TOP 10 ROOKIE PERFORMANCES IN SUPER BOWL HISTORY

Super Bowl LVIII is now in the books! The Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a come from behind overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams saw production from their rookies. Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice caught 6 passes for 39 yards, and 49ers kicker Jake Moody made all three of his field goal attempts. Moody’s first kick was from 55 yards out and broke the record for longest field goal in Super Bowl history (until Harrison Butker broke his record later that same game with a 57-yarder). In this list we are going to look at the greatest performances by rookies in the 58-year history of the big game!

10. Isiah Pacheco & Leo Chanel

Kansas City RB & LB | SUPER BOWL LVII

While the story of Super Bowl LVII was centered around the Kelce brothers facing off in one of the biggest sibling rivalry game in sports history (Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and Eagles center Jason Kelce), there was a little something for everybody to love. Two brothers on opposite sidelines, two young quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts looking to establish themselves as the next crop of legends that kids grow up to idolize, and two rookies dominating. It was a true display of the future of the NFL.

Linebacker Leo Chanel was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and had only recorded one sack in his rookie season. Running back Isiah Pacheco was an afterthought as a seventh round draft pick out of Rutgers. It took awhile for Pacheco to establish himself as a downhill runner in a pass-happy offense, but he pounded the Jacksonville defense for 95 yards in the Divisional round. He got involved in the passing game against Cincinnati in the Conference Championship, and was ready for the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Pacheco scored on a one yard run to narrow Philly’s 10-point lead in the third quarter. On the Chiefs final drive Pacheco ate up yards and clock as Harrison Butker booted a 27-yard game winning field goal with eleven seconds left.

Kansas City beat Philadelphia 38-35 in a thriller. Pacheco finished with 15 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. Chanel only saw 24% of defensive snaps, but was efficient with 6 tackles (0 missed tackles) and a sack.

9. Randy White

DALLAS LB\DL | SUPER BOWL X

Having been a decorated collegiate athlete, Maryland’s Randy White was drafted second overall in the 1975 NFL Draft. In ‘75 White wasn’t quite the “Manster” yet (a nickname he earned for being half man half monster), as he was moved around a lot in a defense that boasted more stars than the first American flag. Jethro Pugh, Larry Cole, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and Harvey Martin anchored the defensive line. Linebackers Lee Roy Jordan and D.D. Lewis mentored rookies White, Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, and Bob Breunig. The secondary featured “Captain Crash” Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, and Mel Renfro. Ultimately White would settle in as the replacement for retired Hall of Fame DT Bob Lilly, but in 1975 that was Bill Gregory’s role.

White finished his rookie season with 6 sacks, and notched a sack in each of the Cowboys playoff wins over the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams. In Super Bowl X the Cowboys faced an even more loaded Pittsburgh Steelers team that had won the Super Bowl the year before.

It was a defensive battle, and in the seventies you were not going to beat the Steelers that way. Pittsburgh secured a 21-17 victory when Glen Edwards intercepted a Roger Staubach hail mary. Despite being on the losing end, White got past a stellar Pittsburgh O-line to sack Terry Bradshaw twice. White’s Cowboys would win a Super Bowl in ‘77, and the Hall of Famer was named to the All-80’s Team.

8. Corey Clement

PHILADELPHIA RB | SUPER BOWL LII

Corey Clement had an impressive senior season at Wisconsin, rushing for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. Clement’s 11-2 Badgers beat an undefeated Western Michigan squad in the Cotton Bowl, a game that saw Clement churn out 99 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. This wouldn’t be the last time he showed up and showed out in a bowl game. Clement would go undrafted and find himself lost in the shuffle of a loaded 2017 Philadelphia backfield. The Eagles running backs included LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, Darren Sproles, and return specialist Kenjon Barner.

In Super Bowl LII Clement only touched the ball seven times (eight if you count taking the snap on the Philly Special), but made every play count. While Blount and Ajayi combined for 147 rushing yards, Clement only carried the ball three times for 8 yards. Clement proved to be a force as a receiving threat out of the backfield, his 16-yard reception on the opening drive set up a Jake Elliott field goal (Elliott, three of three in the Super Bowl, just missed making this list). A Nick Foles dump off pass to Clement went 55 yards with under a minute left before halftime. Clement inched the Eagles closer to the goal line with a couple runs before Trey Burton sneakily found Foles wide open in the endzone on the fabled Philly Special. In the third quarter Clement hauled in a 22-yard pass in double coverage in the back of the endzone.

Super Bowl LII was one of the greatest games in recent memory, Clement stood alone as the Eagles leading receiver with 4 receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown. Each of his catches came on scoring drives, and the Eagles bested the favored Patriots 41-33.

7. Joseph Addai

INDIANAPOLIS RB | SUPER BOWL XLI

In the 2006 NFL Draft the Indianapolis Colts were looking to replace Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James. They chose LSU’s Joseph Addai with the 30th overall pick, and Addai produced right away. Addai was a duel threat out of the backfield, tallying 1,400+ scrimmage yards.

In the Wildcard round Addai spurned Kansas City for 122 rushing yards and a touchdown that gave Indy a double digit lead. He was then held in check by a stingy Baltimore defense, but the Colts edged out a 15-6 victory. In the Conference Championship Peyton Manning and Tom Brady were embroiled in one of their classic shootouts. Addai would score on a 3-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the game as the Colts won 38-34. He would have his work cut out for him against a very good 2006 Chicago defense.

In rainy conditions Addai and Dominic Rhodes took turns slashing away at the 6th best rushing defense in the NFL. Addai carried the ball 19 times for 77 yards, and added 10 catches for 66 yards. While Rhodes led the way on the ground, Addai was the game’s leading receiver as he boasted more receptions and yards than star wideouts Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. The Colts won in a sloppy contest, 29-17.

6. Torry Holt

ST. LOUIS WR | SUPER BOWL XXXIV

They don’t call him “Big Game” for nothing. Torry Holt capped off his senior season at North Carolina State with 1,604 yards and 11 touchdowns. This caught the eye of Dick Vermiel and Mike Martz, who took Holt with the sixth pick of the ‘99 draft and paired him with star receiver Isaac Bruce. The 1999 St. Louis Rams were just unfair. Along with dynamic duo of Bruce and Holt, they had an other-worldly running back in Marshall Faulk who racked up over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. With American Underdog story Kurt Warner at QB and Orlando Pace holding down the fort on the front lines, this was an unstoppable offense. They truly were “The Greatest Show on Turf”.

Holt recorded over 60 yards receiving in each of the playoff games leading up to Super Bowl XXXIV, but saved his best for the Tennessee Titans. In the first quarter a 32-yard reception by Holt marched the Rams across midfield as Jeff Wilkins would give them a 3-nothing lead. In the second quarter Holt picked up two first downs on a lengthy drive that ended in Wilkins extending the lead to nine. In the third Holt scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Warner.

Holt gave the Rams a 16-0 lead, and even though the Titans would erase the deficit, Bruce would snag the game-winning touchdown to make it 23-16. Holt was shaking defenders all game long on his way to 7 receptions for 109 yards and a TD.

5. Antoine Winfield Jr & Tristan Wirfs

TAMPA BAY S\OT | SUPER BOWL LV

For the life of me I don’t know how Antoine Winfield Jr fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the 45th slot of the 2020 NFL Draft, but they are lucky he did. The Bucs drafted the first member of this duo, Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, with the 13th overall pick. Had the Chargers Justin Herbert not been such a statistical marvel (and if voters weren’t prejudice to the big uglies), then Wirfs might’ve had a shot at Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Wirfs gave up only one sack in his rookie season, and spoiler alert, it wasn’t in the Super Bowl. When the Bucs faced the Kansas City Chiefs Wirfs held off the likes of Chris Jones and Frank Clark to keep the 43-year old Tom Brady upright. President Joe Biden falls more approaching a podium then Brady did in the Super Bowl with Wirfs protecting him.

Winfield Jr recorded 6 tackles, an interception, and deflected two passes as the Bucs defense locked down the high flying KC offense. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid had no answers for the rookie. Winfield also had a score to settle with the Chiefs speedster Tyreek Hill. When the two teams met in week 12 Hill had a field day with the Bucs secondary (13 receptions 269 yards 3 touchdowns), and taunted the defenders by flashing a peace sign. After breaking up a fourth down pass to Hill, Winfield leaned over into the receiver’s face and flashed a peace sign of his own. “It felt amazing to be able to do that” said the second generation superstar. Hill was held to 7 catches, KC was held to no touchdowns. Tampa Bay won decisively 31-9.

4. Chris Matthews

Seattle WR | SUPER BOWL XLIX

Chris Matthews story is both inspiring and tragic at the same time. An undrafted rookie who hadn’t caught a pass all season was called upon to be the 12 Man’s savior. But how did he get here? After only one season of receiving first-option targets at Kentucky, Matthews didn’t hear his name called in the 2011 NFL Draft. The kid had potential and good size, standing at 6’5”. The Cleveland Browns signed him, but later cut him (how Cleveland of them). Matthews wound up on the Indoor Football League’s Iowa Barnstormers (the team Kurt Warner played for before his big break). In 2012 Matthews went up north to the Canadian Football League. He would win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie award with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after logging 81 receptions for 1,192 yards and 7 touchdowns.

A foot injury grounded his CFL career and Matthews found himself working security at a Foot Locker. Matthews never gave up on his dream, and received a phone call from the Seattle Seahawks in February of 2014 inviting him to a tryout. In the 2014 NFC Championship game Matthews recovered an onside kick to send the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. In one of the greatest Super Bowls ever, Matthews emerged as an unlikely number one option for Russell Wilson.

While the New England Patriots top corners Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner were covering the Seahawks top receivers, Matthews hauled in a 44-yard catch with Kyle Arrington draped all over him. It was Matthews first career catch, and led to a Marshawn Lynch touchdown to tie the game in the second quarter. With six seconds left before halftime, trailing 14-7, Wilson found Matthews down the left sideline in soft coverage. Matthews made the catch for an 11-yard touchdown to once again tie the game. In the second half Matthews caught passes of 45 & 9 yards on two separate scoring drives. It seemed that the feel-good story of the year would be capped off with Super Bowl M.V.P. honors…until the next player on the list sealed the victory for the Patriots.

3. Malcolm Butler

NEW ENGLAND DB | SUPER BOWL XLIX

Why did Matthews not win Super Bowl M.V.P. after making four big catches for 109 yards and a touchdown? Because another rookie with an unlikely road to the NFL made the biggest play in Super Bowl history, and stole his “happily ever after”. Malcolm Butler bounced around from Hines Community College, to Alcorn State, to West Alabama. And since this Braves’ alum isn’t named Steve McNair, he went undrafted. Luckily Bill Belichick has a knack for thrift shopping through free agency, taking chances on unheralded rookies and over-the-hill vets alike.

Despite not seeing much action in the regular season, Butler came alive in the second half of the Super Bowl. Butler started locking up Seattle’s second leading receiver on the season, Jermaine Kearse. New England held a 28-24 lead over Seattle with 1:14 left on the clock. Russell Wilson threw a deep pass to Kearse, but Butler tipped the ball away. Despite it looking like a dead play, the ball never touched the ground, it ricocheted off Kearse’s leg and into his hands. As Kearse made it to his feet with the ball in hand, only two players on the field seemed to realize the play wasn’t over, him, and Butler who quickly tackled him to the ground. Butler’s awareness saved what would’ve been an easy touchdown for Kearse amidst the confusion.

Later on during that same drive, Seattle faced a second down from New England’s one yard line with twenty-six seconds left in the game. With a timeout in his back pocket it seemed obvious that Pete Carroll would call Marshawn Lynch’s number. The bowling ball-like running back had rolled over the Patriots defense foe 102 yards and a touchdown already in the game. Instead Carroll and OC Darrell Bevell opted for a pass play…seriously!? Wilson dropped back and targeted Ricardo Lockette on the goal line, but Butler swooped in and intercepted the pass. Butler finished the game with 3 tackles and 3 passes defensed, along with a highlight reel play that lives rent-free in the minds of football fans everywhere.

2. Nick Bosa

San Francisco DE | Super Bowl LIV

Nick Bosa’s story is not that of an underdog. The highly touted edge rusher from Ohio State shouldered the weight of lofty expectations. Bosa’s father John played three seasons for the Miami Dolphins, and his brother Joey was the star pass rusher of the LA Chargers. The San Francisco 49ers took Nick Bosa with the second overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. Bosa established himself immediately as he racked up 9 sacks for the NFC Champions.

In Super Bowl LIV the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year would have the unenviable task of trying to wrangle up the 2018 NFL M.V.P. Patrick Mahomes. The young superstar signal caller struggled in his first Super Bowl appearance as Bosa routinely made a turntable out of former number one overall draft pick Eric Fisher. In one of those statistics that sounds made up but isn’t, Bosa recorded 12 QB hurries in the Super Bowl. Bosa parlayed one of those hurries into a strip-sack on Mahomes.

Bosa finished his rookie season with 5 tackles in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately the 49ers could not hold on to their 10-point fourth quarter lead (which has become a theme with Kyle Shanahan’s teams). The Chiefs won 31-20. Things might have been different if Jimmy Garoppolo hadn’t over thrown a wide open Emmanuel Sanders.

1. Timmy Smith

Washington RB | Super Bowl XXII

The 1987 Washington Redskins were stacked. The defense featured real men like Dexter Manley and Charles Mann, and a secondary consisting of Darrell Green, Barry Wilburn, and Todd Bowles. The Air Coryell-esque offense of Joe Gibbs ‘87 squad was highlighted by star receivers like Gary Clark, Art Monk, and Ricky Sanders. Former All-Pro running back George Rogers shouldered the load on the ground while the team went though a revolving door of quarterbacks. Then there was lowly Timmy Smith.

Considered a throw-away pick when the Texas Tech running back was taken in the fifth round, Smith was not on anyone’s radar in 1987. He had only appeared in seven games, and had only rushed for 126 yards on the season. As faith would have it, George Rogers would not start due to an injury, a development that Smith and the viewing audience found out at the same time. The Redskins staff didn’t tell Smith he would be starting out of fear of him being a nervous wreck, starting QB Doug Williams had a different approach. Williams told Smith in no uncertain terms before the game, ‘don’t mess this up for me’.

Thankfully for Smith and Williams, the Redskins not-so-secret weapon was their legendary offensive line, known affectionately by the fans as “The Hogs”. The Hogs opened up the Denver Broncos defensive line like saloon doors all night long as Smith burned them on multiple big runs. Smith had four carries go for 25 or more yards, but one was called back for holding. He easily bested his season total as he finished the game with 22 carries for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns. He still holds the record for most rushing yards in Super Bowl history, by a lot, and Washington rode Smith’s fresh legs to a 42-10 route.

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11. Jamal Lewis

In 2000 the Baltimore Ravens drafted Tennessee running back Jamal Lewis 5th overall. While he had an impressive rookie season, he had little to do with the Ravens 34-7 victory in Super Bowl XXXV. Lewis carried the ball 27 times for 102 yards and a touchdown. While cracking the 100-yard ark is impressive (only the 2nd rookie to do so), it’s important to note that he had very few big plays as Baltimore kept giving him the rock to run out clock. Lewis had runs of 19, 13, and 11 yards, but averaged less than two and a half yards per carry on the rest of his 24 carries.

12. Tedy Bruschi

Tedy Bruschi tallied only 11 tackles in his rookie season in 1996, but came away with 4 sacks. The linebacker was mostly lost in the shuffle of a star-studded defense featuring Willie McGinest, Ty Law, and Lawyer Milloy. In Super Bowl XXXI Reggie White stole the show with 3 sacks as the Green Bay Packers won 35-21. While Bruschi’s Patriots fell short, he racked up 4 tackles and got to Green Bay QB Brett Favre twice, bringing him down to tie the rookie sack record.

13. Ja’Marr Chase

Cincinnati receiver Ja’Marr Chase had a remarkable rookie season. Chase’s 1,455 receiving yards fell just nineteen-shy of the rookie record. In Super Bowl LVI Chase and his former college quarterback Joe Burrow connected on 5 passes for 89 yards. On a fourth down with 43 seconds left in the game, the Bengals trailed 23-20. Chase beat All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey to run free down the right sideline. Unfortunately for Chase his efforts to get open were in vain, as Aaron Donald tore through the pass protection and forced Burrow to toss the ball at the feet of Samaje Perine.

14. Percy Howard

Percy Howard was an undrafted rookie receiver for the Dallas Cowboys in 1975 who wasn’t supposed to see the field. When Golden Richards got knocked out of the game by the physical Pittsburgh secondary, Howard stepped up. The arrogant rookie, who had not caught a pass in the NFL yet, ran his mouth off to Hall of Famer Mel Blount, claiming he could get open. Howard would walk the walk as he did breeze past Blount to haul in a 34-yard touchdown. Had he managed to catch Staubach’s pass in the final minute of the game then perhaps the Cowboys wouldn’t have lost Super Bowl X.

15. Steve Smith

New York Giants receiver Steve Smith only caught 8 passes in his rookie season. Despite the underwhelming campaign, the second round pick was Eli Manning’s get out of jail free card in Super Bowl XLII. Smith caught 5 passes for 50 yards, all of which came on third downs. His two third-down conversions on the opening drive helped set up the Giants early 3-0 lead as they went on to beat the heavily favored 18-0 Patriots by three points! Steve Smith narrowly beat out the likes of Richard Seymour powering through double teams to sack Kurt Warner, Chris Collinsworth boasting 107 yards in the big game, and receiver\kicker Jim O’Brien nailing a 32-yard game winner in Super Bowl V.