Winning a Super Bowl is hard. Winning one as a starting quarterback? That's the kind of stuff that turns grown men into legends and makes statues pop up in random midwestern cities. Most fans think they know the list of quarterbacks to win Super Bowl titles by heart, but when you actually dig into the names, it gets weird.
For instance, did you know that out of the hundreds of guys who have taken a snap in the NFL, only 35 different men have ever hoisted that trophy as a starting QB?
It’s a tiny club. Exclusive. Honestly, it's a bit of a miracle anyone gets in at all. We just watched Super Bowl LIX in 2025, where Jalen Hurts finally got his ring in a blowout against the Chiefs, joining the ranks. It was a massive moment because it broke a specific kind of curse. Before Jalen, almost every quarterback who lost their Super Bowl debut never made it back to the winner's circle. He, along with guys like Len Dawson and Bob Griese, proved you can actually bounce back.
The Heavy Hitters at the Top
We have to talk about Tom Brady. It’s annoying, I know, but seven rings is just stupid. He has more wins than any single franchise in the league. You've got the 49ers and Steelers stuck at six, and Brady is just sitting there with seven.
Behind him, the air gets a little thinner. You have Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw with four a piece. Bradshaw is an interesting case because people love to say he was just "riding a great defense," but you don't win four without having some serious ice in your veins.
Then there’s Patrick Mahomes.
As of early 2026, Mahomes is sitting on three rings. He had a chance to make it four last year in Super Bowl LIX, but the Eagles’ defense basically lived in his back pocket all night. Still, at his age, he’s already tied with Troy Aikman. That is terrifying for the rest of the AFC.
The Two-Ring Club
This is where the Hall of Fame debates usually get heated. You have the "obvious" legends and the "wait, him?" guys.
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- Peyton Manning: Won with two different teams (Colts and Broncos).
- Eli Manning: The man who exists solely to ruin Tom Brady’s perfect seasons. Two rings.
- John Elway: Lost a bunch, then won two at the very end.
- Ben Roethlisberger: Two rings for the Steelers.
- Jim Plunkett: The ultimate outlier. Two rings, but not in the Hall of Fame.
- Bart Starr: The original. Won the first two ever.
- Roger Staubach: Captain America himself.
- Bob Griese: Led the only undefeated season ever.
One-Hit Wonders and Defensive Saviors
Sometimes, the list of quarterbacks to win Super Bowl honors includes names that make you do a double-take. We call these the "Trent Dilfer" types, though that’s probably a bit mean. Dilfer won with the 2000 Ravens, but he’d be the first to tell you that Ray Lewis and that defense did the heavy lifting.
Then you have guys like Nick Foles. In 2018, he was a backup who came in and played the game of his life against the Patriots. He caught a touchdown pass! It remains one of the most "lightning in a bottle" moments in sports history.
And let's not forget the old-school ballers. Joe Namath "guaranteed" a win in Super Bowl III and actually delivered. Ken Stabler (The Snake) got one for the Raiders. Joe Theismann and Doug Williams got theirs for Washington.
Recent Additions to the Winner's List
The 2020s have been dominated by the same few faces, but we’ve had some fresh blood. Matthew Stafford moved to the Rams and immediately got his ring in Super Bowl LVI. It felt like a "long time coming" moment for a guy who spent a decade getting beat up in Detroit.
Then Jalen Hurts joined the list in February 2025. It was a dominant 40-22 win over Kansas City. Hurts wasn't just a "game manager"; he was the MVP. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, proving that the modern dual-threat QB isn't just a trend—it's the new blueprint.
Why the List is So Short
People assume that if you're a "Great" quarterback, you'll eventually win one. Dan Marino would like a word.
Marino is arguably a top-five pure passer ever, yet he never won the big one. Same with Jim Kelly, who went to four straight and lost them all. It’s brutal. The list of quarterbacks to win Super Bowl games is a reflection of team chemistry, coaching, and—let’s be real—a massive amount of luck. One bad bounce or one missed holding call can keep a Hall of Famer off this list forever.
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The Active QBs with Rings
As we head into the 2026 season, the pool of active winners is surprisingly small. With guys like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson hitting the tail end of their careers, the torch has firmly passed.
- Patrick Mahomes (3 wins)
- Matthew Stafford (1 win)
- Aaron Rodgers (1 win)
- Russell Wilson (1 win)
- Jalen Hurts (1 win)
That’s basically it. Joe Flacco is still hanging around as a backup in some spots, and maybe someone like Joe Burrow or Josh Allen finally breaks through this year, but for now, it's a very short line at the VIP door.
Breaking Down the "First Timers"
If you're looking at who might be the next name on the list of quarterbacks to win Super Bowl titles, you have to look at the "almost" club. Brock Purdy came incredibly close in 2024. Joe Burrow was a play away in 2022.
The pressure on these guys is insane. Once you win one, the "can he win the big one?" narrative dies instantly. Stafford went from "talented loser" to "future Hall of Famer" in exactly sixty minutes of football. That’s the power of the ring.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to predict the next winner or just win a bar argument, keep these three things in mind:
- Experience isn't everything: Many QBs win their first ring within their first five years (Mahomes, Brady, Roethlisberger).
- The "Rematch" Factor: As Jalen Hurts showed in 2025, losing your first Super Bowl isn't a death sentence anymore, provided you have a stable coaching staff.
- Defense still matters: Even the best QBs on this list (Peyton Manning in 2015, for example) sometimes need a legendary defense to carry them across the finish line when their arm starts to fade.
To keep track of this ever-evolving list, the best thing you can do is look at the common thread: every single one of these guys, from Bart Starr to Jalen Hurts, had a moment in the fourth quarter where they had to make a play that looked impossible. That’s the price of admission.