At 39, Peyton Manning would become the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl should his Denver Broncos find a way to beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. It won’t be easy, however, as the Panthers have lost once all season, are nearly a touchdown favorite, and seem to have nearly every advantage over the Broncos.
History is not on the side of the aged in the Super Bowl. Odds are, if Manning wants to win his second championship and likely call it a career in style, he will need help from his outstanding defense and bathe in the fountain of youth, like these eight players who were at least 33 when they delivered outstanding Super Bowl performances.
8. QB Steve Young (33 years old) in Super Bowl XXIX
Young waited patiently for years behind Joe Montana and made the most of his one trip to a Super Bowl. Young gashed the San Diego Chargers for 325 yards through the air, 49 more yards on the ground and six passing touchdowns in the 49ers’ 49-26 gouging of the Chargers.
Manning should consider himself fortunate if he throws half as many touchdowns against the Panthers. Sure, 33 may not seem old compared to 39, but Young was three years older than Manning when he beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
7. WR Art Monk (34 years old) in Super Bowl XXVI
The final score of 37-24 made the Redskins’ victory seem more competitive than it was. They led the Bills 17-0 at halftime and were up 24-0 in the third quarter. Mark Rypien led a balanced attack on offense and the defense intercepted Jim Kelly four times.
But it was the ageless Monk who did his damage in the early going. He finished with seven catches for 113 yards, amassing 79 of them in the first quarter. He reached the playoffs one more time in his Hall of Fame career.
6. WR Max McGee (34 years old) in Super Bowl I
Bart Starr was the MVP of the Packers’ 35-10 win against the Kansas City Chiefs, as he threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Yet it tends to be forgotten that one receiver near the end of his career was responsible for most of that workload.
McGee caught seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He scored the game’s first points on a 37-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then hauled in a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. He played one more season before retiring.
5. RB Ottis Anderson (34 years old) in Super Bowl XXV
Anderson turned 34 a week earlier and was featured as the centerpiece to Giants coach Bill Parcells’ plan to work the clock against the offensively explosive Bills. Parcells wanted to feed the veteran as much as possible but would his body handle the workload?
Anderson ran for 102 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries as the Giants won 20-19. He was named the game’s MVP.
4. DE Reggie White (35 years old) in Super Bowl XXXI
This Super Bowl is remembered for being Brett Favre’s only championship and Desmond Howard’s back-breaking kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
It also featured a record-setting performance by White, who sacked Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe three times. That mark would be tied by Darnell Dockett of the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII while he was still nine years younger than White.
3. QB Jim Plunkett (36 years old) in Super Bowl XVIII
This isn’t exactly a jaw-dropping stat line, but Plunkett went 16 of 25 for 127 yards and a touchdown, which may be the type of showing Manning may need if he wants to win at 39.
Marcus Allen was the game’s MVP with 20 carries for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Jack Squirek had an interception return for a touchdown as well. C.J. Anderson and Von Miller should take notes on this game if the Broncos are to pull the upset with their own aging QB.
2. LB Ray Lewis (37 years old) in Super Bowl XLVII
Let’s not pretend Lewis was anything more than a shell of his once-great self in this game. He had seven tackles (four solo) and was perfectly fine in helping the Ravens beat the 49ers 34-31.
But Lewis was there when it mattered most, helping thwart Colin Kaepernick and 49ers on three plays from the 5-yard line in the final seconds.
1. QB John Elway (37 and 38 years old) in Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII
While players like Plunkett and Lewis went out on top with commendable performances at an advanced age, Elway went out a hero in his final Super Bowl after being carried by his teammates in the previous one.
In the Broncos’ 31-24 win against the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII, Elway was just good enough. He went 12 of 23 for 122 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. Super Bowl XXXII MVP Terrell Davis scored his third touchdown in the final minutes to seal the win to finally give Elway a championship.
Instead of retiring, Elway played one more season and made the most of it. He threw for 339 yards and a touchdown while running for another in a 34-19 rout of the Falcons. He was named the game’s MVP and rode off into the sunset, something he’s hoping to see Manning against the Panthers while sitting in the owners’ box.
