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Ben Baby
THE NIGHT BEFORE facing the Seattle Seahawks to culminate the 2005 season in Super Bowl XL, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff finalized plans for what would prove to be the most memorable play of the game.
«We can’t leave anything in the bag,» coach Bill Cowher told offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and the other coaches inside the Crowne Plaza hotel in greater Detroit. «We have to go after these guys.»
And when the moment presented itself, that’s exactly what the Steelers did. After getting the ball on a reverse, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El launched the ball for a 43-yard touchdown pass to fellow receiver Hines Ward, the final points in a 21-10 victory that secured the franchise’s fifth Super Bowl victory.
Over the years, many teams have schemed up a bit of trickery in their pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy. The Seahawks and the New England Patriots could add to the list of famous trick plays when they square off Feb. 8 in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. In fact, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is quite familiar with surprising plays in the big game as the former linebacker — who lined up as a tight end — caught touchdown passes in two different Super Bowls with New England. That ties him for seventh on the list — and the only linebacker — for career receiving TDs in the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have the same approach ahead of Super Bowl LVI. Leading up to the showdown against the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 13, 2022, the team — at UCLA’s Drake Stadium — practiced the play in which quarterback Joe Burrow pitched the ball to Joe Mixon, who then found Tee Higgins open in the end zone.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings threw a touchdown pass to running back Christian McCaffrey. As a standout at Tennessee’s Blackman High, Jennings was recruited by a few schools as a dual-threat quarterback.
Jennings, who eventually converted to wide receiver at the University of Tennessee, leaned on that background in Super Bowl LVIII. He was initially looking for tight end Brayden Willis, who was covered on a route down the middle of the field. So Jennings went through his progression and threw the ball across the width of the field to McCaffrey, who exploited a misaligned Kansas City Chiefs defense for a 21-yard touchdown.
It went for naught in a 25-22 overtime loss, but Jennings still reflected on that in the aftermath.
«To make that play, I just think about my quarterback coach from high school,» Jennings said after the game. «I know he’s so proud right now. Man, I thought we were going to win it.»
Cooper Kupp is the only non-quarterback to attempt a pass this season. Kupp’s lone attempt resulted in an interception against Houston. The Patriots tried a fake punt in Week 16, but linebacker Marte Mapu was sacked.
Still, Vrabel understands how valuable the element of surprise can be on trick plays. His catch against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII was the first by a defensive player since William «Refrigerator» Perry’s score against New England in Super Bowl XX.
Vrabes anytime TD in the Super Bowl was a lock 🔒
Full XXXIX recap: https://t.co/dUYtpy2Pd5 pic.twitter.com/CLggpHSSVB
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 6, 2025
And if someone is able to pull it off in Santa Clara, it will be something to talk about for years to come.
Last year, the Steelers had a 20-year reunion to commemorate the team that beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. And as Whisenhunt and the players reminisced about that win in Detroit, they couldn’t help but bring up the pass from Randle El to Ward.
«To talk about that play with the guys was unbelievable,» Whisenhunt said. «It was interesting to hear what they thought about it. The fact that it worked and really helped us win that game was just the cherry on top.»
ESPN reporter Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.
