Every NFL player’s goal is to win a Super Bowl.
Some players go their entire career and never get close. Others are lucky enough to make it as rookies. And some rookies even have a major impact on the game, posting records that still stand long after their career ends.
We ranked 10 of the best performances by a rookie in Super Bowl history, some of whom went on to have good or great careers while others faded away into anonymity.
Our methodology was largely based on stats, using ESPN Research to identify rookies with extraordinary contributions in the Super Bowl. Because the evaluations were stats-based, the list is heavy with offensive skill-position players.
Let’s start with a player whose Super Bowl record stands nearly 40 years later.
COUNTDOWN TO SUPER BOWL LXI: ESPN will televise the Super Bowl for the first time in February. We are counting down to the big game with a Super Bowl Top 10 seriesfeaturing rankings on everything from best catches and performances to biggest upsets, which will run every other Sunday leading up to Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, 2027.
1. Washington RB Timmy Smith in Super Bowl XXII
When: Jan. 31, 1988
Drafted: 1987 fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech
Smith ran for 204 yards on 22 carries in Washington’s 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. That total still stands as the most rushing yards by a player (not just a rookie) in a Super Bowl.
Smith had more rushing yards in that game than he did in the regular season (126) and nearly as many carries. He had two touchdown runs — 58 yards in the second quarter and 4 yards in the fourth quarter — twice as many as he had in the regular season. Smith was thrust into a bigger role in the playoffs because of injuries to starter George Rogers and the ineffective play of Kelvin Bryant, and he ran for 66 yards against the Chicago Bears in the divisional round and 72 yards against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game.
Smith was unable to recapture his Super Bowl success, playing in only 15 more games in his NFL career.
When: Feb. 9, 2025
Drafted: 2024 28th-overall pick out of Texas
Worthy set a Super Bowl rookie record with 157 receiving yards in the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome. Former Seahawks WR Chris Matthews previously held the record with 109 yards in Super Bowl XLIX.
Two of Worthy’s eight catches against the Eagles were for touchdowns, but they came with the game already out of hand as the Chiefs’ offense, led by Patrick Mahomesstruggled in the campaign for a three-peat. Worthy’s first touchdown (a 24-yarder) came with 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter and the Eagles already leading 34-0. He also caught a 50-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 remaining.
Worthy’s performance in this Super Bowl is still his career best in receiving yards. His next-highest receiving total of 85 yards came in the AFC Championship Game that season.
3. San Diego Chargers KR Andre Coleman in Super Bowl XXIX
When: Jan. 29, 1995
Drafted: 1994 third-round pick out of Kansas State
Coleman dazzled as a rookie special-teamer in the Super Bowl, returning eight kickoffs for 244 yards — including a 98-yard touchdown — in the Chargers’ 49-26 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.
In this game, Coleman set the records for the most kickoff returns in a Super Bowl (eight), the most yards gained off a kickoff in a Super Bowl (244) and the longest kickoff return (98 yards; Jacoby Jones now holds this record with 108 in Super Bowl XLVII).
Coleman retired from the NFL in 1998 and later became a college and NFL assistant coach.
When: Jan. 31, 1999
Drafted: 1998 fourth-round pick out of Iowa
Dwight totaled 215 all-purpose yards in the Falcons’ 34-19 loss to the Broncos at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. All but five of those yards came on kickoff returns, which included a 94-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter with the Broncos ahead 31-6.
Dwight, who had one catch on offense for 5 yards, had nearly as many all-purpose yards as Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler had passing yards (219).
His 10-year NFL career ended in 2007. He still holds the Super Bowl career record for highest average kickoff yardage (42.0).
When: Feb. 4, 2007
Drafted: 2006 30th-overall pick out of LSU
Addai put up 143 yards from scrimmage in the Colts’ 29-17 victory over the Bears at Dolphins Stadium in Miami. He rushed for 77 yards on 19 carries and caught 10 passes for 66 yards — touching the ball more than any other offensive player in the game except Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
It was a performance a season in the making.
The Colts’ starting running back in 2006 was Dominic Rhodes. However, Addai became the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards without starting a regular-season game. He helped the Colts get to the Super Bowl with a go-ahead 3-yard rushing touchdown with 1:00 remaining in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
Addai spent his entire six-year NFL career with the Colts. His 10 receptions remain the most catches by a rookie in Super Bowl history.
6. St. Louis Rams WR Torry Holt in Super Bowl XXXIV
When: Jan. 30, 2000
Drafted: 1999 sixth-overall pick out of NC State
Holt was a major part of the Rams’ ”Greatest Show on Turf” as a rookie, catching 52 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season.
In the Super Bowl, he caught a game-high seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Holt scored the game’s first touchdown on a 9-yard pass midway through the third quarter, which put the Rams ahead 16-0.
Holt would go on to lead the NFL in receiving twice and earn a spot in the NFL’s All-2000s team.
When: Feb. 1, 2015
Drafted: Undrafted free agent out of Kentucky
Matthews’ first career reception came in the Super Bowl against the Patriots at the University of Phoenix Stadium. He had four catches for 109 yards and a touchdown — his 11-yard catch with two seconds remaining in the first half tied the score at 14-14. The Patriots won 28-24, however, due to Malcom Butler’s interception of Russell Wilson at the goal line.
Matthews signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2011, but he never played a game before heading to the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League in 2012 and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 2013. To start the 2014 season, he was on the Seahawks’ practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in December. Matthews played in three games in the regular season, but he didn’t record a catch. In the NFC Championship Game, he recovered an onside kick to help beat the Green Bay Packers in overtime.
After the Super Bowl, Matthews went on to play in 19 more games in his NFL career with the Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens.
8. New England Patriots CB Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl XLIX
When: Feb. 1, 2015
Drafted: Undrafted free agent out of West Alabama (Division II)
What a great segue. Butler’s first career interception with 20 seconds remaining sealed the Patriots’ 28-24 victory over the Seahawks at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Butler played in 11 games (with one start) as a rookie. But the Patriots ran him onto the field when the Seahawks faced a second-and-goal from the New England 1-yard line with 26 seconds remaining. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson tried to hit receiver Ricardo Lockette with a quick pass, but Butler jumped the route and intercepted the pass.
Butler went on to become a starting cornerback for the Patriots and the Titans before officially retiring in 2024.
9. New England Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi in Super Bowl XXXI
When: Jan. 26, 1997
Drafted: 1996 third-round pick out of Arizona
Bruschi was a full-time starter as a rookie and recorded two sacks and three tackles in the Patriots’ 35-21 Super Bowl loss to the Packers at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. He sacked Packers QB Brett Favre for a 2-yard loss on a third-and-5 play from the Green Bay 31-yard line in the first quarter with the Packers leading 14-10. Bruschi dropped Favre again on a third-and-2 play with 2:18 remaining and the Packers ahead 35-21.
Bruschi went on to play in four more Super Bowls with the Patriots, winning three rings.
When: Feb. 7, 2021
Drafted: 2020 second-round pick out of Minnesota
Winfield made six tackles, broke up two passes and intercepted a pass in the Buccaneers’ 31-9 victory over the Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay. Winfield, who had one interception during the regular season, picked off Mahomes’ deep pass to Tyreek Hill in the third quarter. Buccaneers kicker Ryan Succop then scored a 52-yard field goal for the final points of the game with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter.
Honorable mentions
Eagles DE Derek Barnett in Super Bowl LII. Barnett recovered Tom Brady’s fumble (forced by DE Brandon Graham) at the New England Patriots‘ 31-yard line, which led to Jake Elliott‘s 46-yard field goal with 1:10 to play in the Eagles’ 41-33 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Bengals WR Cris Collinsworth in Super Bowl XVI. Collinsworth caught five passes for 107 yards, including a 49-yarder, in the Bengals’ 26-21 loss to San Francisco at the Pontiac Silverdome.
Eagles DB Cooper DeJean in Super Bowl LIX. DeJean returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown in the Eagles’ 40-22 victory over Kansas City at Caesars Superdome.
Ravens RB Jamal Lewis in Super Bowl XXXV. Lewis ran for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens’ 34-7 victory over the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium.
Patriots RB Sony Michel in Super Bowl LIII. Michel ran for 94 yards and scored the game’s only touchdown in the Patriots’ 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Cowboys DT Randy White in Super Bowl X. White had two sacks in the Cowboys’ 21-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Orange Bowl.
49ers DB Eric Wright in Super Bowl XVI. Wright had an interception, forced fumble and three tackles in the 49ers’ 26-21 victory over Cincinnati Bengals at the Pontiac Silverdome.
Buccaneers OT Tristan Wirfs in Super Bowl LV. Wirfs is the highest-graded rookie in a Super Bowl in the Pro Football Focus era (since 2004). He posted 91.7 overall grade in the Bucs’ 31-9 victory over Kansas City at Raymond James Stadium.
Source: www.espn.com
