What makes a memorable Super Bowl performance? Is it a bevy of passing yards? Is it a tight, defensive affair highlighted by a key interception? What about a spectacular catch in the back of the endzone?

Many NFL fans would answer in a very 2024 fashion yards: the quarterback with the most passing yards. In this Betway Insider top 10, we’ll explore the QBs with the most passing yards in a single Super Bowl game.

All stats are courtesy of Statmuse.com and updated through the end of the 2023 playoffs.

Who holds the record for most points passing yards in a Super Bowl?

Tom Brady has the record for the most passing yards in a Super Bowl with 505.

What are the most Patrick Mahomes Super Bowl passing yards? 333 against the 49ers in 2024.

Top 10 Passing yards in a Super Bowl game

  1. Doug Williams, Super Bowl XXII (1988)

Yards: 340

Between 1983 and 1986, former Washington QB Doug Williams did not start an NFL game. This would be normal in most circumstances, but not for Williams: he was the 17th pick in the 1978 NFL Draft.

An injury to Washington's starter towards the end of the 1987 season saw Williams inserted as the starter with two games left. He won them both, then the NFC Division and NFC Championship games, setting up a date with QB John Elway and the Broncos.

Williams left no doubt who was the best QB on the day: he went 18/29 with 340 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 42-10 rout. The highlight was his own Super Bowl quarterback record: an 80-yard touchdown pass to WR Ricky Sanders. Williams was named the game’s MVP.

  1. Tom Brady, Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004)

Yards: 354

Super Bowl XXXVIII was QB Tom Brady’s second Super Bowl title. The New England quarterback was good but still not elite; at 26 years old, he was fresh off a regular season where he threw for 3,620 yards with a 23-12 TD-INT ratio.

In the playoffs, Brady was a different animal. The Patriots faced an upstart Panthers team led by QB Jake Delhomme, who would throw for 323 yards and three scores in the contest but was upstaged by Brady, who threw for 354 yards and three scores.

With the game tied at 29, Brady led the Patriots on a game-winning drive that ended in a game-winning 41-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri. WR Deion Branch was named the game’s MVP.

7(tie). Joe Montana, Super Bowl XXIII (1989)

Yards: 357

The San Francisco 49ers offense only mustered 20 points against a stingy Cincinnati Bengals defense during Super Bowl XXIII. Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana had his best-ever title game performance, slinging 357 passing yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to WR John Taylor with 34 seconds left.

Montana didn’t win MVP on the day: WR Jerry Rice did. San Fran’s other generational talent set a Super Bowl record with a stunning 215 receiving yards to take home the award.

The honor for the most passing touchdowns in a Super Bowl actually goes to Montana’s former teammate, as QB Steve Young threw six in 1995.

7 (tie). Donovan McNabb, Super Bowl XXIX (2005)

Yards: 357

Former Eagles QB Donovan McNabb is the first player to appear on this list in a losing effort. Part of that falls on Philadelphia’s quarterbacks’ shoulders: in addition to his 357 passing yards and three touchdowns, he also threw three interceptions.

Philadelphia lost a cagey affair to New England 24-21, solidifying the Patriots dynasty. McNabb is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history never to win a Super Bowl. The 6x Pro Bowler started 5 NFC Championships but still doesn’t have a ring.

  1. Kurt Warner, Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)

Yards: 365

Super Bowl XXXVI is rarely referred to as the “Kurt Warner Game” -- instead, many know it as QB Tom Brady’s “welcome to superstardom” moment.

Warner’s St. Louis Rams dominated Brady’s New England Patriots, outgaining them by an astounding tally in a losing effort: 427-267. Warner also generally outdueled Brady, finishing with 365 passing yards to Brady’s 145.

However, two Warner interceptions (including a pick-6 by CB Ty Law) allowed New England to hang in the game. With the score tied at 17-17, Brady led the Patriots on a game-winning drive to end Warner’s day.

  1. Nick Foles, Super Bowl LII (2018)

Yards: 373

Former Eagles QB Nick Foles may be the most unlikely name to appear on this list. The Philadelphia backup stepped into the starting role late in the season when MVP-favorite Carson Wentz went down with an injury. Foles struggled in the regular season and in the Eagles’ NFC Divisional round victory against the Falcons.

Foles exploded for 352 yards and three touchdowns in an NFC Championship rout of the Minnesota Vikings, setting the stage for a special Super Bowl. In a game where Hall of Famer Tom Brady was absolutely on one (keep reading), Foles matched him stride-for-stride.

Not only did Foles throw for 373 yards and three touchdowns, he also CAUGHT a touchdown pass (Philly-Philly). Talk about a true Super Bowl MVP.

  1. Kurt Warner, Super Bowl XLIII (2009)

Yards: 377

This is Kurt Warner’s second inclusion of this list…and both so far have come in losing efforts (emphasis on the “so far”). Now a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Warner guided an unlikely 9-7 squad to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

A good chunk of Warner’s 377-yard game came on a stunning 64-yard fourth-quarter catch-and-run by Hall of Fame WR Larry Fitzgerald, giving Arizona a 23-20 lead with 2:37 left. The Cardinals defense couldn’t hold and a stunning catch by WR Santonio Holmes ended Arizona’s Super Bowl dream.

  1. Kurt Warner, Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)

Yards: 414

Funny enough, Rams QB Kurt Warner almost didn’t win this game either. As time expired, Rams LB Mike Jones made “The Tackle” on Titans WR Kevin Dyson to preserve a Rams victory.

Warner’s Rams should’ve never been in that position in the first place: the quarterback was having a clinic against a strong Tennessee defense. Hall of Fame-caliber receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce (get him in the hall!!) both had 100+ receiving yards as Warner threw for 414 overall.

Warner falls just short of the Super Bowl passing yards record, though.

  1. Tom Brady, Super Bowl LI (2017)

Yards: 466

This is the “28-3” game, meaning that the majority of QB Tom Brady’s 466 yards came in the second half…and overtime. A series of Patriots’ miscues and timely QB Matt Ryan throws had the Atlanta Falcons in front of New England 28-3 midway through the third quarter.

Brady led the comeback with a ragtag receiving unit: RB James White, WR Danny Amendola, WR Malcolm Mitchell, WR Julian Edelman, TE Martellus Bennett, and WR Chris Hogan. All of them had at least four catches and 50+ receiving yards as Brady & co completed the miraculous turnaround.

  1. Tom Brady, Super Bowl LII (2018)

Yards: 505

Who was the Super Bowl record for passing yards? Who else but Tom Brady, who threw for a staggering 505 yards in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles!

In one of the wildest games in Super Bowl history, Brady’s Patriots lost a 41-33 shootout to QB Nick Foles and the Eagles.

What are Tom Brady’s average passing yards in Super Bowls? A shocking 303.3 yards/game.

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