NFL: Which Quarterbacks have won Super Bowl as starters and back-ups?

It goes without saying that a strong quarterback is essential to winning football games. Without a talented player in that position, it is very difficult for a club to compete for the Super Bowl in the NFL. Great quarterbacks occasionally begin their careers as backups before realizing their full potential as starters. The quarterbacks who won Super Bowls as starters and backups will be discussed in this article. 

Super Bowl Quarterback Champions as Starters and Back-ups

Jim McMahon

Jim McMahon, who played for two separate teams, won a Super Bowl both as a starter and as a backup. After playing his first seven seasons (1982–1988) with the Chicago Bears, where he also won his first Super Bowl, McMahon spent a short while bouncing around the league before deciding to close his career with the Green Bay Packers in 1996. As the starter for the Bears in 1986, McMahon contributed to their Super Bowl victory. Eleven years later, as Brett Favre’s backup, the Packers won the championship.

Steve Young

Steve Young is the most well-known quarterback who has won a Super Bowl being both the starter and the backup. Young spent his first two seasons in the USFL with the Los Angeles Express (1984–1985), followed by two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986), and his final 12 seasons in the league (1987–1999) with the San Francisco 49ers. He started his career with the 49ers, where he served as Joe Montana’s backup for the team’s Super Bowl triumphs in 1989 and 1990. Young took over after Montana left, and he helped the club win the 1995 Super Bowl.

Mark Rypien

Mark Rypien won the Super Bowl while playing with the Washington Redskins (now known as the Commanders) from 1986 to 1993, starting at both the starting and backup positions. He served as Doug Williams’ backup when Washington won the championship in 1988. Later, he would take over as the team’s starter and guide them to another Super Bowl triumph in 1992.

Jeff Hosteler

Both as a starter and a backup for the New York Giants, Jeff Hosteler won Super Bowls. Hostetler spent the 1984–1992 season with the Giants. For the bulk of that time, including when the Giants won the World Series in 1987, he was Phil Simms’ backup. Simms was only mildly hurt for the year in 1991, but it was enough for Hosteler to beat him out for the position four years later. He would go on to play both as a starter and a backup, leading the Giants to the Super Bowl that year.

Phil Simms

From 1979 until 1993, Phil Simms played his whole career for the New York Giants, starting and serving as the team’s backup while also winning a Super Bowl. He served as the team’s starting quarterback in 1987 as they won the Super Bowl. He had to fill in for Jeff Hostetler during the 1990 season due to an injury, and he saw Jeff Hostetler lead the team to another Super Bowl in 1991.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article has shed light on the unique journeys of quarterbacks who achieved Super Bowl success as both starters and backups. Their stories exemplify the fluid and dynamic nature of football, where adaptability and talent can lead to championship glory regardless of one’s initial role on the team. These quarterbacks, from Jim McMahon to Phil Simms, serve as inspiring examples of resilience and dedication, showing that success in the NFL is not solely determined by a player’s starting position. Their remarkable careers underscore the thrilling unpredictability that makes football a sport cherished by millions.