Super Bowl

Players With The Most Super Bowl Appearances

8 months ago

| BY Sam Cox

There’s a fair bit of luck required to be included among the players with the most Super Bowl appearances. Longevity is a must, but even the greatest players are not guaranteed multiple ‘Big Game’ appearances in their careers.

Some benefited from being on the right team(s) at the right times. Others were part of dynastic cores. One man is in a league of his own in this category. A few of his former teammates also feature.

Tom Brady – 10

The undisputed GOAT and seven-time Super Bowl champion, Tom Brady is – once again – in a class of his own with 10 appearances in the NFL showpiece. The first nine of Brady’s Super Bowl appearances, and six of his wins, came during the New England Patriots dynasty with Bill Belichick.

Brady won his final Super Bowl appearance with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, seeing off Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.

A total of seven rings is more than any NFL franchise has won. The New York Giants were responsible for two of Brady’s three Super Bowl losses, with Nick Foles and the Philly Special accounting for his final defeat in the Big Game.

Stephen Gostkowski – 6

Tied for the second-most Super Bowl appearances ever, Stephen Gostkowski was the Patriots kicker from 2006 until 2019. New England was one of the betting favourites in NFL odds throughout that period, with Gostkowski playing a pivotal role.

The Baton Rouge native led the NFL in scoring on five occasions and holds the record for the most extra points converted in NFL history. He won three rings as a Patriot, beating the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks.

Mike Lodish – 6

A nose tackle for the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, Mike Lodish reached six Super Bowls in 11 NFL seasons.

Lodish was part of the Bills team which lost four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s (no other team has lost four in a row).

The 1990 10th-round pick moved to the Denver Broncos before the 1995 season. He was part of the Broncos team which won the Super Bowl in 1998 and 1999.

John Elway – 5

The second quarterback on this list has half as many ‘Big Game’ appearances as Tom Brady. John Elway spent his entire career with the Broncos, leading them to five Super Bowls.

The first three ended in losses in 1986, 1987, and 1989. Denver then overcame the Green Bay Packers in 1998, despite a subpar game from Elway, before the Hall of Famer delivered 336 passing yards in a 15-point win over the Atlanta Falcons in 1999.

Rob Gronkowski – 5

A vital cog during the Patriots dynasty, Rob Gronkowski was among the sports betting favourites for Super Bowl MVP in all five of his Big Game appearances.

A four-time First Team All-Pro selection and widely considered the greatest tight end in NFL history, Gronkowski was the go-to man for Brady in clutch situations.

Jerry Rice is the only player with more SB touchdowns than Gronkowski’s five.

Patrick Chung – 5

Spending 10 of his 11 seasons with the Patriots, Patrick Chung recorded five Super Bowl appearances and won three titles.

The 2009 and 2012 postseasons were the only years Chung wasn’t a starter. He started all five of his appearances, with his standout statistical performance coming with 10 tackles against the Eagles.

Devin McCourty – 5

Yes, it’s another former Patriot. Devin McCourty played for the Pats from 2010 until 2022 after being selected 27th overall.

Predominantly a free safety, McCourty was named Second Team All-Pro on three occasions and had a knack for making big tackles in the postseason.

Adam Vinatieri – 5

Adam Vinatieri played in five Super Bowls, as he was inactive for the Indianapolis Colts’ loss to the New Orleans Saints. Vinatieri lost his first Super Bowl but won his next three, including game-winning kicks in Super Bowl XXXVI and Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Vinatieri’s first four appearances – and three wins – came as a Patriot. He won his only Super Bowl appearance as a Colt. Consistently appearing in the postseason throughout the 2010s, the former South Dakota State kicker finished his career with the most playoff points of all-time.