If one thinks back to the most memorable catches in recent Super Bowl history, a few names come to mind. Santonio Holmes. David Tyree. Julian Edelman. And…Nick Foles?
While it’s mostly wide receivers and tight ends making headlines for critical catches at timely moments — something Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who has more career postseason receptions than any other player in NFL history, would know a lot about — quarterbacks occasionally get the chance to make a play through the air as well, whether on a deflected pass or a designed trick play.
Fittingly, the most recent time a quarterback caught a pass in the Super Bowl also included this year’s NFC champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. In Super Bowl LII, Foles scored a legendary fourth-down touchdown in the waning moments of the first half to put Philadelphia ahead by 10 points in a game it would go on to win by eight. The play has a two-word moniker that still fills Eagles fans with joy and evokes nightmares for New England Patriots fans: the Philly Special.
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That drive, the Eagles responded to a Patriots touchdown by embarking on a seven-play, 70-yard scoring drive, highlighted by running back Corey Clement’s 55-yard dash on a wheel route to bring Philadelphia down to New England’s eight-yard line on the third play of the possession. Two more Clement carries then brought the Eagles to a third-and-goal on the one-yard line, a situation in which the modern Philadelphia offense would probably opt to put Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley behind Jalen Hurts for a tush push. Instead, the Eagles of yore opted for a pass to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, which fell incomplete.
Facing fourth down, Philadelphia opted to keep its offense on the field instead of taking a virtually-guaranteed three points. Before the snap, Clement shifted behind Foles, who then stepped up to the line of scrimmage to talk to his right guard and right tackle. While Foles was behind right tackle Lane Johnson, center Jason Kelce snapped the ball to Clement, who handed it off to backup tight end Trey Burton. Foles snuck out into the flat and Burton found him for the easiest touchdown pass of the game and the most legendary play in Eagles history.
Four years later, the Los Angeles Rams tried a similar play in their 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. On a third down deep in Bengals territory during the third quarter, with the Rams trailing by seven, quarterback Matthew Stafford handed it off to running back Darrell Henderson Jr., who pitched it back to wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Meanwhile, with Stafford rolling into the flat, Kupp threw it to him on the run. The pass sailed well over Stafford’s head and out of bounds, keeping the Philly Special immortalized as the last time a quarterback caught a pass in a Super Bowl.
