NFL.com has turned the spotlight on the franchises that have not produced an MVP during the Super Bowl era. The debate is fascinating because several of those teams enter the 2026 season with renewed hope, new key players or clear signs of development.

The appeal of the story is not limited to the names of potential candidates. It is also about the development of the teams around them. A genuine MVP run is almost always a sign that a club is taking the next sporting step, whether as a surprise team, a playoff contender or a legitimate championship candidate.

For European fans, it is an ideal summer topic: which quarterbacks, skill players or defensive stars can make the jump into the absolute elite in 2026? That is exactly the question we examine and put into context.