In the high-stakes world of professional football, winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award is the pinnacle of individual regular-season achievement. Winning a Super Bowl ring is the ultimate team goal. However, capturing both the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season is a feat so rare that it has only been accomplished by a handful of legends in the history of the sport.
For over two decades, a perceived "MVP Curse" loomed over the league, as winner after winner of the regular-season trophy failed to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in the same year. That changed in the 2022 season when Patrick Mahomes put together a historic campaign that reminded the world why he is on a trajectory toward the Hall of Fame. By leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a victory in Super Bowl LVII, Mahomes became the first player in the 21st century to sweep both MVP honors in a single season.
The 23-Year Drought: Patrick Mahomes Breaks the Curse
Before the 2022 NFL season, the last player to win the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season was Kurt Warner in 1999. In the 23 years that followed, the league MVP was 0-9 in Super Bowl appearances. Stars like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Cam Newton all reached the big game during their MVP seasons, only to fall short on the final Sunday.
Patrick Mahomes shattered that trend with a 2022 season for the ages. During the regular season, Mahomes led the NFL with 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, earning 48 of 50 first-place votes for the league MVP. He carried that momentum into the postseason, culminating in a gritty performance against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite re-aggravating a high ankle sprain, Mahomes threw for three touchdowns and led a game-winning drive to secure the 38-35 victory and his second Super Bowl MVP trophy.
The Legends Club: Every Player to Achieve the Double MVP
Only seven players in NFL history have managed to claim both the league MVP and the Super Bowl MVP in the same season. This exclusive club is a "who’s who" of football royalty:
- Bart Starr (1966): The Green Bay Packers legend set the standard in the very first Super Bowl era, winning the league MVP and the MVP of Super Bowl I.
- Terry Bradshaw (1978): During the height of the Pittsburgh Steelers' dynasty, Bradshaw dominated the 1978 season, winning both awards while leading the "Steel Curtain" to a title.
- Joe Montana (1989): Often cited as one of the greatest individual seasons ever, Montana’s 1989 run with the San Francisco 49ers ended with a 55-10 thrashing of the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV.
- Emmitt Smith (1993): The only non-quarterback on this list, Smith’s 1993 season saw him win the rushing title, the league MVP, and the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Steve Young (1994): Taking over the mantle from Montana, Young threw a record six touchdowns in Super Bowl XXIX to pair his Super Bowl MVP with his second league MVP.
- Kurt Warner (1999): The "Greatest Show on Turf" was headlined by Warner, who went from an undrafted backup to a dual MVP winner in one of the most improbable seasons in sports history.
- Patrick Mahomes (2022): The latest addition to the list, Mahomes ended the 23-year wait and cemented his status as the face of the modern NFL.
Why the Dual MVP Achievement is So Rare
Achieving the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season requires a perfect storm of individual brilliance and team health. Because the league MVP is a regular-season award, it often goes to players who carry a heavy statistical load. By the time the Super Bowl arrives, those players are often the primary focus of opposing defensive coordinators who have had weeks to prepare.
Furthermore, the physical toll of a 17-game season followed by a playoff run makes it incredibly difficult to maintain peak performance through February. Players like Mahomes and Smith, who played through significant injuries during their Super Bowl runs, exemplify the mental and physical toughness required to join this elite group.
The Legacy of the Double MVP
For Patrick Mahomes, achieving this feat at the age of 27 was a statement to the league. While many greats have won multiple MVPs or multiple Super Bowls, doing both in the same window is the ultimate mark of a player who can perform under the highest possible pressure. As Mahomes continues his career, he remains the only active player with this specific achievement on his resume, further distancing himself from his contemporaries in the pursuit of all-time greatness.
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