There are few bigger stages in sport than the Super Bowl and many of America's best-loved athletes have graced the showcase since its inception in 1967.
But which star shone brightest with the season on the line?
Walter Payton dipped and swerved as the Bears won their only title, Lawrence Taylor powered the Giants to glory and John Elway reversed a losing trend.
But none of these celebrated superstars make the shortlist.
Here - in alphabetical order - are the six greatest players in the history of the Super Bowl. . .
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Position: Defensive tackle
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl record: Won four
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"Mean" Joe Greene
A contentious choice, Greene was a driving force behind the "Steel Curtain" defence that helped Pittsburgh to four titles in the 1970s.
Quarterback Terry Bradshaw marshalled a potent Steelers offence, backed up by the likes of Franco Harris and Lynn Swann.
But it was the defence - led by Greene, Jack Lambert and Mel Blount - that made this NFL dynasty legendary.
In Super Bowl IX, Greene was a man-mountain as the Steelers held the Minnesota Vikings to a pitiful 17 total rushing yards.
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Position: Quarterback
Team: San Francisco 49ers
SB record: Won four
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Joe Montana
Always ice cool in the heat of battle, Montana won on each of his four appearances with the San Francisco 49ers, picking up MVP honours three times.
He holds a host of Super Bowl records, including the highest passing rating of 128, the most completions (83) and the most touchdown passes (11).
But Montana is best known for his heroic 92-yard drive on 24 January, 1982.
Facing shock defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals, "Joe Cool" dug deep to conduct an 11-play rally that ended in a winning touchdown pass with 34 seconds left.
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Position: Quarterback
Team: New York Jets
SB record: Won one
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Joe Namath
Alone among this select six, Namath only played in the big game once.
But he made a huge impact, audaciously predicting and then delivering the biggest upset in Super Bowl history for the New York Jets.
"Broadway Joe" broke with convention, calling regular audibles against the formerly free-scoring Baltimore Colts to upset their rhythm.
He threw for 206 yards and scooped the MVP award in a 16-7 win, before leaving the field with one index finger held high in the air.
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Position: Wide receiver
Team: 49ers & Oakland Raiders
SB record: Won four, lost one
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Jerry Rice
Being etched into folklore as one half of the Montana-Rice tandem, sells Rice well short.
He holds every important Super Bowl receiving record, including most receptions, touchdowns and yards.
And his 215-yard effort in 1989 was enough make him MVP, even with Montana at the helm.
Rice teamed up with Steve Young to beat San Diego six years later and, incredibly, was still on hand to score a touchdown for new team Oakland in their 2003 loss to Tampa Bay.
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Position: Running back
Team: Dallas Cowboys
SB record: Won three
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Emmitt Smith
Smith wins few all-time running back debates over Payton and Jim Brown, but he does stand tall on the Super Bowl stage.
He won three titles with the Dallas Cowboys, providing the ground threat in a three-pronged offence that also included quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin.
And he scooped MVP honours in 1993, when he rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns as Dallas swept aside the Buffalo Bills for the second straight year.
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Position: Quarterback
Team: Green Bay Packers
SB record: Won two
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Bart Starr
The Green Bay Packers were so dominant in the early years of the Super Bowl that the winners' trophy was named after their legendary coach Vince Lombardi.
On the field of play, however, Starr was the leader.
His post-season execution won the Packers the first-ever NFC v AFC showdown.
And the following season, he steered his team past the Cowboys - in an infamous game known as the "Ice Bowl" due to the weather - before winning the Super Bowl again.
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