The quarterback is an integral part of any football team. To make it through the regular season and the playoffs to the Super Bowl takes an elite quarterback.
So where have most of the winners come from? Which colleges can claim the most NFL rings because of their former QBs?
Patrick Mahomes has now led Texas Tech to NFL immortality. Winning three Super Bowls over his six years in the league so far, he has added three rings to the Red Raiders' trophy case.
Here are the 8 programs whose quarterbacks have gone on to win the most Super Bowls:
3 Super Bowls
UCLA Bruins
- Troy Aikman – Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX
The Oklahoma Sooners sure do rue the day that Aikman trasnfered to sunny Los Angeles. Instead of OU being able to claim his three rings, the UCLA Bruins get to brag about their former quarterback being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and winning three Super Bowls for them.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Patrick Mahomes – Super Bowls LIV, LVII, and LVIII
The Kansas City Chiefs became the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions since the 2003-04 New England Patriots. Patrick Mahomes can now boast three Super Bowl rings as his own. The Texas Tech Red Raiders join the UCLA Bruins as just two of eight schools whose quarterbacks have brought home Super Bowl victories.
4 Super Bowls
Alabama Crimson Tide
- Bart Starr – Super Bowls I and II
- Joe Namath – Super Bowl III
- Ken Stabler – Super Bowl XI
Despite their recent collegiate prowess, the Alabama Crimson Tide hasn't had a Super Bowl-winning QB since 1977. Recent 'Bama quarterbacks drafted into the NFL have fallen short of ultimate glory and failed to earn Tuscaloosa a new ring.
Purdue Boilermakers
- Len Dawson – Super Bowl IV
- Bob Griese – Super Bowls VII and VIII
- Drew Brees – Super Bowl XLIV
Dawson and Brees each went on to win a Super Bowl after their collegiate careers with Purdue. Griese, who played quarterback, punter, and kicker for the Boilermakers, capped off his incredible football career with back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
Louisiana Tech
- Terry Bradshaw – Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, XIV
Bradshaw put LA Tech on the NFL map when he joined the league in 1970. Winning four Super Bowls for the Steelers, and therefore his alma mater Louisiana Tech, he helped his former school gain any semblance of recognition at the professional level.
Stanford Cardinal
- Jim Plunkett – Super Bowls XV and XVIII
- John Elway – Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII
Two all-time greats hail from Palo Alto, California. Elway and Plunkett went on to win two Super Bowls apiece during their respective professional careers. They also each have an Super Bowl MVP trophy on their shelves, Elway won his in 1999 and Plunkett earned his in 1981.
5 Super Bowls
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Joe Montana – Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV
- Joe Theismann – Super Bowl XVII
If you're a young quarterback named Joe and your dream is to win a Super Bowl, go to Notre Dame for your collegiate career... it seems to bode well for your future. Montana and Theismann have earned five total Super Bowl victories for the Fighting Irish, putting them second on this all-time list.
7 Super Bowls
Michigan Wolverines
- Tom Brady – Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII, and LV
You can't beat Brady. Despite being one of the most underrated NFL stars of all time, he won seven rings during his career and pushes Michigan well ahead of any other college when it comes to the quarterback ring count.
There are five schools whose quarterbacks have gone on to earn their former schools two Super Bowl victories:
BYU, Navy, Miami Ohio, Ole Miss, and Tennessee all lay claim to two NFL Championships.