The history of the Super Bowl is filled with football legends who shone brightly in the NFL's ultimate game. Think of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw, who each won four Super Bowl rings or Mean Joe Green and Jack Lambert who led Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense. Who can forget "America's Team," the Dallas Cowboys, led by superstars like Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman? Or more recent winners like Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger?

But there are also a few one-off heroes, unheralded stars who emerged from obscurity - or the shadows of their more famous teammates - to make their mark. Here are my top ten surprising heroes of the Super Bowl.

10. Chuck Howley, Dallas LB, Super Bowl V (1971)

Howley was the first defensive player to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and even to this day, the only one from a losing team. In a 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Colts, Howley intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble. The next year, in Super Bowl VI, Howley had an interception and a fumble recovery in Dallas' 24-3 win over Miami, but quarterback Roger Staubach got the MVP award.

9. Rod Martin, Oakland LB, Super Bowl XV (1981)

Another linebacker who turned in a superb Super Bowl performance, although once again a quarterback - Jim Plunkett - was named MVP. Martin picked off Ron Jaworski's first pass of the game, then added two more interceptions as Oakland's defense dominated Philadelphia 27-10.

8. Trent Dilfer, Baltimore QB, Super Bowl XXXV (2001)

Dilfer was signed as a backup quarterback to Tony Banks, but ended up taking most of the snaps throughout the season. Though Dilfer was seen as more of a "game manager" than a "game changer," he led the Ravens to a stunning 30-7 rout of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. Dilfer was released the following season, the only time a Super Bowl-winning QB has been cut loose the next year.

7. Mike Jones, St. Louis LB, Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)

Jones was originally a running back at Missouri, but switched to linebacker in the NFL. He was a solid, if unspectacular player, but will always be remembered for "The Tackle," where he brought down Tennessee's Kevin Dyson on the one yard line on the last play of the game to preserve the Rams 23-16 victory.

6. John Taylor, San Francisco WR, Super Bowl XXIII (1989)

With all the attention (rightly so) on San Francisco's Jerry Rice, who was MVP after catching 11 passes for 215 yards, it was Taylor who ended up stealing the show. He caught only one pass all day, but it was the game-winner with less than a minute to play, giving the 49ers a 20-16 win over Cincinnati.

5. David Tyree, NY Giants WR, Super Bowl XLII (2008)

Four years after making one of the greatest plays in the history of the Super Bowl, Tyree is no longer in the NFL. His stunning catch late in the fourth quarter helped the Giants - heavy underdogs to unbeaten New England - upset the Patriots in one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played.

4. Larry Brown, Dallas DB, Super Bowl XXX (1996)

A relatively unheralded defensive back, Brown helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXX and was named MVP after two second half interceptions. Brown parlayed his great game into a huge contract with the Oakland Raiders, but he never lived up to the hype and was out of the league by 1999.

3. Doug Williams, Washington QB, Super Bowl XXII (1988)

A high draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Williams left the NFL for the USFL before returning to back up Jay Schroeder at Washington. Considered erratic and inconsistent, Williams played well in relief of Schroeder and got the start in the Super Bowl. He turned in an MVP performance, throwing four touchdown passes (all in the second quarter) and helped pave the way for future African-American quarterbacks.

2. Timmy Smith, Washington RB, Super Bowl XXII (1988)

Smith was a little-used running back during the regular season, rushing for just 126 total yards. But as a replacement for the injured George Rogers in the Super Bowl, Smith scored two touchdowns and ran for an unbelievable 204 yards - still a Super Bowl record - as the Redskins blew out Denver 42-10. Two years later, his NFL career was over.

1. Max McGee, Green Bay WR, Super Bowl I (1967)

McGee had caught only four passes during the regular season and didn't expect to play in the first-ever NFC/AFC championship game. In fact, the notorious partier allegedly spent much of Super Bowl week - including the night before the game - breaking curfew. But when starting wide receiver Boyd Dowler went down with an injury, McGee was forced into action; he caught seven passes, two of them touchdowns as the Packers hammered the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.