Advertisement

The six best plays in Super Bowl history

From Marcus Allen’s run to ‘the helmet catch’.

6. James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return – Super Bowl XLIII

Artur G. / YouTube

There are some who argue that James Harrison’s interception return was the single most pivotal individual play in any Super Bowl. Those people are almost certainly Pittsburgh Steelers fans.

However, there’s no doubt the pick was one of the best pieces of free-styling — the linebacker was supposed to be covering  running back Tim Hightower on the play — we’ve ever seen in a Super Bowl.

5. Devin Hester’s kick off return – Super Bowl XLI

thewasteland09 / YouTube

In 2006, Devin Hester became the first player to return the opening kick off for a touchdown. While the Bears would eventually lose to the Colts, this return was made all the better by how stupid it made Phil Simms sound in commentary. Again.

4. Marcus Allen’s 74-yard run – Super Bowl XVIII

oshoys112 / YouTube

Obviously — as a Raiders fan — I was going to include this but Allen’s run would be worthy of inclusion no matter who he played for. Allen would run for 191 yards on the day, and be named MVP as the Raiders ran out comfortable winners.

3. David Tyree’s helmet catch — Super Bowl XLII

theMword23 / YouTube

There’s only so much love you can give this play given the amount of holding the Giants’ offensive line were engaged in but you have to credit David Tyree for the sheer ingenuity he used to ensure New York would deny Tom Brady and Bill Belichick a fourth Super Bowl.

2. The tackle — Super Bowl XXXIV

mrlewis314 / YouTube

After Steve McNair rallied the Titans to the Rams’ 10-yard line with six seconds left, it looked like Tennessee would bring the game to overtime when the quarterback found Kevin Dyson on a slant. Sadly for the Titans, Rams LB Mike Jones produced a Super Bowl-saving tackle.

1. The other catch — Super Bowl XXIII

AnapelliHairClinic / YouTube

The 49ers trailed the Bengals 16-13 when they took possession of the football at their own eight-yard line with 3:10 left on the clock in 1989. With Joe Montana calling the plays, the Niners marched down to the Cincinnati 10.

Now down to their final 39 seconds, the Niners ran a pass play. Roger Craig, the primary receiver on that particular play, is double-covered but John Taylor breaks loose deep in the end zone.

Montana fires to Taylor and the rest is history.

Disagree with our selections? Of course you do. Let us know what you think was the best play in Super Bowl history in the comments below.

Super Bowl 50: Where are the best places to watch it in Ireland?

The path to the Super Bowl – 5 games that defined the Broncos’ & Panthers’ seasons

Close
9 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul McNevin
    Favourite Paul McNevin
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 2:10 PM

    The poor mans Sepp Blatter.

    174
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mick murphy
    Favourite mick murphy
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 10:46 PM

    And we all know why he got the gig!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall C
    Favourite Niall C
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 2:42 PM

    It’s all very well giving out about it, but the LOI clubs have a responsibility to join together and look for answers on behalf of their supporters, who are the people who actually care about football in this country.

    Strength in numbers etc.

    124
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Sullivan
    Favourite John O'Sullivan
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 3:14 PM

    They do Niall, and have tried. Not sure how to link back but I wrote about the PCA a few weeks back, header was about FAI flexing muscles.

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bMurfy
    Favourite bMurfy
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 3:21 PM
    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Cynical
    Favourite Richard Cynical
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 4:20 PM

    league of Ireland winners get a hundred grand, John Delaney gets 3 hundred plus…..

    94
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Webber
    Favourite Colin Webber
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 5:44 PM

    Disgrace. Delaney is a boil on the backside of Irish football. Very unlikeable man.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maire Ui Riain
    Favourite Maire Ui Riain
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 3:04 PM

    Thank you for your honest article on the FAI.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Cronin
    Favourite Frank Cronin
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 5:12 PM

    there is an old mathematical equation power minus accountability equals corruption delaney should be more open to prevent people feeling that the equation follows

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Lawlor
    Favourite Patrick Lawlor
    Report
    Jul 18th 2015, 2:03 AM

    John Delaney and his self appointed cohorts in the FAI are a cancer on.football in the Republic of Ireland. they represent all that is corrupt in the corporate beauocratic ivory towers of Irish political life whereby the normal decent genuine iIrish man or woman.in that field pay the price. it is truly disgusting that Delaney got the top job and ridiculous high salary with absolutely no credentials aside from his father having a top.job preciously in.the FAI. a truly deplorable part of Irish life and the brain drain of young irish people emigrating will continue for future generations while these unethical, scrumbags continue to scheme and manipulate and take their obscene salaries for doing sweet damm.all. it is a disgrace. an absolute disgrace.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Falkhall
    Favourite Noel Falkhall
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 4:29 PM

    It’s very easy to blame the Governing body but what about the clubs and how they are run, the people that run them. Take a look at the lower divisions across the water and they’re in the same boat, complaining about the FA etc. no money. And as for journalists and I use the term lightly these says but it’s all about tearing it apart, rarely have I read a positive story about Delaney or the FAI and they do a great job all things considered and YES they could do a better job just like every other business. If by some miracle we get to France next year and make the quarters or semis all will be forgiven yet there’s more to the FAI than the Boys in Green.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute little jim
    Favourite little jim
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 7:40 PM

    (I think that’s John!^^^)

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Professor Sparrow
    Favourite Professor Sparrow
    Report
    Jul 18th 2015, 3:37 PM

    The reason they are called the ‘Governing’ body is that they are supposed to …. govern! While I may agree with your point that some of the Clubs need to take a bigger responsibility about how they are run or who is in fact running them, if there was real interest and focus from the FAI to set proper standards and guidelines, then I think that could eliminate problems before they arise?

    As John Delaney himself was quoted as saying that the SSE Airtricity League was a “difficult child for the organisation”, is it not his sole responsibility to ensure that this issue is addressed? A ‘problem child’ is one who is seeking attention and while their behaviour may be deemed as inappropriate, this tends to be manifested and exacerbated when they feel they are not being listen to or don’t feel valued or wanted. Problem children should not be ignored, what they do need, is to be cared for, valued and nurtured and when all this positive attention is afforded to them, they grow and develop in to much more stable, grounded and mature people.

    With that analogy, I would question and challenge your view that John Delaney and the FAI “do a great job all things considered”. If ‘all things’ are going to be considered, then we have to look from grass roots right the way up to the League of Ireland and on to the International teams. Unfortunately, on all fronts, the FAI under the stewardship of John Delaney do not have a glowing record and in all areas, as we should be much more advanced than we find ourselves today. Sport is about participation, sadly, with so much secrecy and very little transparency in the FAI, they do not allow fair participation either from the Clubs or the general supporter. If that be the case, then the FAI must be afforded full responsibility if and when things go wrong, and then they should be allowed justify the salaries that are paid out to all those concerned with responsibility for the future of Irish football.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute steve white
    Favourite steve white
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 3:48 PM

    FORAS? so you recommend pitch invasions and then private talks rather getting public answer to questions?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Sullivan
    Favourite John O'Sullivan
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 7:04 PM

    You might read the last line in the piece again Steve.
    What I, or anyone involved in the league might recommend (or like to see happen) doesn’t always match the realities that we continue to deal with. As for FORAS, if your club’s owner ever has you facing extension in the High Court with €1.3million of debt carelessly run up, I’ll be on the pitch next to you.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Sullivan
    Favourite John O'Sullivan
    Report
    Jul 17th 2015, 7:05 PM

    G’ah. *extinction

    10
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.