6. James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return – Super Bowl XLIII
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Two minutes left, and to calmly and cooly make your way down from your own goal line to theirs with the clock eating away is unreal. Like in rugby, if you win a scrum on your 5m line and slowly and calmly over phase and phase use your forwards to bully forward bit by bit over a 100 metres with 2 minutes left. It’s spectacular.
Tom Brady leading the Patriots down the field with no time outs in 1 min 40 sec to let Vinateiri win super bowl in 2001
Really??last years Interception by Malcolm butler in the last minute on his own 1 to win it for the pats !!!! Not even in top 5!!!!! Joke
Martin, I personally thought that was more a catastrophic call by Carroll rather that a great play – when you look back on it, it was a dreadful decision, one of the worst in SB history considering Seattle had Beast-mode waiting in the back-field.
It may have been a poor call by Wilson but it is the play than makes it!!!beast mode or not on your own 1 yard line and you do that , take that hit on the way out!! Once in a lifetime play
Joe cool the best QB of all times….and I’m a Giants fan
John Elway’s helicopter landing at the age of 37 in super bowl 32 has to be considered.
Easily the greatest play.