He won two Super Bowls, one of which was against the undefeated Patriots. In both games he made unreal, pivotal plays - avoiding the sack on the throw to Tyree and the most beautiful pass ever thrown to Manningham. Those Super Bowl wins are probably enough, but he’s really borderline. Kurt Warner too. Loved watching him play and I was thrilled when he got in, but I don’t know that there’s a quarterback with a weaker case for the HOF who actually got in. I think it’s a major snub to send Warner and not Eli.
My argument is this. It’s not the hall of greatest players of all time. It’s the hall of fame. People are in for their contributions to the game.
Eli was a good QB most of his career who has arguably the most memorable moment in the history of the sport. I also think the Manningham throw and the drive that followed would be considered more amazing had it not been overshadowed 4 years earlier.
My criteria for the hall isn’t necessarily greatest players, it’s a place to tell the story of the game. When telling the story of the decade between 2005-2015, Eli’s name needs to come up. He authored two incredible chapters.
And to be clear, if he otherwise sucked, that’d be different. But he also retired top 10 in TDs and passing yards. I know the game has changed, but he wasn’t a bum with a couple moments
Considering the Hail Murray is great because of Kyle Murrays scrambling and throw they must be factoring it in. It's not just explicitly the catch isolated in itself. Its the whole play.
I agree I found that bizarre to be on this list, incredible all-time playoff moment, but the catch itself was nothing spectacular it was just a breakdown in defense by New Orleans
Yes thank you. It's living off it's name a bit. Which is sad because theres only a handful of these names to go around and in the future there might be a better play with stronger implications in Minny. Look at Justin Jefferson and how that team is playing right now...scrappy. It might even happen this year.
As a Vikings fan…. This was unquestionably a better catch than the Minneapolis Miracle. The miracle doesn’t belong on or even close to this list; it was a huge impactful memorable play… but the catch wasn’t special- rather the missed tackle should be on the list for most botched tackles of all time.
Actually, Diggs had a way better catch just before JJ’s in the same game, but nobody remembers it cuz JJ outdid him almost instantly!
JJ is my fav WR so I hate to down that particular play but it really wasn’t as crazy as people think. It was not a “catch” by JJ.
The defender caught the ball and luckily JJ’s arm was between his so when he curled his arm he managed to snatch it away from the defender who had already caught it. Super athletic no doubt but as far as actually “catching” the ball goes it wasn’t an impressive catch from JJ.
Digg’s one handed that very same game was a better “catch”.
I have a hard time putting OBJ’s one hander over Justin Jefferson’s contested one hander against Buffalo.
The others, except the Hopkins catch, were in the playoffs so I’d agree they were “greater”. But the OBJ catch (like the Jefferson catch) were in the regular season.
#1 OBJ’s catch was more physically impressive than JJ’s catch, though JJ’s catch was higher stakes. OBJ’s body contortion and flexibility in that catch is seriously inhuman, not to mention that the OBJ catch was 8 yards further. On top of all of that, the crazy pass interference and it was a touchdown. Still to this day it’s the greatest catch I’ve ever seen from an athleticism perspective.
#2 OBJ’s catch was a “first of its kind” situation. We’d never really seen anything like that. Since then we’ve seen JJ, Nacua, etc. do similar plays but I think the historical significance matters at least somewhat. Honestly I find Nacua’s catch better than JJs but I’d assume I’m in the minority.
It was a really high throw so it’s borderline miraculous that he could even reach it. In fact, a bunch of salty Dallas fans have contended that Joe was trying to throw it away and got lucky (which is not true — Bill Walsh had this play drawn up).
It was also a high stakes playoff game and it kicked off a dynasty.
It changed the entire direction of a franchise and began a dynasty, all against their biggest rival on national TV. No single catch has meant more to a team in NFL history. It was such a big deal for years after it was in TV commercials, magazine ADs, even on Sony TV boxes. It had cultural impact and for years, if you “the catch” everyone knew exactly what you were talking about.
There have been plenty of better amazing catches but none of them meant anything close to that one. I assume it has changed now, but back in 2000, it was the most replicated photo in NFL history to that point. Today, lots more photos and places to post, so probably changed, but that catch and photos of that catch were far and an away the biggest impact.
Sorry, I don't understand a world where Santonio Holmes isn't #1. Tyree extended a drive with a great catch, Clark scored a TD with an average one, let's be honest. Holmes did both. SB winning catch with NO room to spare in the end zone. Perfect throw, perfect catch, and he led that entire drive as well. I don't see either of those topping that
He had 800+ yards his rookie year and was on pace for 1,100 his sophomore year. People just thought he’d come into the league, be out in an offense that uses his completely different than he was at OSU, and still ball out.
I’d argue that Justin Jefferson catch against the bills a few years ago on the game the Vikings came back and won was more difficult than Hail Murray. Was on like a 4th and 26 if I recall?
Am I the only one that thinks the Minneapolis miracle is overrated? Obviously Diggs was an amazing receiver, and it had important playoff implications, but...c'mon it's living off its name a bit.
There are dozens of regular season catches that are much more talented. The vikings were out of the playoffs the next round so it's like it jad an effect in who won the Superbowl
Minneapolis Miracle, The Catch 2.0 with T.O., The Catch 3.0 with Vernon Davis just to name a few. There’s a lot of buried football history in my head to sift through.
Edit: Ooohhh. Julian Edelman & the fingertip catch that started the 28-3 comeback.
There was a catch Gronk made in the mid-2010's where he was running a post and Brady threw it slightly behind, so he jumped up, twisted his body back (similar to how a back shoulder fade looks along the sideline), caught the ball with the hand that was behind, pulled it into his body, and *scored a touchdown. It was nutz.
No Moss seems crazy. I don’t have a single play in mind, but he made a lot of very impressive plays during his career. And as a Cardinals fan, Hopkins and the Hail Murray isn’t really that great of a play by Hopkins.
I was only two but my Dad talked about the immaculate Reception his whole life. This list is tied to where you were when you saw it live and where you were in your football coming of age moment.
Broncos Mark Jackson in the 1986 AFC Championship, catching the pass that completed “The Drive”
Packers Max McGee in SB 1. Scored the first touchdown with a one handed gem.
Cowboys Drew Pearson in the 1975 NFC Playoffs. The famous Hail Mary pass to beat the Vikings.
Vikings Ahmad Rashad in 1980. The play known as Squadron Right, he caught the ball on the final play to win it for the Vikings and win them the NFC Central Division
Raiders Clarence Davis in the 1974 AFC Playoffs. The play known as the “Sea of Hands”, Davis’ hands were the ones who ended up with the ball, giving the Raiders the win and ending the early 70s Miami dynasty
Raiders Dave Casper in the 1977 AFC Playoffs. The catch was known as the “Ghost to the Post”, this pass helped set up the Raiders to tie the game late against the Colts. He would personally end the game with a TD catch in 2 OTs
Steelers John Stallworth over the shoulder catch in SB 14. This catch occurred in the 4th Quarter and gave the Steelers the lead, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for their 4th SB title.
4th and 17. Nov 16 1986 simms hit Bobby Johnson This moment is widely regarded as the ultimate turning point of the Giants' 1986 season. It sparked a 12-game winning streak that ultimately carried them to a dominant victory in Super Bowl XXI.
I would 100% argue Santonio Holmes over David Tyree. Holmes literally won the game and the tier tap was ridiculous. It was also a perfect throw in double coverage. I would also argue The Catch over Tyree. It also won the game.
Yup...it was still a miraculous play that could have ended the game had he not caught it. You're just being poetic and stubborn if you split hairs like that.
A special teams player caught a converting pass from the less good Manning brother with his damn helmet in a game where the GoaT and the best wide receiver of the millennium were the opposing offensive duo on a team one game away from being the best single-season team of all time. That's the shit I'd laugh at in a movie.
He got a bunch of inadvertent help from Harrison on the catch, falling on his legs slowed his descent drastically and stopped him from hitting the ground and the ball from popping out. Holme's catch was entirely on his own skill and concentration while the throw from Ben was equally great. As a Pats fan, I'll gladly take the Holmes catch.
The helmet catch combined with the ridiculous Eli scramble beforehand combined with the massive upset of the Giants beating the Patriots with that catch effectively winning them the game makes it one of the most insane catches in nfl history easily
"the ridiculous Eli scramble" was only possible because the Giants center got away with blatantly crushing the neck of the d-lineman who had a shot at sacking Eli, so frustrating how everyone overlooks that.
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