Oftentimes, sports can be cruel. This can be true in many ways, but especially because we rarely talk about losing players. At last weekend’s Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had the game of his life against the Chiefs. Unfortunately for the Eagles quarterback, however, he didn’t win the game. Instead, the narrative turned to Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who also had a great game and won his second Super Bowl ring.
Some argued that Hurts actually deserved the MVP award even though his team lost the game. So today, we’ll focus on the best performances by losing players in Super Bowl history. These players deserve a clear remembering of how they stepped up to the plate. Yes, they wound up on the losing team, but they gave everything they had and put in great performances. Let’s show them the respect and appreciation they deserve.
Devonta Freeman
Freeman might not be on this list if Atlanta decided to keep running the ball in 2017. The running back was enjoying a great game before the Falcons decided to become a synonym for failure. He rushed for 75 yards off 11 carries and also scored a touchdown. But the team underused him and targeted Tevin Coleman instead.
This was a mistake but not the biggest one of the day. Freeman did his part for the team, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. We all know what happened next as they blew a record 25-point lead. The Patriots deserve immense credit for their comeback but the Falcons didn’t do themselves any favors (via USA Today Sports).