Longest plays in Super Bowl history

betus.com.pa

09 February 2023

Football presents unique game-changing situations in a single play, and the Super Bowl is certainly no exception.

Take a look at the longest plays in Super Bowl history, via pass, run, defensive or special-teams return.

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Longest Passing Touchdown – 85 yards

Jake Delhomme to Muhsin Muhammad (Super Bowl XXXVIII)

The last couple of minutes in the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVIII win over the Carolina Panthers (Feb. 1st, 2004) was quite astonishing. There were three scores in a matter of three minutes, culminating with Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning 41-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock.

A little bit earlier in that final quarter, there was passing history. Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad combined to complete the longest touchdown pass in the history of the gem. Muhammad was having his way with defensive back Eugene Wilson, and Delhomme took notice. Muhammed ended with four receptions (140 yards), including the aforementioned 85-yarder with 6:53 remaining that gave the Panthers a 22-21 lead. Delhomme was just 16-of-33 in the game, but finished with 323 yards and three touchdowns. He was looking deep more than once, his low percentage attributed in part to that. He wasn’t intercepted, however. Carolina lost, 32-29.

This broke the record set seven Super Bowls earlier, also against the Patriots. In Super Bowl XXXI, Brett Favre and Antonio Freeman combined on an 81-yard touchdown pass in the Green Bay Packers’ 35-21 win over New England.

Longest Rushing Touchdown – 75 yards

Willie Parker (Super Bowl XL)

Pittsburgh Steelers Willie Parker’s touchdown run against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL (Feb. 5th, 2006) shows the magic a single play is able to create.

He had nine rushes and just 18 yards before this one (and a one-yard reception). Everything changed in a matter of moments. The second play of the second half, Parker went through a hole on the right side, then ended with the longest touchdown run in Super Bowl history.

Pittsburgh had a 14-3 lead en route to a 21-10 victory.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was not prominent, 9-of-21 (123 yards, two interceptions). It was a 43-yard gadget-play touchdown (Antwaan Randle El to Hines Ward) that was the team’s lone passing touchdown.

Parker was a one-yard better than Marcus Allen’s 74-yard cutback touchdown run back in Super Bowl XVIII as the Los Angeles Raiders dominated the Washington-then Redskins, 38-9.

There is now 7️⃣5️⃣ days until the #Steelers season opener
So here’s Willie Parker breaking the record for longest run in Super Bowl history with a 75 yard touchdown against the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL pic.twitter.com/YkNeG5YcpJ
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) June 25, 2019

Longest Kickoff Return Touchdown – 108 yards

Jacoby Jones (Super Bowl XLVII)

The kickoff return (Feb. 3rd, 2013) that was literally lights-out in the Superdome.

That’s when Jacoby Jones of the Baltimore Ravens took the second-half boot all the way against the San Francisco 49ers. Right after the play, electrical failure took out the lights, and a 34-minute delay ensued.

Jones’ record-setting jaunt, one of 10 Super Bowl kickoff-return touchdowns, gave the Ravens a 28-6 point lead. San Francisco then rallied, closing the gap to two points before losing, 34-31.

Jacoby Jones’ 109-yard kickoff return in Super Bowl 47.
The longest play in Super Bowl history. pic.twitter.com/HfThbE3pT3
— Ravens Nation LIVE (@LIVERavenNation) January 7, 2023

Longest Fumble Return Touchdown – 49 yards

Mike Bass (Super Bowl VII)

Ah, poor Garo Yepremian. It was Jan. 14. 1973. The Cypriot tiemaker/placekicker of the Miami Dolphins attempted a 42-yard field goal that would’ve given the soon-to-be 17-0 Fish a 17-0 lead (how symmetric) over the Washington then-Redskins.

However, the boot was blocked by Ted Vactor before finding its way back to Yepremian, That wasn’t good. A “hot potato” slapped in the air by Yepremian, gratefully accepted just before midfield by standout cornerback Mike Bass. Bass then took the gift all the way, halving the Washington deficit to 14-7 with just over two minutes left in the game.

That was the lone blemish on the Day/Season of the Dolphins. Miami ended the league’s first (and only) perfect season with that same-score win, while Yepremian’s foiled football folly has been replaced the last half-century.

Longest Interception Return Touchdown – 100 yards

James Harrison (Super Bowl XLIII)

The last play of the first half (Feb. 9th, 2009). Arizona, down 10-7 was driving. The Cardinals at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ two-yard line when Steeler linebacker James Harrison intercepted a Kurt Warner pass.

Harrison took off near the sideline, then avoided just about everyone on the other team to make it to the end zone.

The Cards would eventually take a 23-20 lead before losing, 27-20.

Longest Punt Return Touchdown – None (not a typo)

With a plethora of records, including the aforementioned ones, it’s not hard to fathom some are going to be set (punt-return touchdown) and broken…and again,

Of course, a 109-yard kickoff return would be a tough feat.