The 10 oldest quarterbacks to play in a Super Bowl

On Feb. 7, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will become the oldest quarterback ever to start a Super Bowl at 39 years old. In a sport dominated by young blood, the fact Manning is still even playing at 39 is a tremendous accomplishment, let alone starting a Super Bowl.

So with Peyton's age in mind, let's take a look at the 10 oldest quarterbacks to play in a Super Bowl prior to this year.

1) John Elway, Super Bowl XXXIII

The Broncos have a habit of starting older quarterbacks in the Super Bowl. As of this point in time, legendary Broncos quarterback John Elway is the oldest ever to start a Super Bowl at 38 years of age.

In Super Bowl XXIII against the Atlanta Falcons, Elway passed for 336 yards and had two total touchdowns as Denver won back-to-back Super Bowls, winning the second 34-19. It was Elway’s final game of his career.

2) Peyton Manning, Super Bowl XLVIII

The man who will attempt to lead the Broncos to the promised land in less than two weeks was already the second oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl just two years ago. Unfortunately for Manning and the Broncos, Super Bowl XLVIII was a disaster. The Broncos were blown out by the Seattle Seahawks 43-8, as Manning threw two interceptions and was largely ineffective.

3) Johnny Unitas, Super Bowl V

For decades, legendary Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas was the oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. At 37, he was part of the Colts' 16-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth edition of the Super Bowl but was knocked out of the game with a rib injury in the second quarter. Unitas' injury led the way for another quarterback to appear later on this list.

4) Kurt Warner, XLIII

Fueled by a high-powered passing offense, Super Bowl XLIII saw the Arizona Cardinals appear in the game for the first time in team history. Led by a 37-year-old Kurt Warner, the Cardinals came up one amazing catch from Santonio Holmes short from winning it all. The Cards lost to the Steelers 27-23. Warner performed well, however, passing for 377 yards and three touchdowns.

5) John Elway, Super Bowl XXXII

After losing in three previous Super Bowls, most assumed Super Bowl XXXII would be 37-year-old John Elway's last chance to win the big one. In a dramatic game against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, the Broncos held on to win 31-24, giving Elway his first ring. The Broncos great would another one the very next year.

6) Rich Gannon, Super Bowl XXXVII

After years of torment, Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon finally made it to his first Super Bowl at age 37. Unfortunately for Gannon and the Raiders, they came up against Jon Gruden’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Bucs destroyed the Raiders, winning by the score of 48-21. Gannon threw a Super Bowl record five interceptions.

7) Fran Tarkenton, Super Bowl XI

One of the NFL’s first great passing quarterbacks, Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton became one of the oldest QBs to play in a Super Bowl when he started for the team in Super Bowl XI. The 36-year-old Tarkenton and his Vikings lost to the Raiders 32-14 in a game that was never really all that close. Tarkenton passed for 215 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

8) Roger Staubach, Super Bowl XIII

In one of the most dramatic Super Bowls of all time, 36-year-old quarterback Roger Staubach and his Cowboys came up four points short against the Steelers. Super Bowl XIII was an all-time classic, as Dallas nearly pulled of an improbable fourth-quarter comeback but fell just short.

The Steelers won 35-31, but Staubach had a strong game, throwing for 228 yards and three touchdowns. If not for a drop in the end zone from tight end Jackie Smith, it would have been four touchdown passes for Staubach.

9) Earl Morrall, Super Bowl V

After Johnny Unitas was lost for the game due a rib injury in the second quarter, Baltimore Colts quarterback Earl Morrall became the second oldest quarterback to play in a Super Bowl. The 36-year-old Morrall got the job done for the Colts, as they defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16-13. Morrall passed for 175 yards, and the Colts won their first Super Bowl.

10) Jim Plunkett, Super Bowl XVIII

Super Bowl XVIII saw 36-year-old Raiders quarterback become one of the oldest ever to win the big game. Truth be told, however, it was running back Marcus Allen who led the Raiders to a 38-9 victory over the Washington Redskins. Allen ran all over Washington, rushing for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

But it was Plunkett who handed him the ball for each of his 20 carries! To be fair to Plunkett, he did pass for 172 yards and a touchdown as well.