|
The cynical among us warn that hitching your wagon to a 36-year-old quarterback with a history of neck problems is risky business. For Broncos team executive John Elway,Alameda Taamu Chiefs Jersey, an older, wiser Peyton Manning feels very comfortable. That's because Elway won his first Super Bowl at 37. He was 38 and the oldest quarterback in NFL history to win a title when the Broncos dominated Super Bowl XXXIII. Tom DiPace / Associated Press John Elway went out on top as a repeat champion at the age of 38 following the Broncos' victory in Super Bowl XXXIII. Oldest Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Season Super Bowl Player Team Age 1998 XXXIII John Elway Broncos 38 1970 V Johnny Unitas* Colts 37 1997 XXXII John Elway Broncos 37 1983 XVIII Jim Plunkett Raiders 36 1977 XII Roger Staubach Cowboys 35 1967 II Bart Starr Packers 34 1969 IV Len Dawson Chiefs 34 2002 XXXVIII Brad Johnson Buccaneers 34 1966 I Bart Starr Packers 33 1980 XV Jim Plunkett Raiders 33 1982 XVII Joe Theismann Redskins 33 1989 XXIV Joe Montana 49ers 33 1994 XXIX Steve Young 49ers 33 * Unitas was relieved by Earl Morrall (who was 36) In Elway's eyes, Manning has just begun his feel-good swan song -- but history is not a friend,Andre Ellington Cardinals Jersey, even for a player as special as Peyton. The average age of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks is 29.9,Custom Panthers Jersey, and only three starting passers have won a title after 35. Every one of them are legendary names. Let's take a gander: 1. John Unitas was 37 when the Baltimore Colts won Super Bowl V over the Cowboys. Unitas was injured mid-game and relieved by Earl Morrall,Alfonzo Dennard Patriots Jersey, who pushed the Colts through an error-filled affair (both teams combined for nine turnovers). Morrall himself was 36, a warrior/wanderer who played 21 seasons for six teams. 2. Jim Plunkett was 33 when he replaced Dan Pastorini during the 1980 season and led the Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XV. Three years later, a 36-year-old Plunkett came off the bench -- this time replacing Mark Wilson -- to win Super Bowl XVII (with a bow to Marcus Allen). 3. Roger Staubach nearly earned membership to this club, winning a second Super Bowl title with the Cowboys at 35, just days before turning 36. The following season, he lost Super Bowl XIII. 4. Elway took a beating in Super Bowls XXI,Andrus Peat Saints Jersey, XXII and XXIV -- when he was 26,Akeem Ayers Rams Jersey, 27 and 29 -- but returned at a wise, old 37 years to beat Brett Favre and the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. Elway never blew you away with the box score. He was 12-for-22 against the Packers, but what's etched in the mind is Elway's gritty,Cheap Jerseys, third-down run -- complete with helicopter spin -- that continued Denver's game-winning drive in heroic fashion. One year later,Chris Baker Redskins Jersey, against the Falcons, Elway sizzled, throwing for 336 yards in his final NFL performance. Elwayâs career arc illuminates a point that Tim Kawakami of Bay Area News Group raised earlier this month: Quarterbacks win Super Bowls early in their career or late, but not both. Manning,Cheap NFL Jerseys, if anyone, is the quarterback to buck the trend -- having won his first at age 30 -- but it's not a given he'll get back to the show. History says this will be a challenge. |
|