushed for 2,008 yards, caught 25 passes for 217 yards, and scored 23 touchdowns. He won both the NFL Most Valuable Player Award and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. Consequently, Denver’s offensive dominance continued into Super Bowl XXXIII.
Denver scored 17 consecutive points to build a 17–3 lead in the second quarter, from which Atlanta never recovered. Elway has a fantastic game as well. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards with one touchdown and one interception and also scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown. At 38 years old, Elway became the oldest player at the time to be named Super Bowl MVP.
John Elway became the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl and then retire from the NFL
After a few months away from the game, Elway made his decision public. Elway cited his chronic left knee as a big reason for his decision. He also stated that due to his age (38), he was getting injured more often than ever before.
Elway ended his career with 51,475 passing yards, 300 touchdowns, one NFL MVP and first-team All-Pro, and two Super Bowl titles.
Peyton Manning ended his career in Denver after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy
Go figure — the only time a quarterback has won a Super Bowl and retired happened for the same franchise. Separated by 18 years, Peyton Manning followed Elway’s path in retiring after winning a Super Bowl.
The longtime Indianapolis Colts’ QB joined the Denver Broncos in 2012 following his release from the team after drafting Andrew Luck. Additionally, in his second year with the team, Manning led the Broncos to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl XLVIII spot. However, they ran into a buzz saw in the form of the Seattle Seahawks with a final score of 43-8.
Manning would have his shot at redemption in 2015. After a 12-4 regular season, the Broncos matched up with Cam Newton and the red-hot Carolina Panthers. This was a matchup of strength vs. strength, also. Carolina had the number one scoring offense where the Broncos has the number one defense in the NFL for that season.
In the end, Denver’s’ defense made the difference. Thus, the Broncos took an early lead in Super Bowl 50 and never trailed. Additionally, Denver recorded 7 sacks and forced 4 turnovers. Manning finished the game 13 of 23 for 141 yards with one interception. However, his final throw of the game and his career was a two-point conversion late in the game.
Manning became the first to start two Super Bowls with multiple franchises, with different head coaches each time (Dungy, Caldwell, Fox, and Kubiak). As a result, he’s the first quarterback to lead two franchises to a Super Bowl victory.
Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks
Super Bowl quarterback winners from the 60s
Super Bowl I – Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl II – Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl III – Joe Namath, New York Jets
Super Bowl quarterback winners from the 70s
Super Bowl IV – Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl V – John Unitas, Baltimore Colts
Super Bowl VI – Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl VII – Bob Griese, Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl VIII – Bob Griese, Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl IX – Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl X – Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XI – Ken Stabler, Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl XII – Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XIII – Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl quarterback winners from the 80s
Super Bowl XIV – Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XV – Jim Plunkett, Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl XVI – Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XVII – Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XVIII – Jim Plunkett, Los Angeles Raiders
Super Bowl XIX – Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XX – Jim McMahon, Chicago Bears
Super Bowl XXI – Phil Simms, New York Giants
Super Bowl XXII – Doug Williams, Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXIII – Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl quarterback winners from the 90s
Super Bowl XXIV – Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXV – Jeff Hostetler, New York Giants
Super Bowl XXVI – Mark Rypien, Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXVII –Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXVIII –Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXIX – Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXX – Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXXI – Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XXXII – John Elway, Denver Broncos
Super Bowl XXXIII – John Elway, Denver Broncos
Super Bowl quarterback winners from the 2000s
Super Bowl XXXIV – Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams
Super Bowl XXXV – Trent Dilfer, Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl XXXVI – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXXVII – Brad Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVIII – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXXIX – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl XL – Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XLI – Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl XLII – Eli Manning, New York Giants
Super Bowl XLIII – Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl quarterback winners from the 2010s
Super Bowl XLIV – Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl XLV – Aaron Rogers, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XLVI – Eli Manning, New York Giants
Super Bowl XLVII – Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl XLVIII – Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl XLIX – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl L – Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
Super Bowl LI – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl LII – Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl LIII – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Super Bowl quarterback winners from the 2020s
Super Bowl LIV – Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Want more NFL news and analysis?
Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365) to stay up to date with all things around the NFL. Also, continue to visit Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis concerning the 2020 season and beyond.
Tommy Garrett is a writer for Pro Football Network covering the NFL and fantasy football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.