13 Most Memorable Moments in Super Bowl History
The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in the U.S. every year. With multimillion-dollar commercial spots and an epic halftime show, it’s more than just a football game.
There have been some unforgettable moments over the last 58 Super Bowls–on and off the field, for better and worse. Here is our list of 13 of the most memorable moments in NFL Super Bowl history.
Philly Special, Super Bowl LII
We’ll take one Philly Philly to go, please. On fourth and goal late in the second quarter, the Philadelphia Eagles ran a play they had never run before. Jason Kelce snapped it to running back Corey Clement, who pitched the ball to Trey Burton, who passed it to an open quarterback Nick Foles. The touchdown contributed to the Eagles’ 41-33 win over the New England Patriots. This was Philly’s first Super Bowl win and first football championship in 57 years, and Philly Special lives on today.
The Helmet Catch, Super Bowl XLII
The New York Giants faced third and five on their own 44 with less than 90 seconds left in the championship against Tom Brady and the Patriots. Eli Manning narrowly escaped a jersey grab and launched the ball downfield to receiver David Tyree, who was well-guarded by Rodney Harrison. Tyree used his helmet to steady the ball and complete the catch, wrestling with Harrison for a few moments after landing to confirm the catch. That catch led to a touchdown a few plays later, securing the underdog win for the Giants against the undefeated Patriots.
28-3, Super Bowl LI
If you want to trigger anyone from Atlanta, just say the numbers 28-3. That was the Falcons’ score against the Patriots with 17 minutes left in regulation. The Dirty Birds had never won an NFL championship, and the city was ready to cash in their bets. But they say never to count out the GOAT. Something kicked in for Tom Brady in the fourth quarter, throwing touchdown pass after touchdown pass. Plus, an Falcons fumble with less than 6 minutes left didn’t help their case. The Patriots ended up tying the game, 28-28, and secured the win in the first possession of overtime. It is the largest comeback and first-ever overtime in Super Bowl history.
Whitney Houston’s National Anthem, Super Bowl XXV
Ten days into the Persian Gulf War, singer Whitney Houston knew the pressure of singing the National Anthem that year–and she did not disappoint. With the support of the Florida Orchestra, over 750 million people worldwide tuned in to hear Houston belt what some call the best National Anthem of all time. It was the first time the Super Bowl was broadcast in other countries around the world. Houston later described the atmosphere as intense, wanting to send a message of hope and unity for the troops fighting for our country.
Dyson Tackled 1 Yard Short, Super Bowl XXXIV
Often referred to as “The Tackle,” this is the play that made Mike Jones a hero in St. Louis. On the final play of the game, the Tennessee Titans tried to use tight end Frank Wycheck as a decoy to distract Jones and make room for Kevin Dyson–which worked at first. But once Jones saw Dyson open and making the catch, he switched directions and wrapped himself around Dyson’s legs, pulling him down 1 yard short of the end zone. Dyson tried to crawl in and cross the ball over the line, but the refs called him down and, as a result, called the game.
Saints’ Surprise Onside Kick, Super Bowl XLIV
Given time by a 35-minute halftime show from The Who, Saints coach Sean Payton drew up something no one would see coming: start the second half with an onside kick. The play, known as the “Ambush,” put fate into punter/kickoff ace Thomas Morstead’s hands (or feet) as he was told the plan coming into the second half. He has gone on to say he wasn’t only scared, he was outright terrified. But, he stayed calm enough to deliver a kick that would bounce a few yards forward and right out of the facemask of the Colts wide receiver–right to a Saints’ player who scooped it up before getting piled on. It took ten minutes to break up the pile and finally declare the Saints’ ball. Seen as the game’s turning point, the Saints went on to win, 31-17.
Who turned the lights off? Super Bowl XLVII
Never mind the longest kickoff return in Super Bowl history or a thrilling 34-31 final score–the thing people remember most about 2013’s Super Bowl is the 34 minutes of darkness when the power went out. Minutes after kickoff in the second half, the lights went out in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and the initial broadcast was interrupted. Rumors of terrorism or a fire starting quickly spread as to the cause of the outage. However, reports would later show that some sensing equipment experienced an abnormality in the system.
Malcolm Butler Goal Line Interception, Super Bowl XLIX
Just an undrafted rookie out of West Alabama, Malcolm Butler read Russell Wilson like a book. In what ended up being the game’s final play, the Seattle Seahawks were 2nd and goal on the 1-yard-line and down by 4 to the Patriots. Seahawks fans expected the ball to land in the hands of Marshawn Lynch in the backfield, who had been critical to their offensive success all season. Instead, a pick play is called to target Ricardo Lockette, which Malcolm Butler not only read but perfectly timed his jump in to make the interception. Butler immediately went down and secured the fourth championship for New England.
Tracy Porter Pick-6, Super Bowl XLIV
If Peyton Manning is reading this, keep scrolling. Any cornerback dreams of making a pick-6. But how about a pick-6 to win the Super Bowl? That dream became a reality for the Saints’ Tracy Porter. With 3:24 left on the clock, Manning threw to a receiver on his left, which Porter easily anticipated. He broke away and took it 74 yards into the end zone, securing the win for New Orleans, 31-17.
Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, Super Bowl XXXVIII
This was a fun one for any families watching together. The scandal referred to as “nipplegate” started innocently enough with Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performing a great halftime show, getting people in the stadium and 150 million people watching from home to dance and sing along. Everything seemed great until the very end when Timberlake tried to seemingly “undo” a part of Jackson’s top to reveal a lace bra, but accidentally (or purposefully, depending on whom you ask) ripped off part of her costume and revealed her right breast to the world. The broadcast immediately cuts to a wide shot, but not before the damage was done. Some say it was a publicity stunt; others say it was a complete accident. Both MTV (who produced the halftime show) and CBS apologized for the incident, stating they had no prior knowledge that it would occur.
Blunder Bowl, Super Bowl V
Memorable doesn’t always mean good. In 1971, the fifth Super Bowl ever was played between the Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys and finished with a thrilling score of 16-13. This game had mistake after mistake, from blocked extra points to turnovers and truly awful officiating miscues. To date, this is the only Super Bowl where the MVP award was given to a player on the losing team: Cowboys’ linebacker Chuck Howley for the two interceptions he made.
Terrell Davis Walk-In Game-Winner, Super Bowl XXXII
It was going to take more than a migraine to stop Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXII. With over 157 yards and three rushing touchdowns, Davis secured the championship for the Broncos with his go-ahead touchdown in the last 1:45 of the game. As of this year, he remains the most recent running back to be named Super Bowl MVP. While this is an impressive statistic, what makes this moment memorable is that the Packers let Davis walk into the end zone. They thought it would be smart to get the ball back with as much time as possible. Packers coach Mike Holmgren was the one who led the idea, later admitting he thought it was 1st-and-goal and not 2nd-and-goal.
Devin Hester Kickoff Touchdown, Super Bowl XLI
There’s no better start than running back the first kick of the game for a 92-yard touchdown. Devin Hester became the first player in Super Bowl history to return the opening kickoff for a TD, helping give the Bears an early 7-0 lead. The Colts would eventually come back to win 29-17, but Chicago fans recall this as one of the top moments for their franchise. Indianapolis had originally planned not to kick it toward Hester but didn’t want to “play scared” and wanted to make an impression by pounding Hester. How did that work out for ya, coach?
