Another Super Bowl has come and gone and those who know me know I liked the outcome-- having been a Kansas City Chiefs’ fan for approximately 60 years. In addition to liking the outcome, several questions emerged as I was watching what I believe to have been one of the best Super Bowl contests ever played.

One such question arose around the announcement that with five or six minutes to play in the game, the recipient of the game’s Most Valuable Player had been selected. How can the choice be made that early? After the Chiefs won, Patrick Mahomes was a legitimate recipient. What if the Eagles’ had won?

After thinking it over, I guessed, and it is only a guess, was that those given the task of naming an MVP could have decided to give the award to the quarterback of the winning team. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts would have been the logical recipient if his team had won.

It was the second MVP award for Mahomes. How many others have won more than once? Tom Brady, who owns a truck load of awards throughout his long career, was Super Bowl MVP five times. Joe Montana, who was the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, was a threetime winner. Four, including Mahomes, have won it twice. Terry Bradshaw, who infamously told Chiefs’ Coach Andy Reid to “waddle over here” during Sunday’s trophy presentation, won it twice as quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Eli Manning won it twice as New York Giants’ quarterback, and Bart Starr won the first two MVP awards as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

Just an aside at this point. Joe Montana has always been a favorite of mine. When he was a 49er, he was known as “Joe Cool” and “the Comeback Kid.” He played in four Super Bowls and his team won all four. In addition to having been MVP three times, he holds Super Bowl career records for most passes without an interception (122 in four games) and the all-time highest passer rating 127.8. He ended his career in Kansas City as he was traded to the Chiefs in 1993 and while there took the Chiefs to their first AFC Championship game.

All the players we have mentioned are quarterbacks. How many times has a nonquarterback won the MVP? There have been 26 non-quarterbacks to win the award in 57 years is the answer I found.

Eight have been wide receivers, seven were running backs, four were linebackers, two were defensive ends, two were safeties, one was a cornerback and one was a defensive tackle.

The receivers to win the award were Jerry Rice of San Francisco, Lynn Swann of Pittsburgh, Fred Biletnikoff of Oakland, Deion Branch of New England, Hines Ward of Pittsburgh, Santonio Holmes of Pittsburgh, Julian Edelman of New England and Cooper Kupp of Los Angeles Rams.

Running back winners include Larry Csonka of Miami, Franco Harris of Pittsburgh, John Riggins of Washington, Marcus Allen of the Raiders, Ottis Anderson of the Giants, Emmitt Smith of Dallas, and Terrell Davis of Denver.

Linebackers to win the award are Chuck Howley of Dallas, Ray Lewis of Baltimore Ravens, Malcolm Smith of Seattle and Von Miller of Denver. Richard Dent of the Chicago Bears and Harvey Martin of Dallas were defensive ends to win the award, Jake Scott off Miami won as a safety, Desmond Howard of Green Bay, who played at wide receiver won for his 99-yard kick return; Larry Brown of Dallas and Dexter Jackson of Tampa Bay were cornerbacks and Randy White of Dallas was a defensive tackle who won the MVP.

Actually, Randy White and Harvey Martin were co-winners in Super Bowl XII as they were leaders on a defense that forced eight turnovers in a game against the Denver Broncos.

Another question of mine-Has there ever been a member of a losing team to be named MVP? The answer is yes, indeed. Linebacker Chuck Howley of the Dallas Cowboys was the MVP of Super Bowl V despite the fact that his team lost to the Baltimore Colts 16-13. The game was won on a last second field goal. The game has often been referred to as the “Blooper Bowl” or the “Blunder Bowl” or even yet the “Stupor Bowl” because it was marred by poor play. The two teams combined for a record 11 turnovers, with five alone coming in the fourth quarter. The Colts committed seven, the most ever by a Super Bowl winner. Dallas set a record by committing 10 penalties, amounting to a loss of 133 yards. It undoubtedly was difficult to come up with an MVP, but Howley had two interceptions and was without doubt the standout player of the game.

By the way, Howley wasn’t going to accept the award, saying “We didn’t win the game.” But then he learned that a station wagon was awarded to the recipient so he decided to take the award and the car “for my wife.”

Howley played college football at West Virginia, and interestingly enough, the only NBA Championship game MVP to not be on the winning team, Jerry West, also played college ball at West Virginia.

Howley was also the first non-quarterback to win the award. Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers was the MVP in Games 1 and II. Joe Namath of the New York Jets was MVP of III and Len Dawson of Kansas City was MVP of IV.

Quarterbacks to win the award besides those four include Roger Staubach of Dallas (VI), Bradshaw (XIII and XIV), Jim Plunkett of Oakland (XV), Montana (XVI, XIX and XXIV), Phil Simms of New York Giants (XXI), Doug Williams of Washington (XXII), Mark Rypien of Washington (XXVI), Troy Aikman of Dallas (XXVII), Steve Young of San Francisco (XXIX), John Elway of Denver (XXXIII), Kurt Warner of St. Louis Rams (XXXIV), Tom Brady of New England and Tampa Bay (XXXVI, XXXVII. XLIX, LI, and LV), Peyton Manning of Indianapolis (XLI), Eli Manning of New York Giants (XLII and XLVI), Drew Brees of New Orleans (XLIV), Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay (XLV), Joe Flacco of Baltimore (XLVII), Nick Foles of Philadelphia (LII). and Mahomes (LIV and LVII).

I love to watch the young quarterbacks of today work. But I was also a fan of the good running backs in NFL history. Jim Brown was one of my favorites way back in the day. Brown retired before any Super Bowls were played, but there is no doubt in my mind that he may very well have been an MVP if he had had the chance. I took the liberty of researching the running backs who were named Super Bowl MVPs to see what they accomplished in the big game.

Larry Csonka of Miami won the award for Super Bowl VIII. In that game he rushed for 145 yards on 33 carries and scored two touchdowns. Franco Harris of Pittsburgh won the next year for his 158 yards rushing and one touchdown. John Riggins of Washington was MVP of XVII for 166 yards and one touchdown, Marcus Allen of the Raiders (he also finished his career as a Chief) was MVP of XVIII with 191 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns, Ottis Anderson of the Giants was MVP of XXV with 102 yards and one touchdown; Emmitt Smith of Dallas was MVP of XXVIII and had 30 carries, 132 yards and two touchdowns, and Terrell Davis of Denver was MVP for XXXII with 30 carries for 157 yards and three touchdowns. There have been 25 Super Bowls since Davis was the award winner.

I don’t remember if these are the only questions that came to mind about the MVPs. Bad memory is a factor of the aging process I’m told. But one thing I do know is Jalen Hurts showed his stuff Sunday. He is very young and there is no doubt in my mind that some day, probably very soon, his name will be added to this list.