Winning a Super Bowl is basically the only thing that matters if you’re an NFL quarterback trying to secure a legacy. You can throw for 50,000 yards or win three league MVPs, but if you don't have that ring, there's always going to be an asterisk next to your name in the "greatest of all time" conversation. Honestly, it's a bit unfair. Dan Marino was a literal wizard with the football, but he never got to hoist the Lombardi. On the flip side, some guys who were "just okay" managed to find themselves on the right team at the right time.
But we're here for the winners. The elite club. As of early 2026, the list of Super Bowl winning quarterbacks remains the most exclusive fraternity in professional sports. It’s a group defined by legendary dynasties, massive upsets, and—let's be real—a fair amount of luck.
The Mount Rushmore: Multi-Time Winners
If you want to talk about the heavy hitters, you have to start with the guys who didn't just win once, but turned the Super Bowl into their personal playground.
Tom Brady is the undisputed king. There’s no debate left. He has seven rings. Seven. That’s more than any single NFL franchise has ever won. He grabbed six with the New England Patriots and then, just to prove it wasn't just Bill Belichick’s system, he went down to Tampa Bay and grabbed a seventh with the Buccaneers at age 43.
Then you’ve got the legends of the 70s and 80s. Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw both have four. Montana was famously "Joe Cool," never throwing an interception in four Super Bowl appearances. Bradshaw, meanwhile, steered the "Steel Curtain" Steelers through a decade of dominance.
Patrick Mahomes is the guy everyone is watching now. By the time he hit age 28, he already had three rings (Super Bowls LIV, LVII, and LVIII). People thought the Chiefs might three-peat in 2025, but Jalen Hurts and a ferocious Eagles defense actually shut that down in Super Bowl LIX, leaving Mahomes stuck at three for now. Still, three rings before 30 is a pace that makes even Brady's early career look a little slow.
The Two-Ring Club
- Troy Aikman: The face of the 90s Cowboys. He has three.
- Eli Manning: The ultimate giant slayer. He beat Brady twice. Think about that.
- Peyton Manning: Won one with the Colts and one with the Broncos, becoming the first starter to win with two different teams.
- John Elway: Lost three before finally winning two back-to-back to end his career.
- Ben Roethlisberger: Won two with the Steelers, including one where he was the youngest QB to ever do it.
- Roger Staubach: "Captain Comeback" brought two to Dallas.
- Bart Starr: The man who won the first two ever.
Every QB to Ever Win: The Full Breakdown
It’s a shorter list than you’d think. Only 35 men have ever started and won a Super Bowl. Most people forget that it's not always the superstars. You've got guys like Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson who were "game managers" but played on historically great defenses.
The 1960s and 70s
Bart Starr got things moving with the Packers (I, II). Joe Namath made his famous guarantee and delivered for the Jets in III. Len Dawson (Chiefs, IV), Johnny Unitas (Colts, V), and Roger Staubach (Cowboys, VI) followed. Bob Griese led the undefeated '72 Dolphins (VII, VIII) though he didn't have to throw much. Terry Bradshaw then took over the decade (IX, X, XIII, XIV), with Ken Stabler (Raiders, XI) sneaking one in.
The 1980s: The Era of West Coast and Washington
Jim Plunkett is a name people overlook, but he won two (XV, XVIII) with the Raiders. Joe Montana started his reign (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV). The Washington Redskins (now Commanders) had a weirdly successful run with three different QBs: Joe Theismann (XVII), Doug Williams (XXII), and later Mark Rypien (XXVI). Jim McMahon was the "punky QB" for the legendary '85 Bears (XX). Phil Simms had a nearly perfect game for the Giants in XXI.
The 1990s: Cowboys and the End of Elway
Jeff Hostetler stepped in for an injured Simms to win XXV. Then Troy Aikman's Cowboys took three (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX). Steve Young finally got the monkey off his back with a 6-TD performance in XXIX. Brett Favre got his lone ring in XXXI. Finally, John Elway finished his career with a flourish in XXXII and XXXIII.
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The 2000s: The Brady Takeover
Kurt Warner went from stocking groceries to winning XXXIV. Trent Dilfer (XXXV) and Brad Johnson (XXXVII) proved defense wins championships. Tom Brady's first era saw wins in XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX. Peyton Manning (XLI), Eli Manning (XLII), and Ben Roethlisberger (XL, XLIII) rounded out the decade's big names. Drew Brees got the Saints their emotional win in XLIV.
The 2010s to Now: Versatility and Power
Aaron Rodgers got his one and only in XLV. Joe Flacco had a historic playoff run for XLVII. Russell Wilson (XLVIII) and Nick Foles (LII) represent the "new school" and the "backup hero" respectively. Since then, it’s been the Mahomes and Brady show, with Matthew Stafford (LVI) and Jalen Hurts (LIX) breaking the cycle.
What Most People Get Wrong About Winning QBs
The biggest misconception is that the best QB always wins. Honestly, that’s just not true. Look at the 2000 Ravens or the 2002 Buccaneers. Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson weren't better than the guys they beat; they just didn't make mistakes while their defenses destroyed everyone.
Another weird one? The "Manning Paradox." Peyton Manning is widely considered a top-three QB of all time, but his brother Eli has the same number of rings. In those specific Super Bowl runs, Eli was arguably more "clutch" against better opponents (the undefeated Patriots). Context matters.
Also, people sort of ignore how much of a team sport this is. You've seen Patrick Mahomes lose a Super Bowl because his offensive line was basically a group of turnstiles against the Bucs. Even the GOATs can't win alone.
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How to Evaluate a Quarterback's Legacy
If you're trying to rank these guys, don't just look at the list of Super Bowl winning quarterbacks as a raw tally. You've got to consider:
- Efficiency in the Big Game: Did they carry the team (like Steve Young) or just stay out of the way (like Bob Griese)?
- The Opposition: Beating the '07 Patriots is worth more than beating a "just okay" wild card team.
- Clutch Factor: Did they lead a 4th-quarter drive, or were they up by 30 the whole time?
Actionable Next Steps
If you're a fan of the game or a collector, there are a few things you can do to dive deeper into this history:
- Watch the "America's Game" Series: This is produced by NFL Films. Each episode focuses on one Super Bowl winning team, and they interview the QBs directly. It gives you the "vibe" of the win that a stat sheet can't.
- Analyze Passer Rating vs. Wins: Look up the Super Bowl passer ratings for the winners. You'll find that some winners had ratings in the 60s, which would get a guy benched today.
- Check the Hall of Fame Trajectory: Not every QB on this list is a Hall of Famer. Guys like Jim Plunkett and Eli Manning are the "borderline" cases that fuel sports talk radio for decades. Studying their stats vs. their rings is a masterclass in NFL history.
The list will keep growing. Whether it's Caleb Williams or C.J. Stroud eventually joining the ranks, the pressure to get that first ring remains the heaviest burden in the league.