We’re still a couple of weeks away from crowning a new NFL champion. There’s still plenty of former Texas high school football talent in contention. Looking back, a former Lone Star State standout has claimed the Super Bowl MVP award four out of the last eight seasons. In total, only five Texans have earned the honor, including only one in the 20th century.
Here’s a look back at the complete history of Super Bowl MVPs from Texas:
Harvey Martin — South Oak Cliff, DE, 1978
The only Texan to win Super Bowl MVP in the 20th century, Harvey Martin served as the Dallas Cowboys starting defensive end from 1973 until 1983. During this span, Martin accounted for 114 sacks, leading the “Doomsday Defense” in sacks for seven seasons.
His 1977 season was a standout. Throughout the 14-game season, Martin nabbed the NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named co-MVP of the game with Randy White in Super Bowl XII.
Martin’s junior year in high school, he attended South Oak Cliff, which was the first integrated high school in Dallas. As a senior, Martin led his unit to a 12-1 record, going on to win the Dallas City championship and an appearance at the State quarterfinals. In 2007, Martin was selected to the Lone Star Conference’s 75th anniversary football team; in 2010, he was inducted into the Lone Star Conference Hall Of Fame.
He passed away in Grapevine in 2001.
Drew Brees — Westlake, QB, 2010
It took over three decades for another Texas high school football standout to earn Super Bowl MVP honors. Future Hall of Famer Drew Brees brought his Lone Star State acumen to the New Orleans Saints, earning the franchise their first (and only) title in Super Bowl XLIV.
After one Pro Bowl appearance with the then San Diego Charger, Brees found his stride with New Orleans, earning All-Star honors from 2008-2014 and 2016-2019.
Locally, Brees didn’t started playing tackle football until high school. His only previous experience prior was on the flag football team at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.
After being sidelined by an ACL tear in his junior season, Brees rallied as a senior, earning the Texas High School 5A Most Valuable Offensive Player in 1996 and taking the Chaparrals to a 16-0 record and a state championship.
In his Westlake career, Brees completed 64% of his passes for 5,461 yards and 50 touchdowns.
Von Miller — DeSoto, LB, 2016
As of this year, Von Miller has the most career sacks of any active player; he also boasts the most career sacks in Denver history at 110.5. A stalwart with the Broncos for a decade, Miller earned Pro Bowl honors in all but two seasons in his tenure with Denver. After earning a Super Bowl with the Broncos in Super Bowl 50, he followed up his championship with another with the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. Currently, he competes for the AFC powerhouse the Buffalo Bills, looking to add a third title to his resume.
The former District 8-5A Defensive MVP with DeSoto, Miller continues to be an active part of his community, including hosting a community festival in his hometown; the 6th annual Von Miller Day took place last April.
Nick Foles — Westlake, QB, 2018
The most unlikely Super Bowl MVP on this list, Nick Foles bounced around the league as a back-up, before returning to the Philadelphia Eagles for his second stay with the team. After starter Carson Wentz tore his ACL in Week 14, Foles went on a run, eventually out-dueling Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII, completing 28 of 43 passes for 373 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one interception.
A two-year starter with Westlake, Foles was ready for the Friday Night Lights right out of the gate. As a freshman, he was 6-foot-4 and weighed 210 pounds. Foles threw for 5,658 yards and 56 touchdowns, breaking most of the school records previously set by Drew Brees.
Patrick Mahomes — Whitehouse, QB, 2019 & 2022
Arguably best player on this list, Patrick Mahomes is one of only five other players that have won the award multiple times. As the starter of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes led his squad to the AFC championship game every season since 2018, the second longest streak in league history. In both Super Bowl LIV and LVII, Mahomes put up video game numbers; he has played in three Super Bowls in his six year career.
A four-star prospect with Whitehouse, Mahomes led his team to their first-ever district title with an undefeated 10-0 regular season record. As a senior, he threw for 4,619 yards and 50 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 948 yards and 15 touchdowns.
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