Which football star was the MVP with 166 rushing yards in Super Bowl XVII?

John Riggins was the MVP with 166 rushing yards in Super Bowl XVII.

Riggins powered Washington to a 27–17 victory over the Miami Dolphins on January 30, 1983, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. He carried the ball 38 times for 166 yards and scored one touchdown, earning Super Bowl MVP honors for a performance that rescued Washington after Miami led 17–10 at halftime.

His decisive play came in the fourth quarter. Facing fourth-and-inches from the Miami 43-yard line, Riggins broke through the defense and ran for a 43-yard touchdown, giving Washington a lead it would not surrender. His physical running style and heavy workload made him the central figure in the comeback.

At the time, his 166 rushing yards and 38 attempts were Super Bowl records. The victory gave Washington its first Super Bowl title and its first NFL championship since 1942. Riggins was a fullback, although the question’s broader term “football star” is accurate.