The best rookie performances in Super Bowl history

The Super Bowl has seen a handful of rookie kick returners make an impact. These three each scored a touchdown in their respective outings, only all three did so when their teams were hopelessly behind. Dwight gave the Falcons their first TD in Super Bowl XXXIII, but the Broncos were up by four scores at that point. The Ravens were on their way to shutting out the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, but Dixon prevented it via his third-quarter dash. Jermaine Lewis overshadowed it by returning the ensuing kickoff for a Baltimore TD. As for Coleman, he returned eight kickoffs for a Super Bowl-record 244 yards. The Chargers rookie broke loose on the seventh return, but this only narrowed San Diego's deficit to 42-16. 

A forgotten performance from an oft-overlooked Super Bowl. Zombo settled into a backup role for much of his nine-year career and was not active for any of the Packers' other 2010 playoff games, but he started in place of the injured Erik Walden opposite Clay Matthews against the Steelers. Zombo finished with five tackles (two for loss) and notched a critical sack of Ben Roethlisberger. The undrafted free agent dropping Big Ben on a third-quarter third down led to the Steelers trying a 52-yard field goal, which Shaun Suisham missed. That became rather key in a six-point Packers win. 

Phillips went on to be a part-time starter for the 1986 and '87 Bears defenses -- formidable units but groups that lack the prestige of 1985's storied crew -- but his most notable play came as a backup in the franchise's finest hour. A Steve Grogan sideline pass ricocheted off tight end Derrick Ramsey and into Phillips' arms. The SMU alum sprinted for a 28-yard pick-six, giving the Bears a 37-3 lead in the third quarter. This marked the '85 Bears' third defensive touchdown of the playoffs, which Chicago finished with a 91-10 margin of victory.

Of the Broncos' three blowout Super Bowl losses in the 1980s, the middle one presented a clear peak for the John Elway-dependent teams. The Broncos scored on their first play from scrimmage in Super Bowl XXII, with Elway rocketing a pass to Nattiel for a 56-yard touchdown to give the favorites a 7-0 lead. The youngest member of Elway's "Three Amigos" receiving corps of the late '80s and early '90s, Nattiel arrived in Denver as a first-round pick. The speedster beat Washington cornerback Barry Wilburn, an All-Pro that season, on the bomb. While Denver amassed a 10-0 lead, Washington won 42-10.

Blair went on to become one of the best defenders in Vikings history, but in 1974, he was working mostly as a backup. Playing behind older Minnesota linebackers, the second-round pick gave the Vikes a lifeline by blocking a Steelers punt and watching Terry Brown recover the ball for a touchdown. Blair darted through the left side of Pittsburgh's protection to block Bobby Walden's punt near the Steelers' goal line, and Brown's recovery cut Minnesota's deficit to 9-6 early in the fourth quarter. With the Steel Curtain amid a breakthrough performance, Blair's block represented the Vikings' only points in their third Super Bowl loss. 

Safety represented the weak point for the 49ers defense, but Brown was up for his first big-stage opportunity. The 49ers turned to the third-round pick during a season in which they lost All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga. Veteran Logan Ryan signed midseason, but Brown led San Francisco safeties in snaps against the Chiefs. The Penn State alum did so after missing three late-season games due to injury. Brown intercepted a third-quarter pass -- Patrick Mahomes' first playoff pick since the 2021 AFC championship game -- and made 11 tackles in the longest Super Bowl to date. 

A future mainstay in the blander uniforms associated with the Patriots, Bruschi got in a Super Bowl in flashier threads as a rookie. Bill Parcells did not deploy the future standout as a starter, rolling out a Chris Slade-Ted Johnson-Todd Collins linebacker trio, but Bruschi did damage as an off-the-bench sparkplug. Bruschi accounted for two of the Patriots' five sacks that night, helping them stay in the game against a loaded Packers team. Bruschi is one of two rookies to post two-sack showings in Super Bowl history. He would go on to accumulate more Super Bowl stats in the coming years.

Acquired in a lopsided trade that sent backup quarterback Craig Morton to the Giants, White went on to become a first-ballot Hall of Fame defensive tackle. In the first Cowboys-Steelers Super Bowl, however, White worked as a backup linebacker. Playing behind Lee Roy Jordan, White still sacked Terry Bradshaw twice, showing the quickness-strength combo that made him one of the best defenders of his era. Retroactive sack accreditation gave White four sacks during the 1975 postseason, providing an indication of the future Super Bowl co-MVP's potential. 

Prior to calling a few Super Bowls, Collinsworth took part in two -- in his first and last seasons, respectively -- during an eight-year career. His Super Bowl debut featured greater involvement. While the Pro Bowl rookie's contributions were a mixed bag, Collinsworth still totaled five receptions for a game-high 107 yards. He delivered one of the great catches in Super Bowl history -- a 49-yard overhead grab despite tight Eric Wright coverage -- to help Cincinnati pull within 20-14 in the second half. However, this came after a costly red zone fumble denied the Bengals a key scoring chance in the first half. 

As Patrick Mahomes' cap numbers increase, the Chiefs will rely more on rookie talent. That phase began in 2022, and Pacheco became an unlikely success story. The seventh-round pick out of Rutgers was Kansas City's top back down the stretch, and his hard-running style boosted the AFC champions' prospects. Pacheco led the Chiefs with 76 rushing yards on 15 carries, adding a 1-yard TD run to begin a 24-point Kansas City second half. Pacheco also came through with a 10-yard sweep on a third-and-1, extending the Chiefs' game-winning drive. Pacheco looks like the Chiefs' long-awaited long-term Kareem Hunt replacement.

Dallas' Doomsday defense won the day against Denver, forcing eight turnovers. But the team's burgeoning superstar still made some contributions in the one-sided matchup. Dorsett, for whom the Cowboys moved up 12 spots in that year's first round, totaled 77 scrimmage yards and scored the game's first touchdown -- a 3-yard run in the first quarter. Tom Landry tailored part of his intricate offense around his Heisman-winning rookie that season, and Dorsett reeled off three 15-plus-yard runs against the Broncos' famed Orange Crush defense. 

Big underdogs in Miami, the Bears needed near-perfect games from their defense and special teams to hang with the Colts. Their top gun did his part and petrified the Colts in the process. Hester broke off his sixth return touchdown of his rookie season -- a 92-yarder to open the game -- against Indianapolis, proving Tony Dungy's defiant strategy of testing the electric Chicago returner foolish. The Colts kicked off six more times in the game; none of those plays involved a Hester return. This helped the Bears' field position at points but did not ultimately affect the expected outcome. 

Although the 49ers were a bit more deceptive about Samuel's designed runs against the Chiefs than they were during his unique 2021 season, he still gashed the eventual champions on the ground. Reverses and wide receiver pitches frequently went for double-digit yardage in Samuel's rookie-year finale. The second-round pick finished with 92 scrimmage yards on just eight touches. After a 32-yard sweep play in the first quarter, Samuel's 11-yard reception set up Kyle Juszczyk's game-tying touchdown in the second stanza. This was not enough for the 49ers, but Samuel's efficient night provided a preview of his future.

David Tyree's clutch performance for the ages obscured his rookie teammate's supporting act. Smith caught five passes for 50 yards; all five grabs came on third down. Smith converted two third downs on the Giants' opening drive, which produced a field goal, but showed up with two crucial catches in the fourth quarter. Following rookie tight end Kevin Boss' 45-yard catch-and-run, Smith added a 17-yarder to set up Tyree's touchdown. Tyree's time-capsule catch on the Giants' game-winning drive also featured a Smith footnote -- a 12-yard sideline reception to convert a third-and-11, setting up Plaxico Burress' finisher.

Lewis did not deliver a dazzling Super Bowl performance, but he wore down the Giants. He is just one of two rookies to rush for 100 yards in the NFL's ultimate game. The 2000 draft's No. 5 overall pick churned out 102 yards on 27 carries -- by far the most totes by a rookie in a Super Bowl -- to help the Ravens keep the Giants at bay. Lewis did not offer up many chunk gains, but he helped a limited offense give Baltimore's relentless defense key rest. Lewis narrowly broke the plane on his 3-yard touchdown run, having lost the ball at the goal line. Officials upheld their TD call, giving the Ravens a 31-7 lead in the fourth quarter.

Michel's first try on the Super Bowl stage resulted in him scoring that game's only touchdown. While Michel's 2-yard TD in the fourth quarter ended up being enough to give the Patriots their sixth championship, their starting back did break off a few more memorable runs. Michel finished off a dominant postseason with an 18-carry, 94-yard game in New England's 13-3 win over Los Angeles. The first-round pick made Rams comeback hopes nearly impossible after a tackle-shedding, 26-yard run in the final minutes. In three playoff games, Michel scored six touchdowns -- an NFL rookie record. 

Only nine rookie tackles have made Super Bowl starts. This is probably the best outing. Despite rostering two Pro Bowl defensive linemen, the Chiefs hit Tom Brady just twice in Super Bowl LV. The Buccaneers' rookie right tackle led the way on this front. The Chiefs sent both Frank Clark and Chris Jones at Wirfs; the Bucs' 2020 first-round pick held up to the point Pro Football Focus gave him the top grade out of all the game's participants. Clark's sack did not come against Wirfs, who gave up only one sack throughout his rookie year and became an impact starter during the brief but memorable "Tompa Bay" period.

Few rookies entered Super Bowls with higher expectations, and Chase did his part to keep the Bengals in the game against the favored Rams throughout. The Offensive Rookie of the Year's one-handed deep grab against Jalen Ramsey highlighted the former's impactful night and the latter's struggles against Cincinnati's wideout talents. Chase's 89 receiving yards are the fifth-most by a rookie in Super Bowl history. If the Bengals employed a decent O-line, Chase might have finished off a monster night by beating Ramsey for a deep game-winner. Aaron Donald intervened. Alas, Chase joins Collinsworth as Bengals rookies with standout nights in Super Bowl losses.

The elder Antoine Winfield played 14 NFL seasons but never had the chance to play in a Super Bowl. His son made the most of his first try. The younger Winfield interfered with the Chiefs' repeat hopes throughout, totaling six tackles, two passes defensed and an interception in the Buccaneers' 31-9 cruise. A second-round pick, Winfield was critical to Todd Bowles' defensive game plan -- one that held a historically explosive pass offense without a touchdown -- and he exacted revenge on Tyreek Hill after denying the deep threat a fourth-down pass in the final minutes. An indelible image from Tampa Bay's rout.

Seymour finally received his Hall call in 2022; his performance in the first of his four Super Bowls set the dominant defensive lineman on that course. The Rams often double-teamed the Patriots' 2001 first-round pick -- the highest Pats selection (No. 6 overall) in the Bill Belichick era -- but he still disrupted St. Louis' quest for another title. Making regular advancements into the Rams backfield, Seymour sacked Kurt Warner once, batted down a pass that led to a long Rams missed field goal, and added a tackle for loss. The interior lineman also pressured the 2001 MVP on a Willie McGinest sack, forcing a key fourth-quarter punt.

Wright getting to Drew Pearson just in time to prevent an alternate ending to "The Catch" elevated the 49ers to their first Super Bowl. The second-round rookie delivered in that game, too. Matched up at key points with standout Bengals rookie Cris Collinsworth, Wright both stripped the Pro Bowler to deny Cincinnati on a red zone possession and later intercepted a Ken Anderson sideline pass intended for Collinsworth. Wright made a terrible decision to lateral after his game-sealing pick, but the 49ers recovered. San Francisco's rookie-laden secondary won against a talented Cincy receiving corps, and Wright led the way.

While Isaac Bruce made the game-winning catch in the Rams' first Super Bowl championship, Holt provided Kurt Warner with a dependable option throughout. The first-round pick caught seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in St. Louis' 23-16 win. Holt kept finding open spaces against Tennessee's defense in the first three quarters. These short- and mid-range grabs set up Jeff Wilkins field goals in the first half, and Holt shaking Titans cornerback Dainon Sidney for a 9-yard third-quarter score gave the Rams a 16-0 lead. This performance is obviously pivotal for Holt's valid Hall of Fame case.

The rain Super Bowl involved plenty of Addai, who led all players with 29 touches -- the most in a Super Bowl in the past 19 years -- in a fairly sloppy game. Addai did his part, amassing 143 scrimmage yards. The Colts had let Edgerrin James walk in free agency that year, after franchise-tagging him in 2005, and used a first-round pick on Addai. Peyton Manning leaned on James' successor all night, and Addai totaled 10 catches -- third-most by a running back in Super Bowl history. While Addai lost a fumble on an exchange from Manning, he was not tagged with the miscue. And it did not influence the Colts' reliance on him. 

The 2014 Seahawks rostered Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse, yet a recent Foot Locker employee became Russell Wilson's go-to guy as the team bid for a repeat title. Matthews bounced on and off the Seattle practice squad in 2014, attempting to transition from the CFL. Beating Darrelle Revis' sidekicks with regularity, Matthews caught four passes for a game-high 109 yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot-5 target beat tight man coverage on two 40-plus-yard completions and snared an 11-yard TD lob against Logan Ryan with 2 seconds left in the first half. Matthews' NFL career did not pan out, but his performance against a strong Patriots defense will live on forever.

The Eagles unleashed a three-headed backfield on the Patriots; it combined for 255 scrimmage yards. An undrafted rookie led the way. One of just three running backs to total 100-plus receiving yards in a Super Bowl, Clement led the Eagles in receiving (100 yards) and added one of the better TD catches in Super Bowl history. Clement delivered a 55-yard catch-and-run to set up a rather important touchdown -- the "Philly Special" sequence that began with a snap to Clement -- and later caught a 22-yard dime from Nick Foles to put the Eagles up two scores. The Jay Ajayi-LeGarrette Blount complementary piece ran wild in the biggest game in Eagles history.

Butler played just 13 defensive snaps against the Seahawks, who made a point to attack him when he was on the field. But the undrafted free agent allowed just two catches for 39 yards. One of those came via Jermaine Kearse's juggling catch. Butler provided good defense on Kearse prior to the bobbling act and certainly atoned for being beaten on that 33-yard strike. Butler stepping in front of Russell Wilson's ill-advised goal-line pass altered the Patriots' timeline, ushering in the second leg of their dynasty and effectively knocking the Seahawks off the NFL's top tier. It is one of the most impactful plays in NFL history. 

Bosa played a major part in Patrick Mahomes' shaky first three quarters in his Super Bowl debut. The Defensive Rookie of the Year dominated Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher, generating a whopping 12 QB pressures and notching a sack-strip on the eventual MVP. Mahomes recovered after Bosa blew past Fisher on an inside move, but the 49ers soon took a 20-10 lead after holding the Chiefs on that third-quarter drive. The 49ers pushing the Chiefs to the ropes came in large part because of Bosa's disruptions. That year's No. 2 overall pick would have presented a strong MVP case had Mahomes not caught fire late. 

George Rogers went No. 1 overall in 1981, ahead of Lawrence Taylor, and led the NFL in rushing as a rookie. Rogers played seven seasons, but Washington's starting running back aggravated an ankle injury in practice ahead of Super Bowl XXII and barely played in the game. Smith capitalized on this opportunity during a signature Super Bowl outing. The fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech ran amok in Washington's 42-10 blowout, gashing the Broncos for a Super Bowl-record 204 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Knifing through wide lanes opened by Washington's "Hogs," Smith broke Steve Van Buren's 39-year-old record for championship-game rushing yards. No one has threatened Smith's record since.