Worst Super Bowl QB Matchups Ever?

Here’s how the draft played out.

Round 1

Brad Johnson (Buccaneers) vs. Rich Gannon (Raiders)

Team Tall

This matchup set the tone for the draft. Super Bowl XXXVII wasn’t just a blowout — it was a quarterback mismatch that got ugly fast. Brad Johnson played caretaker for an all-time defense, while Rich Gannon imploded against the very coach who built him. Five interceptions later, the game was over, and this QB duel earned its place at the top of the list.

Round 2

Trent Dilfer (Ravens) vs. Kerry Collins (Giants)

Team Small

If there’s ever been a Super Bowl where the quarterback position felt optional, this was it. Trent Dilfer’s job was simple: don’t screw it up. Kerry Collins couldn’t do that, throwing four interceptions in Super Bowl XXXV. One quarterback was invisible, the other disastrous — a brutal combination.

Round 3

Joe Flacco (Ravens) vs. Colin Kaepernick (49ers)

Team Small

This one stings because it almost shouldn’t belong here. Flacco was on a legendary postseason run, and Kaepernick had electrified the league — but Super Bowl XLVII never delivered the QB showdown people hoped for. A power outage, conservative stretches, and uneven play kept this from becoming an all-time quarterback duel.

Round 4

Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) vs. Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks)

Team Tall

Super Bowl XL is remembered less for quarterback brilliance and more for controversy. Roethlisberger had one of the worst statistical Super Bowl performances by a winning QB, and Hasselbeck’s biggest moment came on a pick-six followed by the infamous “We want the ball and we’re gonna score” declaration. Not exactly elite theater.

Round 5

Kurt Warner (Rams) vs. Steve McNair (Titans)

Team Tall

This pick sparked debate. On paper, this looks like a strong matchup — and the game itself was fantastic. But this draft isn’t about the game, it’s about the quarterback duel. Warner was excellent, McNair was solid, but neither dominated the narrative the way iconic Super Bowl quarterbacks usually do. A great finish doesn’t always mean a great QB matchup.

Round 6

Steve Young (49ers) vs. Stan Humphries (Chargers)

Team Small

Super Bowl XXIX was a showcase for Steve Young… and that’s the problem. Humphries was completely overwhelmed, while Young threw six touchdowns and erased years of Super Bowl frustration. When one quarterback reaches an all-time peak and the other can’t keep up, the matchup itself suffers.

Round 7

Peyton Manning (Colts) vs. Rex Grossman (Bears)

Team Small

This one was inevitable. Peyton Manning was the league’s MVP and Rex Grossman was… surviving. Super Bowl XLI featured moments of chaos, weather issues, and defensive scores, but never a moment where it felt like the quarterbacks were equals. The outcome felt preordained.

Round 8

Troy Aikman (Cowboys) vs. Neil O’Donnell (Steelers)

Team Tall

This matchup is remembered almost entirely for one quarterback’s mistakes. Aikman was steady, efficient, and supported by a juggernaut roster. O’Donnell, meanwhile, threw two infamous interceptions directly to Larry Brown. The duel never materialized — it became a lesson in what not to do.

Final Thoughts

This draft isn’t an indictment of careers — many of these quarterbacks were champions, MVPs, or future Hall of Famers. But Super Bowl history shows that greatness at the position doesn’t always guarantee a compelling matchup.

So the real question remains:

Which team won the draft — Team Tall or Team Small?
And which Super Bowl quarterback matchup did we miss?

Let the arguing begin.