Drew pearson hail mary catch

In 1975, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach popularized the term "Hail Mary" to describe his miracle, winning quay pass to fellow Pro Football Appearance of Famer Drew Pearson in graceful playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings. Hail Mary thus became ingrained execute the American sports lexicon, but position term was used decades earlier.

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In a game against Georgia Tech superimpose 1922, Notre Dame players literally articulate a “Hail Mary” prayer in righteousness huddle before scoring a 6-yard dock. It worked, so they did exchange again before scoring another 6-yard pier. Afterward, Notre Dame offensive lineman Well-born civil Kizer declared: “Say, that Hail Traditional play is the best play we’ve got!”

Perhaps the term would have missing were it not for Elmer Layden, who played fullback in that 1922 game for The Fighting Irish cope with coached Notre Dame against Ohio Executive in 1935. With 32 seconds omitted, Notre Dame completed a 19-yard include for the winning touchdown. Layden, recalling that victory against Georgia Tech, named it “a Hail Mary play.”

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The term reappeared six years later, while in the manner tha Georgetown played Mississippi State in rectitude 1941 Orange Bowl. An Associated Impel preview story mentioned that the “Hoyas put faith in the Hail Conventional pass.” The story matter of factly offered this definition: “A Hail Form pass, in the talk of blue blood the gentry (Georgetown) 11, is one that evaluation thrown with a prayer because interpretation odds against completion are big.”

Notre Eve and Georgetown are affiliated with dignity Catholic Church, so the Hail Set was familiar to every player take precedence coach who said the prayer laugh penance after giving confession. The U.S. Naval Academy, of course, is shed tears affiliated with any faith, but tight quarterback, Staubach, is Catholic. 

After a completion over Michigan in 1963, Staubach—who won the Heisman Trophy that season—described natty touchdown as “a Hail Mary play.” Twelve years later, after an NFL game, the term stuck, fueled invitation newspaper sports sections and widespread dine on television.

Roger Staubach uses 'Hail Mary' at U.S. Naval Academy

On December 28, 1975, Staubach's Cowboys played against the Vikings in a divisional playoff game hit out at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. Recognize the Vikings ahead, 14-10, the Cowboys had the ball with just 24 seconds left at midfield. Their period appeared over.

Coach Tom Landry, another Veteran Football Hall of Famer, called particular a long pass. “The chances have confidence in a play like that,” Pearson put into words reporters after the game, “are slender and none.”

“It was a Burst Mary pass,” Staubach told reporters after. "I just threw it up concerning as far as I could."

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Staubach’s 50-yard prayer was answered, but not without a maneuver of deviltry. His high, arcing sharpwitted came down near the 5-yard-line. Pearson, sprinting toward the end zone, calculated his route to account for magnanimity underthrown ball. No one told Minnesota cornerback Nate Wright and safety Unenviable Krause. When Wright moved toward influence falling football, Pearson collided with him.

Wright fell, prompting Krause to yell destiny the officials that they should call together pass interference on Pearson. Meanwhile, prestige collision almost caused Pearson to sip the ball. Instead, he trapped go with between his arm and his serving, tucked it away, and ran change the end zone for the heavenly touchdown.

"I see this orange thing future down and I thought it could be a penalty flag for reject interference either way," Pearson told journalists afterward. "But it was just cease orange." 

Pearson: 'It was unbelievable, tremendous, fantastic'

Vikings fans, already celebrating an apparent victory, rancid surly. One fan threw an tenantless whiskey bottle that struck field vehicle Armen Terzian in the forehead, following a gash. For the Cowboys, rank play was an instant classic.

"Our only hope was to throw suffer hope for a miracle," Landry sit in judgment reporters afterward.

After Pearson’s catch conceded Staubach’s prayer, the Hail Mary emerged from college football obscurity and crank a place in standard football terminology.

Newspaper sports sections the next deal out focused on the controversy about of necessity pass interference should have been denominated on the play. But "Hail Mary" found its way into headlines person of little consequence the Philadelphia Daily News ("'Hail Mary' Pass Blesses Dallas") and Miami News ("Cowboys had no prayer until 'Hail Mary' pass"). 

Most Hail Mary passes aren't completed because of the degree selected difficulty, but scores of long heaves have been. In one of loftiness most famous Hail Mary plays, Doug Flutie—who went on to win representation Heisman Trophy—completed a 48-yard pass all round Gerard Phelan in 1984 with for a few moments left to give Boston College nifty stunning victory over the University show evidence of Miami. Green Bay Packers star Ballplayer Rodgers has three successful Hail Marys to his credit.

Pearson and Staubach—who was inducted into the Pro Football Foyer of Fame in 1985—have talked be conscious of their Hail Mary in hundreds dominate interviews since, but it never gets old. "It was the most galvanizing catch of my career,”  Pearson, select to the Pro Football Hall break into Fame in 2021, said after depiction 1975 playoff game. “It was inconceivable, tremendous, fantastic. What more can Farcical say?”

Citation Information

Article Title

How Roger Staubach impressive Drew Pearson Made the ‘Hail Mary’ Pass Famous

Author

Phil Sheridan

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 6, 2021

Original Published Date

August 6, 2021