Super Bowl quarterback rematch history is not kind to Jalen Hurts
Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes is the fourth QB rematch in Super Bowl history. As the hours tick down to Super Bowl LIX, much of the pre-game discussion has focused on the history the Kansas City Chiefs are facing. By simply advancing to Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to advance to a Super Bowl after winning the two previous installments. That means the Chiefs will become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls should they defeat the Philadelphia Eagles on Super Bowl Sunday. But if the Eagles emerge victorious that will also mean some NFL history has been made. By starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. With this game representing a rematch of Super Bowl LVII — in which Hurts and Patrick Mahomes were the starting quarterbacks — this marks the fourth time in Super Bowl history that the game features a rematch of starting quarterbacks. In each of the three previous rematches, the quarterback whose team won the first game won the second. That would mean Hurts would become the first quarterback to guide his team to a win in a rematch. Let’s work through the other three rematches, building to Mahomes vs. Hurts 2.0. Roger Staubach versus Terry Bradshaw The first time that a Super Bowl featured a rematch of starting quarterbacks came in Super Bowl XIII in 1979, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers. That game was a rematch of Super Bowl X, won by the Steelers by a final score of 21-17. Pittsburgh starting quarterback Terry Bradshaw completed 9-of-19 passes for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as wide receiver Lynn Swann was named MVP. On the other side of the field, Roger Staubach was the starting quarter for the Cowboys in Super Bowl X, and while he completed 15-of-24 passes for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns, Staubach also threw three interceptions, the last of which came on a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game. Three seasons later those two quarterbacks and teams met in Super Bowl XIII. Again it was Bradshaw and the Steelers who came out on top, by a final score of 35-31. Staubach again put up good numbers for Dallas, as the Cowboys QB connected on 17-of-30 passes for 228 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. But Pittsburgh carried the day as Bradshaw threw for four touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl MVP selection. Troy Aikman versus Jim Kelly The next rematch of starting quarterbacks came in Super Bowl XXVIII between the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys. This game was a rematch of the previous Super Bowl, won by Aikman and the Cowboys by a final score of 52-17. Jim Kelly and the Bills advanced to Super Bowl XXVIII a year after that loss, making the big game for the fourth season in a row. However, the Bills lost Super Bowl XXVIII by a final score of 30-13. Kelly completed 31-of-50 passes for 260 yards and an interception in the loss, while Aikman fared little better, hitting on 19-of-27 passes for 207 yards and an interception. Still, buoyed by 132 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns from Emmitt Smith, the Cowboys won their second-straight Super Bowl and dealt Buffalo their fourth Super Bowl loss in a row. Eli Manning versus Tom Brady Look away New England Patriots fans. Four years after Eli Manning and the New York Giants stunned the Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII, denying New England and Tom Brady their dreams of an unblemished 19-0 season, those two teams and quarterbacks met again in Super Bowl XLVI. Once again it was Manning and the Giants who emerged on top, winning by a final score of 21-17. Brady completed 27-of-41 passes for 276 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and an interception in the loss, while Manning connected on 30-of-40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown for the Giants. Patrick Mahomes versus Jalen Hurts Two seasons ago, the Chiefs and the Eagles met in Super Bowl LVII, and while the Chiefs came out on top, had the game ended differently it might have been Hurts who walked away with MVP honors. The Eagles quarterback completed 27-of-38 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown, while adding another three rushing touchdowns on the ground. Still, it was not enough as the Chiefs won on a field goal from Harrison Butker with just seconds left on the clock. Mahomes secured MVP honors after throwing for three touchdown passes, two of those coming in the fourth quarter. As for the rematch? We will have to wait and see. But if Hurts and the Eagles come out on top, it will mark the first time in NFL history that a Super Bowl featuring a rematch of starting quarterbacks was won by the QB whose team lost in the first meeting.
Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes is the fourth QB rematch in Super Bowl history.
As the hours tick down to Super Bowl LIX, much of the pre-game discussion has focused on the history the Kansas City Chiefs are facing. By simply advancing to Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to advance to a Super Bowl after winning the two previous installments. That means the Chiefs will become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls should they defeat the Philadelphia Eagles on Super Bowl Sunday.
But if the Eagles emerge victorious that will also mean some NFL history has been made.
By starting quarterback Jalen Hurts.
With this game representing a rematch of Super Bowl LVII — in which Hurts and Patrick Mahomes were the starting quarterbacks — this marks the fourth time in Super Bowl history that the game features a rematch of starting quarterbacks.
In each of the three previous rematches, the quarterback whose team won the first game won the second. That would mean Hurts would become the first quarterback to guide his team to a win in a rematch.
Let’s work through the other three rematches, building to Mahomes vs. Hurts 2.0.
Roger Staubach versus Terry Bradshaw
The first time that a Super Bowl featured a rematch of starting quarterbacks came in Super Bowl XIII in 1979, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That game was a rematch of Super Bowl X, won by the Steelers by a final score of 21-17. Pittsburgh starting quarterback Terry Bradshaw completed 9-of-19 passes for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as wide receiver Lynn Swann was named MVP.
On the other side of the field, Roger Staubach was the starting quarter for the Cowboys in Super Bowl X, and while he completed 15-of-24 passes for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns, Staubach also threw three interceptions, the last of which came on a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game.
Three seasons later those two quarterbacks and teams met in Super Bowl XIII. Again it was Bradshaw and the Steelers who came out on top, by a final score of 35-31. Staubach again put up good numbers for Dallas, as the Cowboys QB connected on 17-of-30 passes for 228 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. But Pittsburgh carried the day as Bradshaw threw for four touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl MVP selection.
Troy Aikman versus Jim Kelly
The next rematch of starting quarterbacks came in Super Bowl XXVIII between the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys. This game was a rematch of the previous Super Bowl, won by Aikman and the Cowboys by a final score of 52-17.
Jim Kelly and the Bills advanced to Super Bowl XXVIII a year after that loss, making the big game for the fourth season in a row. However, the Bills lost Super Bowl XXVIII by a final score of 30-13. Kelly completed 31-of-50 passes for 260 yards and an interception in the loss, while Aikman fared little better, hitting on 19-of-27 passes for 207 yards and an interception.
Still, buoyed by 132 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns from Emmitt Smith, the Cowboys won their second-straight Super Bowl and dealt Buffalo their fourth Super Bowl loss in a row.
Eli Manning versus Tom Brady
Look away New England Patriots fans.
Four years after Eli Manning and the New York Giants stunned the Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII, denying New England and Tom Brady their dreams of an unblemished 19-0 season, those two teams and quarterbacks met again in Super Bowl XLVI.
Once again it was Manning and the Giants who emerged on top, winning by a final score of 21-17. Brady completed 27-of-41 passes for 276 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and an interception in the loss, while Manning connected on 30-of-40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown for the Giants.
Patrick Mahomes versus Jalen Hurts
Two seasons ago, the Chiefs and the Eagles met in Super Bowl LVII, and while the Chiefs came out on top, had the game ended differently it might have been Hurts who walked away with MVP honors. The Eagles quarterback completed 27-of-38 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown, while adding another three rushing touchdowns on the ground.
Still, it was not enough as the Chiefs won on a field goal from Harrison Butker with just seconds left on the clock. Mahomes secured MVP honors after throwing for three touchdown passes, two of those coming in the fourth quarter.
As for the rematch? We will have to wait and see. But if Hurts and the Eagles come out on top, it will mark the first time in NFL history that a Super Bowl featuring a rematch of starting quarterbacks was won by the QB whose team lost in the first meeting.
