Flashback: Eli Manning recalls how Jared Lorenzen helped make iconic Super Bowl ‘helmet catch’ play possible

Super Bowl 42, way back in 2008, featured the iconic play known as “the helmet catch.” New York Giants QB Eli Manning fought off being sacked to throw a long ball deep to David Tyree late in the fourth quarter, a key moment in the team’s victory against the almost-perfect New England Patriots. When Manning looked back on the play for NFL Films’ “The Timeline,” he gave credit to one of his teammates, former Kentucky QB Jared Lorenzen.

As Manning explains in the clip below, the Giants ran a drill every practice where Manning worked on avoiding being stripped/sacked in the pocket. It was a drill involving the quarterback position group that had Lorenzen playing the part of pass-rusher. The “Timeline” clip, below, is making the rounds on social media again following Lorenzen’s tragic passing this week. The former Wildcats QB played with the Giants from 2004-07, serving as Manning’s back up during the Super Bowl season.

Manning recalls that Lorenzen took the drill “to the next level,” as he was similar in size to a defensive lineman:

Thank you to the real hero of #SB42 @JaredLorenzen22
The referee ALMOST called the play dead.
Eli Manning ALMOST threw the ball to his offensive lineman.
The @nygiants ALMOST lost the game.#TheTimeline: #helmetcatch
Rp @NFLFilms #nflfilms @NFL pic.twitter.com/7EliKODF2q

— LPG – NYG (@LicensePlateGuy) February 1, 2018

Statement from #NYGiants:
Jared was a special person, and a beloved Giant. He was an important member of our 2007 team, one that created its own destiny. Our thoughts are with Jared’s family and friends who loved and appreciated him so much, just as our organization and fans did. pic.twitter.com/z6TLw8WeO2

— New York Giants (@Giants) July 3, 2019

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.