The Greatest Moments in NFL History

Baseball may be considered America’s pastime, but no sport comes close to the popularity of American football. The NFL remains the wealthiest sports league in the world by revenue. Furthermore, the NFL has the highest attendance of any sports league in the world, and its championship, the Super Bowl, remains the most-watched sporting event, year after year.

The meticulous regulation of progress and the stop-start dynamic of American football paradoxically create space for incredible moments. While great plays happen all the time, some maneuvers have gone down in the history books for their decisiveness, courage, and sheer luck. As such, let’s explore some of the greatest moments in NFL history. Some of them are quick, while others are hard-fought. All of them, however, illustrate the incredible athleticism and tenacity of professional football players. (For great personal sports moments, discover the most impressive individual scoring records. )

To put together a list of the greatest moments in NFL History, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of history, news, and sports publications. These include the NFL 100 List , USAToday , and The Pro Football Hall of Fame . Next, we selected standout moments from the previous decades of NFL matches for decisive victories, remarkable catches, or unheard-of comebacks. After that, we confirmed aspects of our research using sites like History.com and The Atlantic .

The Catch, NFC Championship 1982

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One of the greatest moments in NFL history was undoubtedly “The Catch” from the 1982 NFC Championship. As the end of the game neared, the San Francisco 49ers trailed behind the Dallas Cowboys. With only 58 seconds left in the game, the 49ers sat at the third down with three yards to gain on the Cowboys’ six-yard line. In a split second, 49ers quarterback Joe Montana threw high but wide receiver Dwight Clark leaped in the air and caught the ball in the end zone.

This completed a six-yard touchdown pass and gave a last-minute victory to the 49ers over the Cowboys, 28-27. A decisive play, as Montana threw the ball to a spot that would have gone out of bounds if not for the 6-foot, four-inch Clark’s reach. Not only do people consider it one of the greatest plays in NFL history, but it also symbolized the end of the Cowboys’ domination over the NFC. Plus, it hinted at the 49ers’ rising prominence in the years to come.

The Helmet Catch, Super Bowl XLII (2008)

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The final two minutes of Super Bowl XLII were fierce. The New England Patriots led the New York Giants 14-10. With less than three minutes left in the game, it seemed like the Patriots would secure victory. The Giants had the ball, however. After the ball hiked, Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning caught it and escaped the clutches of three Patriots defensive ends. In the nick of time, Manning threw a forward pass to wide receiver David Tyree. At first, it seemed like Tyree would drop the ball since he caught it badly. Tyree, however, managed to press the caught ball against his helmet, making a 32-yard gain and securing a first down for the Giants.

Eager to catch their breath, the Giants called a quick timeout. With only a minute and a half left, the Giants made barely any forward movement for the three next plays. Finally, Plaxico Burress got control of the ball and scored a touchdown, winning the game for the Giants, 17-14. While the Patriots stood on the verge of completing the first undefeated season in NFL history, a miraculous play by the Giants prevented such an achievement. Beyond winning the Super Bowl for the Giants, it became the last play of David Tyree’s career.

The Immaculate Reception, AFC Divisional Playoff 1972

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On December 23, 1972, the Oakland Raiders faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Steelers’ home turf at Three Rivers Stadium. With 22 seconds left in the game, the Steelers trailed the Raiders 7-6. On the Steelers’ fourth down, quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass to running back John Fuqua. The throw was wild, however, and bounced off the helmet of Raiders safety Jack Tatum. In what seemed like divine intervention, Steelers fullback Franco Harris caught the ball on its ricochet right before it hit the field. With the ball secured, Harris ran into the end zone and scored a touchdown. This resulted in the Steelers winning the playoff game 13-7.

Despite being one of the greatest moments in NFL history, the Immaculate Reception earned plenty of controversy. Some say the ball only hit Fuqua. Others say the ball hit the ground before Harris caught it. If either speculation proved true, it would have resulted in an incomplete pass and a win for the Raiders. While NFL Films eventually chose the Immaculate Reception as the greatest play of all time, the controversy started a long-standing rivalry between the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers. Whatever the case, the play fueled a fire in the Steelers as they went on to win four Super Bowl championships by the end of the decade.

The Philly Special, Super Bowl LII 2018

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During Super Bowl LII in 2018, an incredible play upset the long-favored Patriots’ chance at winning. During the tail end of the second quarter, the Philadephia Eagles sat at fourth-down-and-goal. Desperate to gain the advantage, the Eagles pulled an unconventional move that helped them win the game. Instead of standing in his usual position, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles moved up closer behind his team’s offensive line. When the ball snapped, center Jason Kelce snapped the ball directly to running back Corey Clement. Using the Patriot’s split-second confusion to their advantage, the Eagles pulled something of a trick. Clement rugby-pitched the ball to tight end Trey Burton. Burton quickly threw the ball downfield, meeting a wide-open Foles in the end zone. While it was a risky gambit, this trick shot proved decisive for the Eagles.

This put them in a clear spot for victory as the game progressed. Indeed, the Eagles eventually won the game against the Patriots 41-33. Despite being one of the riskier plays in Super Bowl history, it gave the Eagles their first NFL championship in 57 years. For the reversal of roles, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles became the first player in Super Bowl history to both throw and score a touchdown pass during a game. Remarkably, the Eagles had never called such a play before. With the stakes raised, however, it proved to be just what they needed to win.

The Music City Miracle, AFC Wild Card Playoff 2000

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Another one of the greatest moments in NFL history is called “The Music City Miracle.” It occurred during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game in 2000 at the Adelphia Coliseum in Nashville, Tennessee. Leading up to the miraculous moment, the Tennessee Titans managed to score two touchdowns in the second quarter. The Buffalo Bills, however, gave them a run for their money by scoring two touchdowns and a field goal extra point, giving them the lead. With 16 seconds left in the game, the Titans grabbed the ball on the kickoff return. In a split-second decision, Titans tight end Frank Wycheck didn’t run the ball down the field. Instead, he threw a lateral pass to wide receiver Kevin Dyson. The unexpected move left wide-open pockets on the field, enough for Dyson to run a whopping 75 yards. He scored a touchdown and the Titans won the game 22-16.

If the pass had moved with forward momentum, the Titans would have faced a penalty and not scored a touchdown. Officials reviewed the play and gave it the okay, causing referee Phil Luckett to uphold the play. For their part, the Bills were incensed and pointed fingers at their own team. A controversy erupted over coach Wade Phillips starting second-string quarterback Rob Johnson instead of star quarterback Doug Flutie. Despite Johnson performing well in the game, many questioned Phillips’ decision. In the end, the loss proved ominous for the Bills. After this game, they missed the playoffs for 17 consecutive seasons. This historic drought came to be known as the “ Curse of Doug Flutie .”

Hail Mary, NFC Divisional Playoff 1975

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It’s December 28, 1975, and the Dallas Cowboys are facing off against the Minnesota Vikings. Up until the last precious seconds of the game, the Vikings led over the Cowboys at 14-10. With little hope left for victory, Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach did the unthinkable–he threw a hail mary pass. With only a few seconds remaining, the ball hiked to Staubach who threw an arcing 50-yard pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson. Pearson caught the ball well into the endzone, earning the Cowboys a 17-14 playoff win over the Vikings. After the game, Staubach made further NFL history by creating the term “Hail Mary.” As he said to reporters, “It was a play you hit one in a hundred times if you’re lucky. I guess it’s a Hail Mary pass. You throw it up and pray he catches it. “

The play was not without controversy. In the fallout of the Cowboys’ unexpected victory, members of the Vikings protested the play. The team accused wide receiver Pearson of pushing off Vikings defensive back Nate Wright as he caught the ball, suggesting pass interference. Though Minnesota coach Bud Grant said pass interference was “just as clear as night and day,” Pearson rejected such accusations, suggesting Wright actually pushed off of him instead. Whatever the case, it became a defining moment in NFL history that spawned a popular phrase for throws that defy the odds of being caught. (For other great sports-oriented remarks, explore the most influential quotes by Tiger Woods. )

The Tuck Rule, AFC Divisional Playoff 2002

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During an AFC Divisional Playoff in 2002, the New England Patriots played the Oakland Raiders amidst a blinding snowstorm. For most of the game, the Raiders led over the Patriots with a 13-10 score. When the Patriots got the ball and hiked. Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson attacked quarterback Tom Brady with a corner blitz. It proved effective as he sacked Brady and appeared to strip the ball out of his hands, resulting in a fumble. When the Raiders got control of the ball, it seemed they had sealed their victory. An instant replay of the maneuver, however, resulted in one of the most controversial moments in NFL history. Officials said that Brady’s arm had forward momentum, transforming the fumble into an incomplete pass. As such, the Patriots offensive line stayed on the field. After tying the game with a field goal, the Patriots won in overtime.

Many people were incensed at the NFL officials’ decision. They invoked the obscure tuck rule, which states “When [an offensive] player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble. ” Since Brady’s arm was moving forward, it rendered the play incomplete instead of resulting in a fumble. Thanks to this obscure rule, the Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl, heralding the rise of the incredibly successful Brady-Belichick Patriots dynasty.

The Minneapolis Miracle, NFC Divisional Playoff 2018

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One of the more recent standout moments in NFL history, the Minneapolis Miracle occurred on January 14, 2018. The Vikings were having a rough go of things as the game winded to a close. The game started with the Vikings winning, that is until the Saints came back from a 17-point deficit to lead. The Vikings then trailed the New Orleans Saints 24-23 with no timeouts left. In turn, everything rode on their last play. The ball hiked and Vikings quarterback Case Keenum threw a deep and arcing pass towards the right sideline. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs evaded safety Marcus Williams’ tackle, jumping into the air and catching the ball. Barely in bounds, Diggs ran an incredible 61 yards into the endzone right as the clock expired.

Suffice it to say, the crowd went wild, with Vikings radio commentator Paul Allen solidifying the moment as the “Minneapolis Miracle.” Besides securing the Vikings’ spot in the NFC championship, the anomalous play enacted change within the rule structure of the NFL. After the frenzy died down, the NFL instituted a new rule that got rid of its requirement for teams to attempt an extra point or two-point conversion. Now, they are only forced to try for extra points if such an attempt will affect the game’s outcome. The Minneapolis Miracle became the first game to end in a touchdown as time expired in NFL history.

Beast Quake, NFC Wild Card Playoff 2011

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During an NFC Wild Card Playoff game in 2011 between the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints, the unthinkable happened. Coming into the fourth quarter, the Seahawks were in a good position, leading the Saints 34-30. All they needed to seal victory was a proper first down. Instead, running back Marshawn Lynch summoned his beast mode and made even the most jaded football fan gasp. Upon taking the handoff, Lynch tore down the field. In the process, he broke through nine tackles, kept his footing, and ran a whopping 67 yards into the endzone. This breakaway play helped the losing record Seahawks win over the Saints, 41-36.

The Beast Quake play is full of great moments and shocking effects. During Lynch’s inhuman breaking of nine tackles, he threw out his signature stiff arm, tossing Saints cornerback Tracy Porter to the side with ease. Due to Lynch’s incredible run, Seattle Seahawks fans in the stadium erupted in a fervor. The cheering was so loud and deafening, that the decibel levels registered on a nearby seismograph machine. Due to Lynch’s breakout ability called “Beast Mode,” and the seismographic shift registered by his play, the moment came to be known as the “Beast Quake.”

Ice Bowl QB Sneak, NFL Championship 1967

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For one of the greatest moments in NFL history, we must go back into the history books to the year 1967. The NFL Championship was being played at notoriously cold Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During the game, the Dallas Cowboys and the home team Green Bay Packers faced off to secure the football championship. By the end of the fourth quarter, the Cowboys led 17-14. For their part, the Packers sat at the Cowboys’ one-yard line with a third down and goal. With a negative 48-degree wind chill factor and only 16 seconds left in the game, Packers quarterback Bart Starr took a risk. He had already led the Packers to the goal line twice but was stopped each time. Plus, the Packers had no remaining timeouts. Starr took the snap, held onto it, and ran right into the endzone in a surprise quarterback sneak.

Upon earning the extra point after the touchdown, the Green Bay Packers won the game 21-17. While Starr got the lion’s share of the credit for securing the Packers’ victory, the unsung heroes of the play were center Ken Bowman and guard Jerry Kramer as they blocked a Cowboys tackle attempt, leaving space for Starr to reach the endzone unfettered. Given the incredibly cold conditions and the exciting climax, NFL 100 Greatest Games ranks this game as the 3rd greatest NFL game in history. Furthermore, it remains the coldest game ever played in the NFL.

The Comeback, NFL Playoffs, 1993

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On January 3, 1993, the Buffalo Bills made NFL history. During this playoff game, things weren’t looking good for the Bills. Despite their home-field advantage, the Bills failed to score much beyond a 3-point goal in the first two quarters while the visiting Houston Oilers scored 28 total points. The Oilers seemed to solidify their win in the third quarter when they scored another touchdown. Despite trailing 35–3, the Bills had some more juice in their tank. In that third quarter, the Bills came back with a whopping 28 points. The next quarter saw the two teams tie up. During overtime, the Bills clinched victory by defeating the Oilers 41-38.

Up until that point, no one had ever come back so far in a deficit. Once the Bills won in overtime, however, they set a record for the biggest comeback in NFL history. Furthermore, no team had ever held a 30-point lead and lost. By the time the Bills won, most fans had given up on their team and the stands were practically empty. Despite the demoralizing first half, the Bills summoned some kind of magic to win. For their part, the Oilers were incensed but conceded the victory begrudgingly. As Oilers cornerback Cris Dishman told reporters after the game , “We definitely choked. We got outcoached, outplayed. There’s no way we blow a 32-point lead with the talent we have. They made adjustments good enough to win the game. We didn’t.” (For baseball facts, discover 19 things even the biggest baseball fan didn’t know about the MLB. )

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