Smith played a brief three years in the NFL and produced a pedestrian 190 carries for 602 regular season yards and nine receptions. But in Super Bowl XXII he started the game due to injuries to regular starters and rushed 22 times for a Super Bowl record 204 yards, two touchdowns and one reception. The Redskins were so concerned about his being nervous that they didn't notify him of his starting status until just before the opening kickoff.

McGee caught 4 passes in 1966 but started in Super Bowl I due to Packers injuries. He caught 7 passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns, the first on a great one-handed grab on a ball thrown behind him. While playing a full 12 year NFL career, this performance off the bench came completely unexpected and only quarterback Bart Starr kept him from game MVP.

Tyree managed just 83 receptions in his career and only four in 2007. The day before Super Bowl XLII he caught one pass in a dreadful practice performance. But he came up big in his three game catches, one for a fourth quarter TD that gave the Giants the lead. Another, an improbable 33-yard catch off his helmet on the Giants game-winning drive on 3rd and 5 with less than 1 minute remaining. It's considered by many as the best catch in Super Bowl history. Tyree never caught another NFL pass.

2014 undrafted free agent Butler played in just 184 defensive plays before Super Bowl XLIX. A Super Bowl backup, he entered the game in the 2nd half and made a pass deflection with one minutee left but Devon Kearse make a circus catch giving the Seahawks a 1st and goal. The Pats leading by 4, on 2nd and goal from the 1 with 20 seconds left he crashed the slant pattern making a one-handed interception at the goal line saving preserving the Patriots 4th Super Bowl win.

At the time of Super Bowl XV Raiders linebacker Martin had started only 33 games and totaled only 2 interceptions. But he collected 3 of his 17 career picks in Super Bowl XV, changing field position and putting the Raiders in position for 10 of their

27 points. His defensive domination helped the Raiders hold the Eagles to only 2.7 yards per carry in a 27-10 victory. 

Small college player Ross wasn't exactly a household name but he caught 11 passes for 104 yards and two TD's in Super Bowl XVI. He made our list for three reasons: 1) He held the record for most catches in a Super Bowl (11) for seven years and was tied for the most another 25 years after that, 2) He still holds the record for tight ends, and 3) He likely would have been the game  MVP if it were not for a late comeback by Joe Montana. 

Smith played 8 relatively unsung NFL years with 22 regular season interceptions. But he made up for that with two interceptions returned for touchdowns in Super Bowl XXVII creating 14 of the Bucs points in a 48-21 victory over the Raiders and their Pro Bowl quarterback Rich Gannon. His 93 yards in return yardage is a Super Bowl record for one game.

Beverly (#42) played only five seasons collecting only 12 interceptions in the regular season. But he came through in Super Bowl III snatching two interceptions from league MVP and 3-time Super Bowl champion Earl Morrall, one in the end zone and one in the red zone. Beverly's picks were central to the Jets attaining our biggest Super Bowl upset ever, 16-7 over the 19 point favored Colts. He is so obscure we had trouble finding a picture of him.

In late 1990 Hostetler had played five years with only two starts and was mulling retirement. With Phil Sims injured he finished the Giants 13-3 season going 5-0 including an upset of the 9 1/2 point favorite 49ers in the NFC Championship game and a 20-19 Super Bowl XXV thriller over 7 point favorite Buffalo. Pounded by a relentless Bills defense, he completed 20 of 32 passes  for 220 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Before his five game run, he was virtually unheard of.