The New York Giants have had their fair share of memorable moments in franchise history. However, there might be no bigger play than David Tyree’s helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants handed the New England Patriots their first loss of the season and pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Giants great Plaxico Burress recently discussed the famous play from his perspective on the joint venture show with Lil Wayne and Craig Carton.
“I go outside to kind of pull a safety to me, and David Tyree being David Tyree. You know, David Tyree runs the wrong route," Burress said. "Like, yo, we’re in crunch time and he runs the wrong route, and I’m just thinking like, Eli’s sacked, he’s down, right? So I kind of just, you know, stop
running, and I see him pop up and I look at him and I’m like, ‘No, don’t throw it,’ in my mind. And he rears back when he throws it, and I don’t think nobody else can make that play other than David Tyree.
"But, you know, I kind of like did my little theory of it. Rodney Harrison was one interception shy of breaking the postseason NFL interception record… Yeah. So he went for the ball. He went for the ball. I believe if he runs underneath David Tyree and upends him, he doesn’t make the play. But Rodney wanted the ball.”
Of course, Burress made the go-ahead touchdown catch moments later, and the Giants pulled off the upset. Burress was a crucial part of the Giants’ regular-season success and postseason run that year and remains one of the greatest free-agent signings in franchise history.
The play itself was incredible on both sides of the throw. Given Manning’s history of going down at the first sign of contact, his escape was something special in its own right. Yet Tyree’s catch against Harrison usually overshadows Manning’s contribution. Add in the fact that Tyree recorded just four catches during the regular season that year, and the play becomes even more remarkable.
Ironically enough, Tyree finished Super Bowl XLII with more catches and more yards than Burress.
The play is something Giants fans will have etched in their minds for a long time, even almost 20 years later. Clearly, Burress still has a very vivid memory of it.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants great Plaxico Burress makes shocking reveal about 'The Helmet Catch'
