Evan McPherson could become first kicker in NFL history to win Super Bowl MVP

The Cincinnati Bengals will take on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, February 13 thanks to a perfect playoff run from rookie kicker Evan McPherson.

McPherson's 12 field goals are the most made FGs in a single postseason without a miss by any player in NFL history. He has yet to miss a FG in the playoffs, but most importantly, scored two game-winning field goals, one in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs to send his side to the Super Bowl.

Has a kicker ever won Super Bowl MVP?

Throughout the playoffs, McPherson has accumulated 40 points with his field goals and extra points after a touchdown, 10 more points than the Bengals offense. That's not to take anything away from the great play by quarterback Joe Burrow and rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, but it's safe to say that Cincy is in the SB thanks to the leg of McPherson.

When it comes to the Super Bowl MVP, an award more often than not won by quarterbacks and wide receivers, McPherson could become the first kicker in NFL history to win that prestigious title. It's hard to imagine a situation where the kicker is responsible for winning his team a ring, but if we look at Cincinnati's playoff games, we can see that they're only in this position because of McPherson.

In the 19-16 Divisional Round win over the Tennessee Titans, McPherson scored a walk-off field goal to advance to the AFC Championship. He drilled all four field goal attempts in that game, with the only other Bengals score coming on a run by Joe Mixon.

One game prior, against the Las Vegas Raiders, McPherson also scored 4-of-4 field goals, and did the same against Kansas City. In both those matchups, Burrow threw two TD passes, but McPherson still outscored his offense in all three games leading to the SB.

Has a rookie ever won Super Bowl MVP?

For McPherson to become the first kicker in history to win Super Bowl MVP would already be impressive enough, but he would also be the first rookie to take the award. In their first years as starters, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner both led their teams to a Super Bowl win and took the MVP award, but were no longer considered rookies.

If Bengals beat Rams, McPherson would become the first rookie kicker to win the Super Bowl since the Phialdelphia Eagles' Jake Elliott in 2018. McPherson was the only kicker drafted this year, and he's already the player with most 50+ yards field goal makes (11) in a single season in history.

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