Offense
Doug Williams
QB – Washington Redskins
Super Bowl champion (XXII)
Super Bowl XXII MVP
Quarterback Doug Williams #17 of the Washington Redskins looks to pass during Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos at Jack Murphy Stadium on January 31, 1988 in San Diego, California. The Redskins won 42-10.
(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
Terrell Davis
RB – Denver Broncos
2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
1997 Super Bowl MVP
Running back Terrell Davis #30 of the Denver Broncos carries the football over a pile of Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-24.
(Jamie Squire/Getty)
Emmitt Smith
RB – Dallas Cowboys
3× Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Super Bowl MVP (XXVIII)
Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys defeated the Bills 52-17.
(Photo by Andy Hayt/Getty Images)
Franco Harris
FB – Pittsburgh Steelers
4× Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Super Bowl IX MVP
Franco Harris (32) carries the ball during Super Bowl XIV, a 31-19 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on January 20, 1980, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
(Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images)
Shannon Sharpe
TE – Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens
3× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII, XXXV)
Shannon Sharpe (84) runs with the football after catching a pass during the Broncos 34-19 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)
Jerry Rice
WR – San Francisco 49ers
3× Super Bowl champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
Super Bowl XXIII MVP
Jerry Rice is in the endzone again, sharing the thrill of a three touchdown performance in SB XXIV with his fans at New Orleans on 1/28/1990. Al Messerschmidt/NFL Photos.
(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Michael Irvin
WR – Dallas Cowboys
3× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Michael Irvin #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates in the end zone after a eighteen yards touchdown reception his second of the game during Super Bowl XXVII against the Buffalo Bills at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys won 52-17.
(Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
Lynn Swann
WR – Pittsburgh Steelers
4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Super Bowl X MVP
Lynn Swann (in black) of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mark Washington of the Dallas Cowboys both leap to catch a 53-yard pass thrown by the Steelers quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, near the end of the first half of the game, Miami, Florida, January 18, 1976. Swann caught the ball and the Steelers eventually won the game 21 to 17.
(Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images)
Defense
Reggie White
DE- Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl champion (XXXI)
Reggie White points to teammates after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe 26 January during the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots 35-21.
(JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
Mike Singletary
LB- Chicago Bears
Super Bowl Champion (XX)
Linebacker Mike Singletary (center), of the Chicago Bears strips the ball from wide receiver Stanley Morgan of the New England Patriots during the Bears’ 44-10 win in Super Bowl XX at the Superdome in New Orleans.
(Mike Powell/Getty)
Ray Lewis
LB – Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl champion (XXXV)
Super Bowl XXXV MVP
Ray Lewis eyes New York Giants quarterback Kerry Collins (5) in Super Bowl XXXV on 01/28/2001. Baltimore won 34 to 7, and Lewis was named the game’s most valuable player.
(Photo by David Drapkin/Getty Images)
Lawrence Taylor
LB – New York Giants
2× Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXV)
Lawrence Taylor #56 of the New York Giants looks over to the sideline against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXlI at the Rose Bowl on January 25, 1987 in Pasadena, California. The Giants defeated the Broncos 39-20.
(Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images)
Joe Greene
DT- Pittsburgh Steelers
4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
‘Mean’ Joe Greene (75) of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Steelers 35-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images)
Warren Sapp
DT-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl champion (XXXVII)
Warren Sapp #99 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates his sack against the Oakland Raiders during Super Bowl XXXVII at Qualcomm Stadium on January 26, 2003 in San Diego, California. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 48-21.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Charles Haley
DE – San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys
5× Super Bowl champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Charles Haley #94 of the Dallas Cowboys puts a hit on quarterback Jim Kelly #12 of the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys won 52-17.
(Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
Deion Sanders
CB – San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys
2× Super Bowl champion (XXIX, XXX)
Deion Sanders answers questions from the press during ‘Media Day’ at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. Sanders attracted one of the largest crowds of press during the event. The 49ers faced the San Diego Chargers that January 29 in Super Bowl XXIX.
(DOUG COLLIER/AFP/Getty Images)
Darrell Green
CB – Washington Redskins
2× Super Bowl Champion (XXII, XXVI)
Darrell Green of the Washington Redskins celebrates during Super Bowl XXVI against the Buffalo Bills at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Redskins won the game, 37-24.
(Mike Powell/Getty)
Ronnie Lott
S- San Francisco 49ers
4× Super Bowl champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
Ronnie Lott (42) of the San Francisco 49ers during the pregame before the 49ers 20-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Jimmy Cribb/Getty Images)
Rod Woodson
S – Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl champion (XXXV)
Rod Woodson® tries to tackle New York Giant running back Tiki Barber (L) during first half action of Super Bowl XXXV 28 January 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
(Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)
Special Teams
Desmond Howard
KR- Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl champion (XXXI )
Super Bowl XXXI MVP
Desmond Howard (81) gets passed all the defenders to score on a 99-yard kickoff return during Super Bowl XXXI, a 35-21 Green Bay Packers victory over the New England Patriots on January 26, 1996, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Photo by Peter Brouillet/NFL)
Its that time of year of again. The culmination of 6 months of training camp, pre season, a 16 game schedule and playoffs. Super Bowl XLV is finally here. In honor of our American past time, we here at theGrio have decided to reflect on our favorite players from Super Bowl past to create the ultimate battle tested team. Feel free to agree, disagree or just browse through our list of champions. Without further ado, theGrio’s starting Super Bowl roster.
