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The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of North American sports, the outcome of which usually depends on which quarterback has the better game. They touch the ball on every play, and their throws and decisions can be the difference between championship glory and bitter defeat.
Super Bowl betting sites offer tons of prop bets for most players in the game, including quarterbacks. For quarterbacks, you can bet on everything from how many touchdown passes or interceptions they’ll have to how many passing yards and completions they’ll finish with.
Some quarterbacks have flourished in the Big Game, saving their best performances for the final game of the season. With that in mind, here are the 10 players who have thrown for the most passing yards in a single Super Bowl.
Who Holds the Record for Most Passing Yards in a Super Bowl?
Not surprisingly, Tom Brady holds the record for the most passing yards in a Super Bowl. He threw for a whopping 505 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, completing 28 of 48 passes and breaking his own record from the previous year’s Super Bowl (466 passing yards).
Shockingly, Brady’s New England Patriots still lost 41-33, as their defense was unable to stop Nick Foles (373 passing yards, four total TDs) & Co. Despite having the best Super Bowl statistical performance of his career, Brady did not win Super Bowl MVP.
In the process, Brady became the first QB in NFL history to lose a game where he threw for at least 500 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Tom Brady is the 1st QB in NFL history to lose a game with at least 500 passing yards, 3 TD and 0 interceptions (regular season or playoffs). pic.twitter.com/fryLNXdBIO
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 5, 2018
What is the Record for Most Passing Touchdowns in a Super Bowl?
That record for the most passing TDs in a Super Bowl is held by Steve Young, who threw for six touchdowns in the San Francisco 49ers’ 49-26 win over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. He threw for four touchdowns in the first half and could have thrown one more at the end had he not been pulled for backup Bill Musgrave.
Young broke Joe Montana’s record of five touchdown passes, which had been set five years earlier in Super Bowl XXIV.
Top 10 Quarterbacks With the Most Passing Yards in a Super Bowl Game
1. Tom Brady (Super Bowl LII) – 505 Yards
As mentioned above, Brady holds the Super Bowl record for passing yards with 505 yards against the Eagles in Super Bowl LII. He threw for three touchdowns and completed three passes of 40-plus yards but was still outdueled by Philadelphia’s backup quarterback Nick Foles, who threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
2. Tom Brady (Super Bowl LI) – 466 Yards
Brady’s record-setting performance topped his own historic performance from the previous year, when he led the Patriots back from a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in one of the biggest comebacks in NFL playoff history.
Brady finished with a Super Bowl record 43 completions on 62 pass attempts along with two touchdowns and an interception, propelling New England to a 34-28 victory in overtime (the first in Super Bowl history) and cementing his status as the NFL GOAT.
6 years ago today Super Bowl 51 here is the full game-tying touchdown drive pic.twitter.com/WjM3y06oFW
— RandomTomBradyHighlights (@TomBradyDaily) February 5, 2023
3. Kurt Warner (Super Bowl XXXIV) – 414 Yards
Warner led the St. Louis Rams to Super Bowl XXXIV as part of the Greatest Show on Turf, and the Rams looked the part in the Super Bowl against the Tennessee Titans. Warner went 24-of-45 passing for 414 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a 73-yard bomb to Issac Bruce.
Warner was one of the best passers of the 1990s, and this Super Bowl win helped establish him as the cult hero and Hall of Famer that he is today.
4. Kurt Warner (Super Bowl XLIII) – 377 Yards
Warner’s second electric Super Bowl performance came at the end of his Hall of Fame career when he threw for 377 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII. While his Arizona Cardinals lost 27-23 on an incredible catch from Santonio Holmes, Warner did his job, completing 31-of-43 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns.
Warner’s strong connection with star wideout Larry Fitzgerald was evident, as they linked up for 127 yards on seven receptions.
Although it didn't end up the game-winner, this Kurt Warner-to-Larry Fitzgerald go-ahead 64-yard #Cardinals touchdown connection with two-and-a-half to play in Super Bowl XLIII had the world gasping.
What a postseason for Fitz! Guy played out of his mind.
15 Years Ago Tonight pic.twitter.com/ToEmOMXTUP
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 1, 2024
5. Nick Foles (Super Bowl LII) – 373 Yards
While Foles’ performance in Super Bowl LII is best known for his catch on the Philly Special, he also strutted his stuff in the passing game with 373 yards in the Eagles’ 41-point outburst.
He also threw for three touchdowns, with his last one giving Philadelphia the lead for good with less than three minutes remaining.
6. Kurt Warner (Super Bowl XXXVI) – 365 Yards
Warner’s back again, this time in a loss in Super Bowl XXXVI. Warner tossed for 365 yards – the second-most in Super Bowl history at the time – but only threw for one touchdown in a relatively low-scoring game. While Tom Brady threw for just 145 yards in his Super Bowl debut, his Patriots eeked out a 20-17 win to kick off one of the best runs in NFL history.
T-7. Donovan McNabb (Super Bowl XXXIX) – 357 Yards
Another Patriots Super Bowl win, another opposing quarterback putting up solid numbers. This time it was Donovan McNabb in Super Bowl XXXIX, who threw for 357 yards in a 24-21 loss. McNabb also threw for three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Brady & Co., who prevailed over the Eagles by a field goal.
T-7. Joe Montana (Super Bowl XXIII) – 357 Yards
Montana’s performance in Super Bowl XXIII stands out for several reasons. The first was his overall prowess through the air, as he threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns on 23 completions. The second was his ability in the clutch, as he led the 49ers on a 92-yard game-winning drive to secure the 20-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
9. Tom Brady (Super Bowl XXXVIII) – 354 Yards
The year before McNabb lit up the Patriots, Brady put together one of the best games of his young career in New England’s 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. While this game was the first Super Bowl to feature two scoreless quarters (the first and third), the teams made up for it in the other two, including a 37-point fourth quarter.
Brady threw for three touchdown passes and helped set up Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning kick with four seconds left, giving New England its second title in three years.
10. Doug Williams (Super Bowl XXII) – 340 Yards
Williams’ performance for the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII was record-setting in many different ways. Not only did he set the then-record for passing yards in a Super Bowl, but he was also the first player in Super Bowl history to pass for four touchdowns in a single quarter. He also became the first African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
How to Bet on the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in America, and betting sites offer a plethora of Super Bowl betting markets for bettors in states with legal sports betting.
You can put your knowledge to the test based on past data and Super Bowl trends, or you can simply go with your gut and wager on which team or players you think will do well.
You can even spice up your betting with fun Super Bowl prop bets like wagers on the coin toss or Gatorade color.
NFL Futures Betting
Find season-long NFL futures on Forbes Betting, including Super Bowl 2025 odds. You’ll find the best NFL betting promos and NFL betting site recommendations throughout the season.
New to NFL betting? Learn how to bet on the NFL today.
