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A HISTORY OF HIRED GUNS

 
Published Feb. 1, 2004|Updated Aug. 27, 2005

SUPER BOWL GREEN HORNS

JAKE DELHOMME is the sixth quarterback to play in a Super Bowl for a team he did not start for the season before:

JEFF HOSTETLER (1990-91) N.Y. Giants, SB XXV, W, 20-19. Hostelter was a backup to Phil Simms for five years. When Simms was injured late in the season, Hostetler stepped in, won three playoff games and completed 20 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

KURT WARNER (1999-2000) St. Louis Rams, SB XXXIV, W, 23-16. Warner, a former grocery store employee, was an Arena League star who took over the Rams offense when starter Trent Green was injured in the '99 preseason. Six months later, he was named Super Bowl MVP after throwing for 414 yards and two TDs.

TRENT DILFER (2000-01) Baltimore Ravens, SB XXXV, W, 34-7. Dilfer, a former Buccaneer, signed with the Ravens and took over for an ineffective Tony Banks at midseason. He was efficient if nothing else, winning four playoff games and throwing for 153 yards and a TD in the Super Bowl.

KERRY COLLINS (2000-01) N.Y. Giants, SB XXXV, L, 7-34. Collins signed with the Giants in '99, but lost a preseason battle to Kent Graham. He won the job in 2000, won the division title, then led the Giants to two playoff wins before throwing four INTs in the Super Bowl.

TOM BRADY (2001-02) New England Patriots, SB XXXVI, W, 20-17. Brady was a backup to Drew Bledsoe as a rookie in 2000. After a Bledsoe injury, he started the final 14 regular season games, winning the division title. He was named the Super Bowl MVP after throwing for 145 yards and a touchdown.

SIX-GUN TERRITORY

Five best performances

1. Steve Young (Jan. 29, 1995; 49ers 49, Chargers 26) - Young was 24-of-36 for 325 yards and 6 TDs.

2. Joe Montana (Jan. 28, 1990; 49ers 55, Broncos 10) - Montana was 22-of-29 for 297 yards and 5 TDs.

3. Terry Bradshaw (Jan. 21, 1979; Steelers 35, Cowboys 31) - Bradshaw was 17-of-30, 318 yards and 4 TDs.

4. Doug Williams (Jan. 31, 1988; Redskins 42, Broncos 10) - Williams was 18-of-29, 340 yards and 4 TDs.

5. Troy Aikman (Jan. 31, 1993; Cowboys 52, Bills 17) - Aikman was 22-of-30, 273 yards and 4 TDs.

Five worst performances

1. Craig Morton (Jan. 15, 1978; Cowboys 27, Broncos 10) - Morton completed 4-of-15 passes for 39 yards with no TDs and four picks.

2. Rich Gannon (Jan. 26, 2003; Bucs 48, Raiders 21) - Gannon was 24-of-44 for 272 yards with 2 TDs, but threw five interceptions, three returned for touchdowns.

3. Kerry Collins (Jan. 28, 2001; Ravens 34, Giants 7) - Collins was 15-of-39 for 112 yards and four interceptions.

4. Jim Kelly (Jan. 26, 1992; Redskins 37, Bills 24) - despite 58 attempts, Kelly had only 28 completions and was picked off four times.

5. Drew Bledsoe (Jan. 26, 1997; Packers 35, Patriots 21) - Bledsoe was 25-of-48 for 253 yards, was sacked five times and threw four interceptions.

Best career QB rating

(minimum 40 attempts)

127.8 - Joe Montana (4 games)

122.8 - Jim Plunkett (2 games)

112.8 - Terry Bradshaw (4 games)

Most passes attempted (Game)

58 - Jim Kelly (Jan. 26, 1992 vs Redskins)

50 - Dan Marino (Jan. 20, 1985 vs 49ers)

50 - Jim Kelly (Jan. 31, 1993 vs Cowboys)

Highest completion percentage (Game)

88.0 - Phil Simms (22-of-25, vs Broncos, Jan. 25, 1987)

75.9 - Joe Montana (22-of-29, vs Broncos, Jan. 28, 1990)

73.5 - Ken Anderson (25-of-34, vs 49ers, Jan. 24, 1982)

Passing yards (Game)

414 - Kurt Warner (vs Titans, Jan. 30, 2000)

365 - Kurt Warner (vs Patriots, Feb. 3, 2002)

357 - Joe Montana (vs Bengals, Jan. 22, 1989)

Five oldest QBs to start super bowl

John Elway (Broncos, 1999), 38

Johnny Unitas (Colts, 1971), 37

John Elway (Broncos, 1998), 37

Rich Gannon (Raiders, 2003), 37

Roger Staubach (Cowboys, 1979), 36

Longest pass completions (yards)

81 - Brett Favre to Antonio Freeman (vs Patriots, Jan. 26, 1997)

80 - Jim Plunkett to Kenny King (vs Eagles, Jan. 25, 1981)

80 - Doug Williams to Ricky Sanders (vs Broncos, Jan. 31, 1988)

80 - John Elway to Rod Smith (vs Falcons, Jan. 31, 1999)

Most passing TDs (Game)

6 - Steve Young (vs Chargers, Jan. 29, 1995)

5 - Joe Montana (vs Broncos, Jan. 28, 1990)

4 - Terry Bradshaw (vs Cowboys, Jan. 21, 1979)

4 - Doug Williams (vs Redskins, Jan. 31, 1988)

4 - Troy Aikman (vs Bills, Jan. 31, 1993)

Most interceptions (Game)

5 - Rich Gannon (vs Bucs, Jan. 26, 2003)

4 - Craig Morton (vs Cowboys, Jan. 15, 1978)

4 - Jim Kelly (vs Redskins, Jan. 26, 1992)

4 - Drew Bledsoe (vs Packers, Jan. 26, 1997)

4 - Kerry Collins (vs Ravens, Jan. 28, 2001)

Most rushing TDs by a Super Bowl QB

4 - John Elway

2 - Jim McMahon

2 - Joe Montana

Most rushing yards by a Super Bowl QB

64 - Steve McNair, Tennessee vs. St. Louis, 2000

59 - Joe Montana, San Francisco vs. Miami, 1985

49 - Steve Young, San Francisco vs. San Diego, 1995

37 - Roger Staubach, Dallas vs. Pittsburgh, 1979

33 - Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota, 1975

Five youngest QBs to start Super Bowl

Dan Marino (Dolphons, 1985), 23

David Woodley (Dolphins, 1983), 24

Tom Brady (Pariots, 2002), 24

Drew Bledsoe (Patriots, 1997), 24

Joe Namath (Jets, 1969), 25

Ex-Bucs quarterbacks in the Super Bowl

Steve Young - MVP, led the 49ers to a 49-26 win over the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX, in Miami on Jan. 29, 1995.

Doug Williams - MVP, led the Redskins to a 42-10 win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XXII, in San Diego on Jan. 31, 1988.

Trent Dilfer - led the Ravens to a 34-7 win over the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa on Jan. 28, 2001.

Chris Chandler - was 19-of-35 for 219 yards and one TD in a 34-19 loss to the Broncos on Jan. 31, 1999.

Five biggest QBs

Kerry Collins (Giants) - 6-5, 248 pounds.

Drew Bledsoe (Patriots) - 6-5, 235 pounds.

Brad Johnson (Bucs) - 6-5, 230 pounds.

Tom Brady (Patriots) - 6-4, 225 pounds.

Doug Williams (Redskins) - 6-4, 215 pounds.

Five smallest QBs

Fran Tarkenton (Vikings) - 6-foot, 185 pounds.

Roger Staubach (Cowboys) - 6-0, 165 pounds.

Joe Theisman (Redskins) - 6-0, 183 pounds.

Bob Griese (Dolphins) - 6-1, 190 pounds.

Johnny Unitas (Baltimore Colts) - 6-1, 196 pounds.

Records of QBs who wore No.12

Tom Brady (Patriots) - 1-0

Bob Griese (Dolphins) - 2-0

Terry Bradshaw (Steelers) - 4-0

Roger Staubach (Cowboys) - 2-2

Joe Namath (Jets) - 1-0

Jim Kelly (Bills) - 0-4

Kenny Stabler (Raiders) - 1-0

Stan Humphries (Chargers) - 0-1

Chris Chandler (Falcons) - 0-1

Rich Gannon (Raiders) - 0-1

- Compiled by Roger Mills and Tim Sullivan using information from the NFL Record Book and the Elias Sports Bureau.