When a Tackle Takes Over the Screen
Some NFL tackles don’t just end a play; they take over the entire memory of a game. You never know just what kind of hit will change the course of a close match, but we’re here to narrow down some of the craziest ones that have ever happened.
1. Mike Jones Stopping Kevin Dyson One Yard Short
This one’s practically football folklore. In Super Bowl XXXIV, Rams linebacker Mike Jones tackled Titans receiver Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line on the final play, sealing a 23-16 Rams win. The whole thing also created the forever-famous “One Yard Short” image.
2. Don Beebe Chasing Down Leon Lett
Okay, no, technically, this wasn’t a classic shoulder-dropping hit, but it was absolutely one of the wildest tackles from behind the NFL has ever seen. In Super Bowl XXVII, Leon Lett looked set to score on a fumble return before Bills receiver Don Beebe ran him down and knocked the ball loose just before the goal line.
3. Ben Watson Running Down Champ Bailey
In the 2005 divisional-round game played on January 14, 2006, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey intercepted Tom Brady and appeared headed for a backbreaking return—or so the crowd thought. Next thing you know, the Patriots tight end Ben Watson chased him the length of the field and tackled him at the 1-yard line.
4. Brian Dawkins Leveling Alge Crumpler
Brian Dawkins made plenty of violent entrances, but his hit on Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler in the 2004 NFC Championship Game stands out the most. The play set a brutal tone early, and it’s still remembered as one of the defining collisions of Dawkins’ career.
5. Sheldon Brown Welcoming Reggie Bush to the Playoffs
Reggie Bush’s rookie season gave us one of the most replayed playoff hits ever when Eagles defensive back Sheldon Brown crushed him on a short pass in the 2006 divisional round. Now, it was clean by the standards of the day, but you still feel bad calling it entertaining.
