The Greatest Individual FCS Performances In Super Bowl History

We take a look at the greatest performances by former FCS football players in Super Bowl history, including MVP performances by Jerry Rice and Kurt Warner

Timothy Rosario | Feb 9, 2024

The Greatest Individual FCS Performances In Super Bowl History /

Former FCS players have consistently delivered on the biggest stage and thrived when the lights are the brightest. Multiple former FCS stars have shined in the Super Bowl, including six players being named the Super Bowl MVP.

Ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, which will feature 14 former FCS players, we take a look back at some of the best performances by FCS players in Super Bowl history. Below are some players who received honorable mentions for their career accomplishments in the Super Bowl.

Florida A&M’s Nate Newton helped lead the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories (XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX). Newton earned first-team All-MEAC honors in 1980 and was a six-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. Newton paved the way for Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith and was an integral part of one of the best offensive line units in NFL history.

Southern defensive back Aeneas Williams played a massive role in the Los Angeles Rams holding the New England Patriots and Tom Brady to only 145 passing yards in Super Bowl XXXVI. The eight-time Pro Bowler finished the game with eight total tackles. Williams was a two-time All-SWAC selection at Southern and recorded a record-setting 11 interceptions during the 1990 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Texas Southern defensive lineman Michael Strahan earns an honorable mention due to his impact beyond the box score. Strahan and the New York Giants defense played a massive role against the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Giants held the record-setting New England offense to only 14 points, while Strahan recorded two total tackles and one sack. Michael Strahan earned first-team All-SWAC honors in 1992 and set the school record with 41.5 career sacks. Strahan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

NOTE: Adam Vinatieri (South Dakota State) and Doug Williams (Grambling State) finished their college careers before their programs officially joined the FCS.

Adam Vinatieri finished his career as a four-time Super Bowl champion, but his signature performance came in Super Bowl XXXVI against the Rams. He hit a 48-yard game-winning field goal to give the New England Patriots the first Super Bowl win in franchise history. He scored 34 total points and made 7-of-10 field goal attempts in his five Super Bowl appearances. Vinatieri finished his career at South Dakota State as the school's all-time leading scorer with 185 career points.

Doug Williams became the first-ever African American quarterback to start in the Super Bowl as the Washington Redskins faced the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII. He had root canal surgery the day before the game and still had one of the best all-time performances in Super Bowl history. Williams finished the game with 340 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in the first half as the Redskins dominated the Broncos in a 42-10 blowout victory. In his senior season, Williams would throw for 3,286 yards and 38 touchdowns and finish 4th in Heisman Trophy voting at Grambling State.

Below are the best performances by former FCS players in Super Bowl history.

Robert Alford (Southeastern Louisiana)

The 28-point comeback win by the New England Patriots will define Super Bowl LI, but Robert Alford was the star of the Falcons defense on the biggest stage. He recorded 11 total tackles, three pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble. His 82-yard interception return for a touchdown is the second-longest in Super Bowl history.

Alford made history as the first former Southeastern Louisiana player to play in the Super Bowl. He earned consensus FCS All-American honors and was named the CSJ FCS Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.

Steve McNair (Alcorn State)

Steve McNair led the Tennessee Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV against the St. Louis Rams. McNair finished the game with 214 passing yards and 64 rushing yards, which set the record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback until 23 years later (Jalen Hurts). McNair led the Titans back from a 16-0 second-half deficit, including an 87-yard drive with less than two minutes left in the game. McNair's 16-yard pass to Kevin Dyson was one yard short of tying the game as time expired.

At Alcorn State, McNair was a four-time SWAC Offensive Player of the Year and set over a dozen records at the FCS level, including the career record for total offensive yards (17,305). He won the Walter Payton Award and finished 3rd in Heisman Trophy voting after his historic 1994 season.

Terrell Owens (Chattanooga)

Terrell Owens had one of the most impressive performances in Super Bowl history for a wide receiver against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Owens finished the game with nine receptions for 122 receiving yards, but his ability to play after having surgery in December to repair a fractured fibula made his performance even more impressive.

Over his four seasons at Chattanooga, Owens recorded 2,320 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns for the Mocs. He still ranks second in program history for receptions (144) and receiving yards.

Richard Dent (Tennessee State)

Richard Dent made history as he became one of only 10 defensive players in Super Bowl history to be named Super Bowl MVP. Dent was named the MVP of Super Bowl XX after recording five total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in a 46-10 win over the New England Patriots. He led the NFL in sacks that season, while also being a major piece to one of the best defenses in NFL history. The Bears held New England to only seven rushing yards and finished the game with seven sacks.

Dent was a two-time All-American at Tennessee State and finished his college career with 39.5 career sacks for the Tigers. He was the first HBCU alum to be named Super Bowl MVP and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011.

Rodney Harrison (Western Illinois)

Rodney Harrison had one of the most underrated Super Bowl performances against the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. Harrison recorded seven total tackles, one sack, and two interceptions including the game-winning interception on the final drive of the game. Harrison had a strong argument for Super Bowl MVP, which was awarded to Deion Branch, but missed an entire quarter with an injury.

Harrison played three seasons at Western Illinois and earned All-American honors in back-to-back seasons. He finished his career as the program's all-time leader in tackles (345) and set the single-game record with 28 tackles.

Joe Flacco (Delaware)

Former Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco led the Ravens on a historic playoff run in 2012. Flacco and the Ravens defeated the Denver Broncos, led by Peyton Manning, and the New England Patriots, led by Tom Brady, in consecutive road games to make Super Bowl XLVII. He would lead the Ravens to a 34-31 victory, in which he finished the game with 287 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Flacco completed an epic postseason run and was named Super Bowl MVP after his impressive performance.

Flacco set several school records at Delaware and was named the CAA Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Blue Hens to the 2007 FCS National Championship game. In only two seasons, he recorded 7,057 passing yards and 41 passing touchdowns.

Phil Simms (Morehead State)

Phil Simms had one of the most efficient games in Super Bowl history as he led the Giants to a 39-20 win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XXI. Simms completed 22-of-25 (88.0%) attempts for 268 passing yards and three passing touchdowns as he was named the MVP of the game. His 88.0% completion percentage is still a Super Bowl record 37 years later.

Simms finished his career at Morehead State with a school-record 5,545 passing yards. He earned second-team All-OVC honors as a senior and was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft.

Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington)

Cooper Kupp became the sixth former FCS player to be named Super Bowl MVP with his performance in Super Bowl LVI against the Bengals. Kupp led the Rams with eight receptions for 92 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. He scored the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining and was only the eighth receiver to be named MVP of the Super Bowl.

Kupp had a legendary career at Eastern Washington, earning FCS All-American honors in four consecutive seasons. He was also named the ADA FCS National Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, while also being named the Jerry Rice Award winner as a freshman. Kupp recorded over 6,400 receiving yards and 73 receiving touchdowns in only 52 career games.

Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State)

Jerry Rice had three of the best performances in Super Bowl history, including being named the MVP of Super Bowl XXIII. Rice had a record-setting performance with 11 receptions for 215 receiving yards in San Francisco's 20-16 win over the Bengals. He is also the only player in Super Bowl history with three receiving touchdowns. He recorded 33 receptions for 589 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his four Super Bowl appearances.

Rice was a two-time first-team All-American at Mississippi Valley State. He set Division I-AA records with 1,845 receiving yards, 112 receptions, and 27 touchdowns in his senior season. He finished 9th in Heisman Trophy voting in 1984.

Kurt Warner (Northern Iowa)

Kurt Warner led the St. Louis Rams to Super Bowl XXXIV against the Tennessee Titans. Warner set the Super Bowl record with 414 passing yards, which stood until Tom Brady broke the record in 2017. He finished the game with two passing touchdowns, including the game-winning 73-yard pass to wide receiver Isaac Bruce with less than two minutes remaining. He was named Super Bowl MVP after his historic performance. In his three career Super Bowl appearances, Warner recorded 1,156 passing yards and six passing touchdowns.

Warner had an inspirational journey to the NFL after starting only one season at Northern Iowa. He was named the Gateway Offensive Player of the Year after finishing the season with 2,747 passing yards and 17 passing touchdowns.

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Published Feb 9, 2024

TIMOTHY ROSARIO