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East Rutherford, N.J. • Standing near his locker, the one where two footballs were tucked away for safekeeping, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith repeated the word "fortunate" over and over again.

The third player at his position in NFL history to earn Super Bowl MVP honors, he spoke about feeling "fortunate to be a part of it" and "fortunate to get opportunities."

Truth is, the Seahawks were the lucky ones.

Because even though Smith was only a seventh-round draft pick, a guy who was not supposed to be a starter this season, he always was ready when called upon. Never more so than Sunday night, when Smith returned an interception of regular-season MVP Peyton Manning 69 yards for a touchdown in the first half, recovered a fumble in the second half, and was part of a dominating defensive performance that helped Seattle beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 for the championship.

"He's one of the guys that plays with a chip on his shoulder," fellow linebacker K.J. Wright said. "He almost didn't get drafted. For him to come in, start from the bottom and work his way up to Super Bowl MVP, it shows how much character he has, how resilient he is."

Sure is. And it was rather appropriate that a member of Seattle's league-leading "D" would be the MVP of the Super Bowl, considering the way the Seahawks shut down Manning and Denver's record-breaking offense, forcing four turnovers and holding the Broncos scoreless until the last play of the third quarter.

Smith joined Ray Lewis of Baltimore in 2001, and Chuck Howley of Dallas in 1971 as the only linebackers to be picked as the top player in a Super Bowl. Only eight of 48 Super Bowls have ended with someone who plays defense getting the honor; the last example was Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Dexter Jackson in 2003.

And Smith, who is 24, is the fourth-youngest Super Bowl MVP.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas were first-team All-Pro selections this season, and both finished among the top five vote-getters for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Safety Kam Chancellor was a second-team All-Pro choice.

That trio of defensive backs is part of a talented secondary known as the "Legion of Boom," and guys such as Smith often get overshadowed.

"You might have been overlooked," Smith said, explaining that he's derived motivation from snubs such as not being invited to the NFL draft combine for top prospects coming out of college. "You might feel like you can make plays and never got the opportunity."

But it was Smith who wound up with the victory-sealing interception at the end of Seattle's NFC championship game victory two weeks ago. —

Recent Super Bowl MVPs

2014 • Malcolm Smith, LB, Seattle

2013 • Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore

2012 • Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants

2011 • Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay

2010 • Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans

2009 • Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh

2008 • Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants

2007 • Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis

2006 • Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh

2005 • Deion Branch, WR, New England