How many Super Bowl winning quarterbacks were traded before they won the Super Bowl?

Answer 1

Through Super Bowl XLV, 12 winning starting quarterbacks played for a team other than the team that drafted them or the team they first signed a contract with. Of those quarterbacks, 4 were traded to the team they won the Super Bowl with and 8 signed as free agents.

1 - Len Dawson, Chiefs in Super Bowl IV - drafted by the Steelers and traded to the Browns after 3 years. Played 2 years with the Browns before being cut and signing with the Chiefs.

2 - John Unitas, Colts in Super Bowl V - drafted by the Steelers and cut in preseason. Signed with the Colts the following season.

3 - Jim Plunkett, Raiders in Super Bowls XV and XVIII - drafted by the Patriots and, after 5 years, traded to the 49ers. Cut by the 49ers after 2 years and signed with the Raiders.

4 - Joe Theismann, Redskins in Super Bowl XVII - drafted by the Dolphins but could not agree on a contract. Played 3 years in Canada before coming back and signing with the Redskins.

5 - Doug Williams, Redskins in Super Bowl XXII - drafted by the Buccaneers and played 5 years there. Then signed with the rival United States Football League and played 2 years before coming back and signing with the Redskins.

6 - Steve Young, 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX - drafted by the Buccaneers and played 2 years before being traded to the 49ers.

7 - Brett Favre, Packers in Super Bowl XXXI - drafted by the Falcons and played 1 year before being traded to the Packers.

8 - John Elway, Broncos in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII - drafted by the Colts but refused to play with them. Was traded a week after the draft to the Broncos.

9 - Kurt Warner, Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV - signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent but cut in preseason. Played in the Arena League for 3 seasons and NFL Europe for 1 season before signing with the Rams.

10 - Trent Dilfer, Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV - drafted by the Buccaneers and played 6 seasons before being cut and signing with the Ravens.

11 - Brad Johnson, Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII - drafted by the Vikings and played 5 seasons there before being traded to the Redskins. Played 2 seasons with the Redskins before being traded to the Buccaneers.

12 - Drew Brees, Saints in Super Bowl XLIV - drafted by the Chargers and played 5 seasons before signing with the Saints.