Greatest moments in Super Bowl history
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Super Bowl LVII is just around the corner as the AFC and NFC champions will go head-to-head to determine the NFL’s top team for the 2022 season.
The annual spectacle is the most anticipated single sporting event in North America with millions of people from around the world also tuning in to watch the NFL’s biggest game of the year.
This year’s clash will take place on Sunday, February 12, from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
This will be the 57th version of the big game and with nearly six decades of action, there has been plenty of memorable moments.
Everything from major upsets to once-in-a-lifetime plays has kept us coming back year after year.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most memorable moments from past Super Bowls.
Super Bowl XLII - David Tyree’s Helmet Catch
Date: Feb. 3, 2008
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale
New York Giants: 17
New England Patriots: 14
This game had everything.
The Patriots came into this contest as the heavy favourites after becoming the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to put together a perfect regular season and the first all-time to go 16-0 since the NFL expanded its schedule in 1978.
The Giants went 10-6 in the regular season and upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, all on the road, to get to the Super Bowl. The Pats snuck past the Giants in the regular-season finale, winning 38-35 at Giants Stadium, just over a month prior.
The game was a defensive struggle throughout with only 10 points scored through three quarters.
New York took a 10-7 lead early in the fourth quarter before New England answered back with a Randy Moss touchdown, taking a 14-10 lead with just 2:42 remaining in regulation.
With 1:15 left, the Giants encountered a third and five on their own 44-yard line. Facing immense pressure from multiple defensive linemen, Giants quarterback Eli Manning somehow managed to stay on his feet before heaving a desperation throw down the field.
What happened next is arguably the greatest play in Super Bowl history.
David Tyree, who had caught just four passes that season, leaped into the air, reached back and somehow pinned the ball on his helmet to secure the 32-yard reception.
Moments later, with just 35 seconds remaining on the clock, Manning found star wide receiver Plaxico Burress for the 13-yard score and a 17-14 lead.
The Giants would hold on for the victory, stunning Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Patriots fans everywhere as it was their first loss of the season.
The played was quickly dubbed “The Helmet Catch” and is considered the shining moment in one of the greatest football upsets in history.
Super Bowl XXV - Scott Norwood Misses Wide Right as Bills' Super Bowl Misery Begins
Date: Jan. 27, 1991
Location: Tampa Stadium in Tampa
New York Giants: 20
Buffalo Bills: 19
Bills fans should keep scrolling.
In 1990, Jim Kelly led the Bills to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history following a 13-3 regular season.
This Super Bowl against the Giants was a back-and-forth contest with the G-Men taking a 20-19 lead with 7:32 remaining thanks to a field goal from Matt Bahr.
Buffalo was not done, however, as Kelly led his side down to New York’s 29-yard line with just eight seconds left. Enter kicker Scott Norwood, who had the Lombardi Trophy on his foot if he could connect on a very difficult 47-yard field goal.
Norwood’s kick sailed to the right with commentator Al Michaels proclaiming, "no good...wide right."
The Giants got the ball back and held on for the victory.
Buffalo would reach the Super Bowl in each of the next three years. They lost each time.
Super Bowl XLIX - Malcolm Butler’s Interception
Date: Feb. 1, 2015
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale
New England Patriots: 28
Seattle Seahawks: 24
The 2015 Super Bowl was highlighted by one of the most head-scratching play calls of all-time.
Down 28-24, the Seahawks had the ball on the Patriots’ one-yard line with just 26 seconds remaining.
Despite being so close to a possible game-winning touchdown, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll decided to call a pass play instead of handing the ball to Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch, who scored a career-high 13 touchdowns that season.
The odd decision proved to be a disaster with Pats cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepting the ball in the endzone.
The play resulted in one of the most memorable reaction Gifs in Twitter history thanks to Richard Sherman.
A shocked Russell Wilson looked on as Tom Brady secured the victory moments later with a kneel, his fourth of seven career Super Bowls.
Super Bowl XXXII – John Elway Flies in Broncos' Triumph
Date: Jan. 25, 1998
Location: Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego
Denver Broncos: 31
Green Bay Packers: 24
Entering the 1998 Super Bowl, Broncos veteran quarterback John Elway, who was 37 at the time, sported an 0-3 Super Bowl record with blowout losses in 1987, 1988 and 1990.
Tied with the Packers late in the third quarter, Elway had the Broncos in the red zone, but was facing a difficult third and six. With no options to pass, Elway decided to run and dive for the first down. Elway was hit hard in midair and spun around as if he were the blades of a helicopter but still managed to hold onto the ball and secure the first down.
The career-defining moment was followed by a touchdown two plays later and a 24-17 lead.
The Broncos would win the game for Elway’s first Super Bowl as running back Terrell Davis was named MVP.
Elway and the Broncos defended the title the following year against the Atlanta Falcons.
Super Bowl XXIII – Joe Montana’s Drive
Date: Jan. 22, 1989
Location: Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami
San Francisco 49ers: 20
Cincinnati Bengals: 16
Joe Montana solidified his reputation as “Joe Cool” in Super Bowl XXIII, his third of four Super Bowl titles.
Trailing the Cincinnati Bengals, 16-13 with 3:10 remaining in regulation, Montana lead the Niners on a miraculous 11-play, 92-yard drive to capture the championship.
The long drive was capped with a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor with just over 30 clicks left on the clock.
Super Bowl LI - The Comeback
Date: Feb. 5, 2017
Location: NRG Stadium in Houston
New England Patriots: 34 (OT)
Atlanta Falcons: 28
The 2017 Super Bowl featured the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history as well as the first time it went to overtime.
Leading 28-3 in the third quarter, Matt Ryan and the Falcons must have thought the franchise’s first league title was in sight.
That was until Tom Brady, who was playing in his eighth career Super Bowl, turned it on. Brady led the Pats to 25 unanswered points, including three touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions to tie the game 28-28 with less than a minute remaining.
The comeback was highlighted by a circus catch from wide receiver Julian Edelman on the Pats' game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter after it appeared the throw was going to be intercepted.
The game went to overtime with New England winning the coin toss and marching down for a quick eight-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by a two-yard James White touchdown run for the improbable Super Bowl victory.
It marked the fifth of seven Lombardi trophies for Brady.
Super Bowl XLIII - Santonio Holmes’ Catch
Date: Feb. 1, 2009
Location: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Pittsburgh Steelers: 27
Arizona Cardinals: 23
This play was arguably the greatest game-winning touchdown catch in Super Bowl history.
Trailing the Cardinals 23-20 after a thrilling 64-yard touchdown by Larry Fitzgerald, it was up to Ben Roethlisberger to lead the Steelers on a game-winning drive with just over two minutes remaining.
On the eighth play of a 78-yard drive, the Steelers were facing second and goal on the Cards’ six-yard line. Roethlisberger somehow threaded the ball through triple coverage to Santonio Holmes, who managed to reach and catch the ball in the back of the endzone while getting both feet down.
A clutch catch in the biggest of moments earned Holmes the Super Bowl MVP honours that year.
Super Bowl XXXIV - Kevin Dyson Comes Up One Yard Short
Date: Jan. 30, 2000
Location: Georgia Dome in Atlanta
St. Louis Rams: 23
Tennessee Titans: 16
The 34th Super Bowl pitted two teams who posted identical 13-3 regular season records in the Rams and Titans.
It all came down to one of the most exciting final plays in Super Bowl history.
Immediately after giving up a 10-point fourth quarter lead, Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce connected on a 73-yard touchdown pass on the first play of their ensuing drive to take a 23-16 advantage with 1:54 remaining in the game.
Starting on their own 12-yard line, Steve McNair led the Titans down the field in efficient fashion, getting to the Rams' 10-yard with just six seconds left on the clock.
On the final play of the game, McNair completed a short pass to Kevin Dyson, who caught the ball around the five-yard line and seemed to have a step on Rams linebacker Mike Jones for the touchdown.
Jones managed to grab Dyson around the waist and throw him to the ground as the receiver desperately attempted to reach and cross the plane of the endzone for the score.
Dyson came agonizingly close to scoring, but it wasn't enough as Jones and the Rams - dubbed The Greatest Show on Turf at that time - celebrated their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
The Titans have yet to win a Super Bowl title and haven't been back to the big game since the heartbreaking loss.
Super Bowl XLVI - Giants Stun Patriots with Spectacular Catch...Again
Date: Feb. 5, 2012
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
New York Giants: 21
New England Patriots: 17
Just four years after David Tyree's helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants and Patriots found themselves in the Super Bowl once again.
And once again, the Pats were the heavy favourites following a 13-3 season while the Giants had a mediocre 9-7 showing.
Like the contest in 2008, the 2012 Super Bowl was low-scoring with the Pats holding a slim 17-15 advantage with less than five minutes remaining.
On the first play of their drive, Eli Manning tossed a bomb to the sideline intended for Mario Manningham. Despite facing double coverage and little room to work with, Manningham somehow managed to secure the ball and keep both feet in bounds for one of the greatest completions in Super Bowl history.
After a Bill Belichick challenge and a lengthy review, the call stood and the Giants were on their way.
Running back Ahmad Bradshaw gave the Giants the lead with an awkward six-yard touchdown (he wanted to stop before the goal line to keep the clock running, but his forward momentum pushed him in the endzone) with 57 seconds remaining.
A desperate Hail Mary pass by Tom Brady fell incomplete as the Giants upset the Patriots in the Super Bowl for the second time in four years.
Where would the Giants be without those memorable catches by Tyree and Manningham?
Super Bowl XXXVI - The Kick that Ignited the Dynasty
Date: Feb. 3, 2002
Location: Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans
New England Patriots: 20
St. Louis Rams: 17
The New England Patriots appear more than once on this list - both for their triumphs and defeats.
That's what you get when you hold the NFL record for most Super Bowl appearances in history with 11.
But way back in 2002, the Patriots had only appeared in two Super Bowls - losing in 1985 and 1996 - and Tom Brady was a rookie quarterback after replacing veteran Drew Bledsoe in Week 3 due to an injury.
The sixth-round pick led the Pats to an 11-5 regular season record before beating the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs to earn a spot in the big game.
Playing the Rams, who were champions two years prior, the Patriots managed to earn a two touchdown lead heading into the fourth quarter. Kurt Warner wasn't prepared to go quietly, however, leading St. Louis to 14 unanswered points and a 17-17 tie with less than two minutes remaining.
Despite having no timeouts, the Patriots decided to go for the win instead of running out the clock for overtime.
The 24-year-old Brady proceeded to give an early reason why he is now considered the "G.O.A.T," leading the Pats into field goal range for Adam Vinatieri.
"I'll tell ya, what Tom Brady just did, gives me goosebumps," remarked Hall of Famer John Madden on the broadcast.
Vinatieri was coming in on a high after kicking the tying and game winning field goals during a blizzard against the Raiders in the divisional round a few weeks prior.
With ice in his veins, Vinatieri hammered the ball through the uprights for the 48-yard field goal and the first Super Bowl ring for Brady and the Patriots.
It was just the beginning of one of the greatest dynasties in sports.