When the red and yellow confetti fell in Allegiant Stadium following the Kansas City Chiefs' third Super Bowl win in five years, there were some questions about who would win Super Bowl MVP. Unsurprisingly, Patrick Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP due to the game-winning drive in overtime that resulted in a walk-off touchdown to Mecole Hardman.
For a large majority of the game, however, Mahomes hadn't looked like his normal self. In fact, many would have been fine with him not winning the award had the team won the game but after he led the team down the field and won the game in walk-off fashion, the award was as good as his.
Had Mahomes not been crowned Super Bowl MVP, which players had a shot at winning the award?
Trent McDuffie
The entire Chiefs defense balled out during the Super Bowl but it was hard not to notice how Trent McDuffie flew around the field, knocking balls away and disrupting the quarterback. One of McDuffie's biggest moments of the game was when the 49ers had the ball on the Chiefs' 35-yard line facing a 3rd-and-5.
Brock Purdy dropped back to pass but was immediately disrupted by McDuffie who got in his face and forced the incompletion. He also had a key pass break-up against Deebo Samuel earlier in the game that would have given San Francisco a 7-0 lead rather than a 3-0 lead. Talk about clutch.
Trent McDuffie had a phenomenal Super Bowl. The PBU against Deebo Samuel in the end zone was obviously a huge play, but this was as big as it gets. A first down here and the 49ers drain the clock and kick the field goal.
— Let’s Chat Chiefs (@LetsChatChiefs) February 16, 2024
He’s a stud 😎
(📹 @NFLFilms)
pic.twitter.com/I0gBdf0keq
NOPE ❌ @trent_mcduffie pic.twitter.com/XXJyRBr640
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 12, 2024
Jets star cornerback Sauce Gardner said that he thinks McDuffie should have won Super Bowl MVP.
This might be a hot take, but I think Trent McDuffie should've been the Superbowl
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) February 14, 2024
MVP. I could be bias because he's a DB, but that's my opinion.
Kurt Warner agrees that McDuffie should have taken home the honors.
No doubt PM2 played great down the stretch & deserved MVP, but if I had to choose someone else for award after watching the tape back it was #TrentMcDuffie, he dominated the WRs of SF (all SF DBs out physical-ed the 49ers & was why they won IMO)!!!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) February 12, 2024
Had Mahomes not been crowned Super Bowl MVP and McDuffie was instead, you probably wouldn't have found many people complaining.