Tuesdays with Tom: The Greatest Hail Mary Passes in Football History
A divine breakdown of famous Hail Mary moments; plus thoughts on the NFL Draft, The Last of Us, and the return of the Ice Bucket Challenge
With Easter and the NFL Draft passing by, I’m feeling very religious about football at an atypical time. I’m following up on my throwaway comment to dissect the Hail Mary pass. Catholics are familiar with the term Hail Mary, which was loosely introduced in the era of Notre Dame’s “Four Horsemen” under head coach Knute Rockne. Passing was so scarce in those days that any attempt seemed like a desperation plea. However, the Hail Mary in football became popularized in 1975. As for what happened, you’ll have to wait and see.
Over the years, many teams have attempted a Hail Mary to steal a victory away from their opponent. It’s a staple of any football team’s playbook, even though it's seldom needed. Kevin Siefert wrote an excellent statistical analysis of NFL Hail Mary plays. From 2009 to 2020, only 16 Hail Mary attempts out of 193 produced touchdowns. It is the ultimate go-for-broke play. But when there is a divine connection between quarterback and receiver, there is nothing more exciting on a football field.
There are many amazing examples of Hail Mary passes gone right. I watched quite a few to prepare for this piece. I nearly included Tim Couch, who executed two time expiring Hail Marys in 1999 and 2002 for the Cleveland Browns. AJ Green also pulled off a few delightful ones as a Cincinnati Bengal. Brett Favre threw a dime of a Hail Mary to Greg Lewis with the Vikings. There were many tantalizing candidates for this list, but I prioritized ones that had the most impact. Some of these Hail Marys changed football lives and fortunes in truly remarkable ways. So, say a prayer and get ready to explore the most heavenly Hail Mary passes in football history.
10. “The Miracle Bowl” - BYU vs. SMU (1980)
The Stakes: In the 1980 Holiday Bowl, the 12-1 BYU Cougars were trailing 45-25 with four minutes left in the game against the 19th ranked SMU Mustangs. Cougars quarterback Jim McMahon screamed into the rapidly depleting bleachers that the game wasn’t over yet. He ignited the team with two instant scoring drives before setting up a Hail Mary scenario to cap off this ridiculous comeback.
The Play: McMahon threw a 41-yard pass to BYU receiver Clay Brown as time expired for the game winning touchdown. It completed a 26-point, four-minute comeback against a star-studded SMU team.
Impact: SMU and BYU both peaked in the 1980s. So did Jim McMahon, who was drafted fifth overall in the 1982 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and later won a Super Bowl with them. The game featured several notable college and pro stars, including Mustangs running back Eric Dickerson.
9. “The Hail Murray” - Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals (2020)
The Stakes: During the COVID-19 plagued NFL season, the 5-3 Cardinals hosted the 7-2 Bills. This match-up sparked a thrilling performance from both teams. With 11 seconds left in the game, Arizona had no timeouts and trailed 30-26 at the Buffalo 43-yard line. It was up to Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to save the day.
The Play: The 5-foot-10 Murray rolled to his left, narrowly evaded a sack, and sprinted to the sideline. Then, he flipped his body 180 degrees and fell down throwing a sky high bullet to Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins. While being triple covered, Hopkins snagged the pass for a touchdown with one second left on the clock. The Cardinals won 32-30.
Impact: I’m not sure which is more impressive: Murray’s unbelievable scramble and ridiculous pass or Hopkins’s catch while ensnared between three NFL defenders. Add in Murray’s diminutive size and it’s one of those plays that makes you say “WHAT THE FUCK!” every time it’s replayed. It didn’t change much historically, but it is unquestionably an all-time football highlight.
8. “Miracle at Michigan” - Colorado vs. Michigan (1994)
The Stakes: On September 24, 1994, No. 4 Michigan hosted No. 7 Colorado in Ann Arbor. Down by 13 points entering the fourth quarter, the Buffaloes embarked on a furious comeback. It culminated with six seconds left on the clock, trailing 26-21, with the team 64 yards away from the endzone.
The Play: Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart dropped back and uncorked a bomb 70 yards in the air to the goal line. The pass initially hit receiver Blake Anderson in the chest, but bounced off him and into the hands of Colorado’s Michael Westbrook. Colorado won 27-26.
Impact: It’s amazing just how far Stewart rocket-launched this ball right where it needed to be. They got a bit lucky with the bounce, but that’s how these things can go. It was dubbed the “Miracle at Michigan” shortly afterwards. Colorado finished 11-1, with their lone defeat to eventual national champion Nebraska. It sort of worked out for Michigan, too. After an underwhelming 8-4 season, they fired Gary Moeller and replaced him with the team’s defensive coordinator, Lloyd Carr.
Kirk Cousins to Keith Nichol - Wisconsin vs. Michigan State (2011)
The Stakes: The No. 15 Spartans hosted the No. 4 Badgers. It was a game with critical implications for the Big Ten and national championship race in college football. Late in the game, Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Montee Ball to tie it up 31-31. With 1:15 on the clock, Michigan State had a chance to win on their home field.
The Play: With four seconds left, Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins dropped back from the Wisconsin 44-yard-line and hurled the ball towards the end zone. Badgers receiver Jared Abbrederis (part of the prevent defense package) narrowly missed snagging an interception. The ball bounced off Spartans receiver B.J. Cunningham’s facemask and it spiraled toward Spartans receiver Keith Nichol. Despite a ferocious effort from Badgers linebacker Mike Taylor, Nichol got the ball over the goal line to secure a 37-31 victory for Michigan State.
Impact: The Spartans won, but Wisconsin avenged their loss in the Big Ten Championship rematch 42-39. Wisconsin went to the Rose Bowl. Michigan State finished 11-3 and beat the Georgia Bulldogs in the Outback Bowl. The game included 40 future NFL players, most notably Cousins and Wilson.
6. “Hail Maryland” - Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders (2024)
The Stakes: The highly anticipated match-up of No. 1 and No. 2 overall rookie draft picks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels was tracking to be a total bust. Chicago took a 15-12 lead with 25 seconds to go. According to ESPN’s win probability chart, the Bears had a 98% chance of winning after the late score. Daniels quickly completed two passes and burned their final timeout to set up one final play from the Chicago 48-yard line.
The Play: With two seconds left, Daniels ran around the pocket for 13 real-time seconds (an eternity in football time) and threw it towards the goal line. The ball was tipped by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson into the hands of Washington receiver Noah Brown for the game winning score. Washington won 18-15.
Impact: Stevenson was lambasted for his role and lapse of judgment at the worst time possible. It set the two teams on wildly divergent paths. For Chicago, the defeat kicked off a 10 game losing streak. Matt Eberflus was fired before the season ended. Meanwhile, Washington made an improbable run to the NFC Championship, their first in 33 years. Jayden Daniels also won Rookie of the Year.
5. “The Fail Mary” - Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks (2012)
The Stakes: In 2012, the NFL and its referees were engaged in a labor dispute. The season began with a full set of replacement referees. In Week 3, the Seahawks hosted the Packers on Monday Night Football. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson was making his third career start for the 1-1 Seahawks. It was a sloppy game that came down to the final play.
The Play: With eight seconds on the clock, Wilson dropped back, spun around entirely and lofted a 24-yard lob into a swarm of Packers and Seahawks players. The referee crew made two conflicting calls. One ruled it a touchdown and completion to Seahawks receiver Golden Tate. Another ruled it an interception by Packers safety M.D. Jennings. It seemed obvious that Tate didn’t catch the ball, but after a lengthy review the touchdown call was confirmed. Seattle escaped with a 14-12 victory.
Impact: The Fail Mary (or The Inaccurate Reception) is one of biggest blown calls in sports history. The NFL was forced to cave into the striking referee's demands after this embarrassing blunder. Two days later, the NFL and NFLRA ended their dispute and reinstated the professional referees. This infamous mistake cost Green Bay the NFC’s second seed and a bye week in the playoffs, where they eventually lost to the San Francisco 49ers on the road. They likely would have hosted the 49ers in the divisional round if the correct call had been made. It also unofficially sparked a series of Packers-Seahawks games in the 2010s with serious implications that ended in dramatic fashion.
4. “Fourth-And-Milroe” - Alabama vs. Auburn (2023)
The Stakes: The No. 8 Crimson Tide traveled to Auburn for their annual Iron Bowl rivalry game. Alabama was already locked into an SEC Championship Game appearance, but needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Auburn had them on the ropes for a vintage season ruining loss late in the fourth quarter. Things appeared quite dire when a series of self-inflicted errors set up 4th and Goal for Alabama…from the 31-yard line.
The Play: With 43 seconds remaining, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe fired a dart into the back corner of the end zone to receiver Isaiah Bond. He caught the pass to give Alabama the lead 27-24. It completely silenced a stunned Auburn home crowd. Auburn had no timeouts left and Payton Throne threw an interception to officially end the game as time expired.
Impact: This ended up being Nick Saban’s final season coaching at Alabama. Imagine if this went the other way though. They may have still beaten Georgia in the SEC Championship Game the following week, but a second loss would have killed Alabama’s playoff dreams. In all likelihood, Florida State or Georgia would have made the CFP. That could have altered Michigan’s path to the national championship. Does Nick Saban still want to retire after losing to their in-state rival like that? Would Kalen DeBoer still be coaching at Washington rather than replacing Saban? Who knows! Instead, “Fourth-and-Milroe” propelled Alabama to an Auburn win, an SEC championship and a thrilling near-victory against Michigan in the College Football Semifinal. Saban got to exit with his head held high. Ultimately, the domino effect of this fascinating hypothetical never came to pass because of Milroe and Bond.
3. “The Hail Mary GOAT” - Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals (2016)
The Stakes: No one has ever been better at the Hail Mary than Aaron Rodgers. He’s completed a whopping four Hail Mary passes for touchdowns. He had a first half postseason Hail Mary against the Giants in 2017. He had another first half prayer heave with the Jets in 2024. He delivered a game-clincher as time expired against the Detroit Lions in 2015. It’s mindblowing how successful he’s been at this. And yet, none of those can top what he did against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Divisional Round on January 16, 2016.
The Play(s): Rodgers and Packers receiver Jeff Janis connected on not one, but TWO Hail Mary passes on the same drive! Buried on their own 4-yard line, Rodgers threw a 61-yard bomb from the back of his own endzone on 4th and 20. Janis caught the ball to set up 1st and 10 on the opposing 35-yard line. Later, with five seconds and no timeouts, Rodgers heaved an even crazier pass to the endzone. Janis caught it again. The Packers forced the game into overtime 20-20.
Impact: The only blemish on this unparalleled moment in Hail Mary history is that Green Bay still lost this game. Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald immediately ripped out the Packers hearts on the opening drive of overtime and Arizona won 26-20. If this game was played today, Rodgers would have gotten one more chance to answer in overtime. However, we’ll never forget this once-in-a-lifetime set of Hail Marys that truly had to be seen to be believed.
2. “The Hail Flutie” - Boston College vs. Miami (1984)
The Stakes: The Golden Eagles and Hurricanes provided one of the wildest games in college football history on Black Friday in the 1984 season. Boston College hoped to take down the defending national champions at home. They were led by quarterback Doug Flutie, a Heisman contender, known for his short stature and perseverance. The game was hotly contested and featured 30 mph winds.
The Play: With six seconds to play, Flutie dropped back 13 yards from the 50-yard line, darting away from a Miami defensive lineman. With all of his 5-foot-10, 178 pound body, he tossed a 63 yard pass against the wind. It landed squarely into receiver Gerard Phelan’s hands to secure a 47-45 win over the Hurricanes.
Impact: When I think about Hail Marys, I think of this one first. Flutie was the ultimate underdog and this is arguably college football’s signature throw. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1984 and beat a Miami team in the middle of a dynastic run during the 1980s. The play was so famous that it led to a flood of new student applications at Boston College. Flutie defied the odds again and had a 21-year professional football career.
1. “The Hail Mary” - Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings (1975)
The Stakes: The Dallas Cowboys traveled to Minnesota to play the 12-3 Vikings late on a chilly December day. Minnesota was expected to advance to the NFC Championship. With a 14-10 lead late in the fourth quarter, it appeared that the Vikings would get their way. But the Cowboys had a chance to save their season. What unfolded next changed football history forever.
The Play: With 24 seconds left, Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach instructed receiver Drew Pearson to run a streak to the endzone. Keep in mind, this was not a common play call in 1975. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision by two players. When describing the pass, Staubach said “I just closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary.” He did just that and threw a game winning 50-yard touchdown pass to Pearson.
Impact: Staubach’s Hail Mary quote cemented this play call into football lore. The Cowboys went on to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X. The Vikings were handed another crushing playoff loss, an unfortunate theme of their franchise that remains today. And while the Cowboys lost that Super Bowl, they won another one in 1977. 50 years later, the original Hail Mary is still the greatest one in all of football. It’s an iconic play made famous by two Pro Football Hall of Famers. And until a team wins a championship on a Hail Mary, this will be the most important one ever thrown.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I am doing another mailbag soon. Please send me your hard hitting questions and you could be featured in the next edition of Tuesdays with Tom!
Tom’s Thoughts of the Week
In the last two episodes of Friday Night Beers, we reviewed La Saison and Solace. Despite the beer’s name, La Saison isn’t a saison style beer. It’s a barrel aged sour and our first trip to Switzerland. We talked about all things Swiss, our favorite acronyms and debated who is a swiss army knife as performers. Solace was a wild ride, with an unusual name and even more unusual blend of flavors. However, we loved the beer and discussed things that provide solace, while highlighting some unfortunate blunders in pop culture history. Please subscribe, rate and review our podcast here and follow our Instagram page for relevant updates!
It’s bizarre enough that the NFL Draft has become a three-day public spectacle hosted in rotating NFL cities. This one was even more peculiar than usual. Most NFL draft prospects dream of a swanky celebration in a lush metropolitan city. But this year, Green Bay, a Northern Wisconsin town with 105,000 residents, hosted the draft. It’s an odd inflection point for the draft, which has gradually become an extremely heavy-handed NFL infomercial littered with overlong, pointless announcements. Of course, that didn’t stop 600,000 people from showing up to hear players' names being announced. The 2025 NFL Draft was billed as a “starters not stars” class, with minimal elite talents based on most draft evaluations. The combination of the lack of star power and the Green Bay backdrop made this quite an unusual draft for football fans.
The story of the 2025 NFL Draft likely won’t be about an overrated nepo baby slipping into the fifth round. It’s a lot more likely that players like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter will define this draft’s narrative. Cam Ward might be the most under-the-radar No. 1 overall quarterback in NFL history. The Jacksonville Jaguars paid a steep price to trade up to the 2nd pick and take Hunter, the dual-threat Heisman Trophy winner from Colorado. I’m optimistic about Hunter’s future in the pros, but he’ll have to be extremely good right away to justify that kind of draft capital for Jacksonville. The Steelers did what most expected them to do, focusing on their needs within the defensive line and at running back. They’re clearly operating under a belief that Aaron Rodgers is coming to Pittsburgh. It was a weird year for the draft, but I’m happy with my team’s approach and excited to see what kind of players all these men will become down the road.
A few friends who played The Last of Us video games warned me that something even more controversial (spoiler warning) than Joel Miller’s Firefly massacre was coming on the show. Somehow, I avoided learning about that insane twist. Even more surprising was the timing of it. The second episode of season two, titled “Through The Valley”, delivered an episode that felt more like a penultimate season ender or season finale. It was directed by Mark Mylod, an HBO veteran who directed some of the best episodes of Game of Thrones back in the day. The obvious parallel of this episode’s zombie attack in Jackson, Wyoming is the Battle of Winterfell in Game of Thrones. It also paralleled Thrones with a gut-wrenching character death that will be discussed for years to come. Despite the bleak outcome, this was easily the best episode of The Last of Us to date. That said, I’m really curious to see how the show will handle this massive change. This is consistent with what happened in the video games and former players do know how this story concludes. I have no clue and that both excites and terrifies me.
I had a lot of fun writing about famously odd viral social media trends last year. When I published that story, I never thought that any of them would return. Lo and behold, Gen-Z has resurrected the Ice Bucket Challenge from a watery grave! A mental health club at the University of South Carolina launched a “Speak Your Mind” challenge, which offers young people the chance to do just that. Participants are encouraged to donate to Active Minds: “a nonprofit whose mission is to mobilize youth and change mental health norms.” The original Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 was dedicated to spreading awareness to ALS and its corresponding charities. But this new twist on the Ice Bucket is catching on, too. So far, over $100,000 has been donated to Active Minds and people like Peyton Manning have jumped in on the challenge. This is both very noble and amusingly silly to me. On one hand, I support normalizing mental health advocacy and combating those challenges with financial and emotional care. On the other hand, can Gen-Z pick a lane on Millennials? I thought we were all cringe losers to them. I’m certainly not possessive over the Ice Bucket Challenge, but it is a note-for-note copy of a decade-old Millennial invention. I find it highly ironic that they’re going to the Millennial playbook for this cause on TikTok. But mostly, I can’t believe that enough time has passed where the Ice Bucket Challenge has become fondly nostalgic for a new generation of people.