7 of the Greatest Hail Mary Passes of All Time

by **AfricanMustang** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 1:26 pm

The Hail Mary is one of the most dramatic plays in sports, an all-or-nothing proposition that can stun a crowd into silence or bring it to its feet. The play didn’t acquire a nickname that stuck until December 28, 1975, when Dallas' Roger Staubach connected with Drew Pearson for a 50-yard touchdown in the waning seconds of a Cowboys-Vikings NFL playoff game. Here are seven of the most famous Hail Mary passes in football history:

1. BYU's Jim McMahon to Clay Brown vs. Southern Methodist (Holiday Bowl), December 19, 1980
Situation: Third and 10 from SMU's 41-yard line.

McMahon and the Cougars, who led the NCAA in total offense, passing offense and points per game, turned a 45-25 deficit into a 45-39 game with a late rally. Then BYU blocked an SMU punt and took over at the Mustangs’ 41, needing a touchdown and extra point to win. On the final play, McMahon dropped back to his own 47-yard line and uncorked a throw that Brown caught for a touchdown among SMU defenders.

“I really don’t know what happened,” SMU linebacker Byron Hunt told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “We were totally shocked by the ending. It was just luck that allowed them to win.”

Even BYU head coach LaVell Edwards was stunned by the comeback, telling reporters: “We caught fire in the fourth quarter and it was a ‘Hail Mary’ at the end. After they went ahead by 20 points, I thought that was it.”

https://www.history.com/news/greatest-hail-mary-passes

by **SmooBoy** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 1:32 pm

Ugh. That play still hurts 41 years later.

by **EastStang** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:17 pm

AfricanMustang wrote:The Hail Mary is one of the most dramatic plays in sports, an all-or-nothing proposition that can stun a crowd into silence or bring it to its feet. The play didn’t acquire a nickname that stuck until December 28, 1975, when Dallas' Roger Staubach connected with Drew Pearson for a 50-yard touchdown in the waning seconds of a Cowboys-Vikings NFL playoff game. Here are seven of the most famous Hail Mary passes in football history:

1. BYU's Jim McMahon to Clay Brown vs. Southern Methodist (Holiday Bowl), December 19, 1980
Situation: Third and 10 from SMU's 41-yard line.

McMahon and the Cougars, who led the NCAA in total offense, passing offense and points per game, turned a 45-25 deficit into a 45-39 game with a late rally. Then BYU blocked an SMU punt and took over at the Mustangs’ 41, needing a touchdown and extra point to win. On the final play, McMahon dropped back to his own 47-yard line and uncorked a throw that Brown caught for a touchdown among SMU defenders.

“I really don’t know what happened,” SMU linebacker Byron Hunt told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “We were totally shocked by the ending. It was just luck that allowed them to win.”

Even BYU head coach LaVell Edwards was stunned by the comeback, telling reporters: “We caught fire in the fourth quarter and it was a ‘Hail Mary’ at the end. After they went ahead by 20 points, I thought that was it.”

https://www.history.com/news/greatest-hail-mary-passes

Umm, it was Clint Longley who hit Drew Pearson and it was a simple burn route down the sidelines and he broke free from the Redskins defender and waltzed in for the score. I was there and saw the play.

by **Charleston Pony** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:20 pm

EastStang wrote:Umm, it was Clint Longley who hit Drew Pearson and it was a simple burn route down the sidelines and he broke free from the Redskins defender and waltzed in for the score. I was there and saw the play.

The "Mad Bomber". I remember that one, as would any Cowboys/Redskins fan my age

by **mrydel** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:31 pm

But Staubach to Person in Minnesota was the first designated Hail Mary

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by **DanFreibergerForHeisman** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:33 pm

AfricanMustang wrote:The play didn’t acquire a nickname that stuck until December 28, 1975, when Dallas' Roger Staubach connected with Drew Pearson for a 50-yard touchdown in the waning seconds of a Cowboys-Vikings NFL playoff game.

It was a lot easier to complete them back when WRs were allowed to shove the defender away.

by **ponyboy** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:02 pm

That BYU loss hurt more than any other I ever experienced as a football fan.

by **SMU Pom Mom** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:21 pm

I remember the Boston College one well. I was home from college for Thanksgiving and watching with my dad. He wasn't into college football but we watched that game because he was friends with Doug Flutie's dad. Still a great memory.

by **82Pony** » Thu Oct 14, 2021 4:30 pm

ponyboy wrote:That BYU loss hurt more than any other I ever experienced as a football fan.

Devastating, just devastating. I don’t think I’m over it yet.

by **peruna81** » Thu Oct 14, 2021 5:22 pm

I am even tempted to root for Baylor this weekend...

by **mustang92** » Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:51 pm

If #5 on this list is a TD, then that BS call at the UNT game was no interception....