The 10 Greatest Plays in Super Bowl History

The 55th edition of the Super Bowl promises to be a fun one, with Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady set to renew their rivalry. We’ll see whether Mahomes can lead the Chiefs to a second title in as many years, or whether Brady can win a Super Bowl for the first time as a representative of the NFC.

Before we get ready for the big game on February 7, why not take a look back at some of the most memorable plays from Super Bowls past? These are the 10 best plays in the history of the Super Bowl.

10. Tracy Porter’s Pick-Six (Super Bowl 44)

The Saints’ win over the Colts in Super Bowl 44 already has one entry on this list, but let’s not forget another huge play that swung the momentum in favor of New Orleans. The Saints eventually came away with a 31-17 win, but the game was close in the fourth quarter. Peyton Manning, arguably the greatest QB in the history of the game not named Tom Brady, had his team driving in an attempt to tie the game in its latter stages.

The Indianapolis Colts trailed 24-17 with just over three minutes to play. Manning had Indianapolis near the Saints’ 30-yard-line when he dropped back to pass on third-and-five. Manning fired a pass in the direction of Reggie Wayne, only to see the route undercut by Saints cornerback Tracy Porter. Porter picked off the pass and made a dash for the opposite end zone in one swift motion. Porter wound up going 74 yards untouched for the score to put the game on ice in one of the best defensive plays in Super Bowl history.

9. Mike Jones Ends Titans’ Threat (Super Bowl 34)

Kurt Warner’s game-winning touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce from Super Bowl 34 appeared earlier on this list, but that isn’t the most iconic play from that game. Steve McNair had his Tennessee Titans driving to tie the game in the waning moments on the very next drive.

The Titans had already erased a 16-0 deficit earlier in the game to tie the score with less than two minutes to play. Warner’s strike to Bruce put the Rams back on top, but McNair wasted little time in getting the Titans right back into scoring position. With six seconds left to play and the ball on the St. Louis 10-yard-line, McNair found wideout Kevin Dyson on a quick slant, who made a last-ditch effort to get into the end zone.

However, Dyson ultimately came up short thanks to Rams linebacker Mike Jones. Dyson had just one man between himself and paydirt, but he was unable to get past Jones, who made the game-saving tackle to keep Dyson a yard short of the end zone. The play gave the Rams their first (and only) Super Bowl title.

8. Von Miller’s Sack-Fumbles (Super Bowl 50)

Manning and the Denver Broncos entered Super Bowl 50 as underdogs to Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. Newton was fresh off of an MVP-winning season, and the Panthers had just one loss on the entire year entering the game. While Manning was ultimately successful in his quest to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to the Mile High City, the Broncos’ defense was the deciding factor in the game.

Von Miller took home the Super Bowl MVP award thanks to his dominance over the course of 60 minutes. His most noteworthy play came early in the first quarter with Denver already out to a 3-0 lead. Miller easily stormed past Panthers right tackle Mike Remmers to get to Newton within just a few seconds of taking the snap. Miller ripped the ball from Newton’s grasp before it was eventually recovered by teammate Malik Jackson in the end zone.

Later in the game, Miller got to Newton again. With the Panthers driving down 16-10 with four minutes left in the fourth, Miller again beat Remmers and batted the ball out of Newton’s hand. A mad scramble ensued before the ball was eventually scooped up by Denver safety TJ Ward. That play effectively sealed Denver’s upset victory and capped one of the greatest individual performances ever for one player in a Super Bowl.

7. Montana-To-Taylor (Super Bowl 23)

Before Brady led the Patriots to an unprecedented dynastic run, Joe Montana did the same with the San Francisco 49ers. While Montana’s pass to Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Championship Game may have been the most memorable play from his storied career, Montana’s connection with John Taylor in Super Bowl 23 can’t be far behind.

The 49ers trailed the Cincinnati Bengals 16-13 as they drove down the field in the game’s final seconds. San Francisco started the possession on their own eight-yard-line with just over three minutes to play, but Montana quickly marched the Niners down the field. With only 34 seconds on the clock, Montana fired a pass over the middle to wide receiver John Taylor, who got both feet down before being pushed out of bounds.

Jerry Rice won Super Bowl MVP that year after topping 200 receiving yards, but Montana’s connection with Taylor will go down as the game’s most noteworthy play.

6. Riggins’ Rumble (Super Bowl 17)

Washington entered Super Bowl 17 against Miami with just one loss on the year, but they were staring at a crucial fourth-down play with the game coming down to the wire. Washington trailed 17-13 with just over 10 minutes left to play when head coach Joe Gibbs decided to roll the dice on fourth-and-1 from the Dolphins’ 43.

Washington had run the ball on each of their last three plays, so everyone in the stadium that day knew what was coming next. However, Miami couldn’t do anything to stop it. Gibbs called on his most physical running back, John Riggins, to get the yard his team needed. Riggins delivered…and then some.

Washington’s bruising back ran to the left and quickly skirted a tackle from Miami’s Don McNeal. McNeal would be the last Dolphin to lay a finger on Riggins on the play. He scampered the full 43 yards to the end zone to give Washington a lead that they would never give up. Washington wound up winning the game 27-17 thanks in large part to Gibbs’ fourth-down gamble and Riggins’ sensational run.

5. The Philly Special (Super Bowl 52)

The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t had a ton of success over the years. Philadelphia was arguably the best team in football during most of the 2018 season before quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL in December. Many believed Philly’s Super Bowl hopes were dashed once Wentz went down, but backup Nick Foles was up to the challenge.

Foles and the Eagles weren’t too concerned about facing Brady’s Patriots in Super Bowl 52. Head coach Doug Pederson had gained a reputation as something of a gambler himself when it came to bold playcalling. Despite holding a 15-12 lead over the favored Patriots just before halftime, Pederson and Foles decided to call for some “trickeration.”

The Eagles had fourth-and-goal from the New England one-yard-line with 38 seconds left in the first half. Philly lined up in the shotgun and snapped the ball to running back Corey Clement. Clement took the snap and flipped the ball to tight end Trey Burton, who came around from the left. Foles had sneakily leaked out to the right, where he found himself all alone in the end zone. Burton easily lobbed a pass to the wide-open Foles for the easy score.

Philadelphia extended their lead to 22-12 entering halftime, and they never looked back on their way to their first-ever Super Bowl victory.

4. James Harrison’s Long Journey (Super Bowl 43)

The Super Bowl 43 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals wound up being one of the most exciting in recent memory. Kurt Warner had his underdog Cardinals deep in Pittsburgh territory and ready to take control of the game heading into halftime.

Arizona trailed 10-7 with 18 seconds left in the half. Warner took the snap from the Steelers’ two-yard-line, but his pass over-the-middle was intercepted on the goal line by linebacker James Harrison. Harrison was hardly the fastest player on the field, but he had a convoy of blockers out in front of him helping to lead the way.

Harrison dashed down the right sideline and managed to keep his balance after a push from Cardinals tight end Leonard Pope. He then evaded running back Tim Hightower further down the field before Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston tackled him into the end zone. Harrison’s 100-yard return wound up serving as a 14-point swing that proved crucial in the Steelers’ eventual 27-23 triumph.

At the time, it was the longest play in Super Bowl history, beating Desmond Howard’s 99-yard kickoff return in Super Bowl 31 by one yard.

3. Santonio Holmes’ Tiptoe Catch (Super Bowl 43)

Harrison’s play was a memorable one, but he was outdone by teammate Santonio Holmes in the very same game. The Cardinals had stormed back to take a late lead in the fourth quarter thanks to a pass from Warner to Fitzgerald with just a few minutes remaining.

However, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers weren’t done-and-dusted just yet. Big Ben led the Pittsburgh Steelers on a length-of-the-field drive on their very next possession to get into Arizona territory. With 43 seconds on the clock, Pittsburgh lined up for a second-and-goal play from the Cardinals’ six-yard-line.

Roethlisberger dropped back to pass and fired the ball deep into the back corner of the end zone. Despite throwing into triple-coverage, Roethlisberger was able to put the ball where only Holmes could catch it. Holmes reached as high as he possibly could while keeping his toes on the ground up against the sideline. He maintained possession as he fell to the ground, and replay confirmed that he had come down inbounds.

The score gave the Steelers a 27-23 lead and a record-setting sixth Super Bowl title. It is still easily one of the better catches in the history of the game, especially given the stakes.

2. Malcolm Butler’s Last-Second Interception (Super Bowl 49)

The matchup in Super Bowl 49 looked an awful lot like the matchup we have on tap in Super Bowl 55. Tom Brady led his Patriots to yet another Super Bowl, while the Seattle Seahawks looked to win a second-straight title after beating the Broncos the year before. This year, we have Brady standing in the way of the Chiefs in their quest to win back-to-back championships.

Brady led the Patriots to a score to take a 28-24 lead with a little over two minutes to play. Russell Wilson quickly marched the Seahawks into the red zone, however, and Seattle had the ball at the New England one-yard line with 26 seconds left. Rather than simply punching the ball into the end zone with the bruising Marshawn Lynch, though, the Seahawks decided to get too cute.

Seattle had Wilson attempt a pass on the play that was intercepted by Patriots undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler at the goal line. Butler’s interception was one of the most stunning plays in Super Bowl history, especially considering the Seahawks looked like sure bets to take a late lead. New England regained possession and ran out the clock to give Brady and Belichick their fifth Super Bowl title.

1. David Tyree’s Helmet Catch (Super Bowl 42)

The history of the Super Bowl is littered with incredible moments, but it’s hard to imagine a play more iconic than David Tyree’s “helmet catch.” Few gave the Giants much of a chance to beat the previously-unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl 42, but Eli Manning had his team driving for the win as the clock wound down.

Manning would go on to win Super Bowl MVP after leading the G-Men to the upset, but he owes at least part of the award to David Tyree. Tyree was hardly one of Manning’s most reliable targets, but he saved the game with his catch on New York’s final drive. Manning escaped a sack from three different New England defenders to extend the play on third-and-five from their own 44.

Manning evaded the likes of Richard Seymour, Jarvis Green, and Adalius Thomas before chucking a pass over the middle of the field in Tyree’s direction. Tyree leaped to catch the pass before the ball was batted by Patriots safety Rodney Harrison. Tyree was able to hold onto the ball despite Harrison’s efforts by pressing it against his helmet as he fell to the ground.

New York wound up gaining 32 yards on the improbable play to give them a first down with 32 seconds to go. Manning eventually connected with Plaxico Burress a few plays later on the game-winning touchdown to give the Giants one of the most shocking upset wins we have ever seen in a Super Bowl.