

In the latter case, it would be a valid reception in the former, the penalty would be for “Illegal Touching” and the game would be over. The “Immaculate” moniker is questionable the play was ruled a touchdown because none of the referees could determine whether Fuqua has touched the ball, or whether it had bounced off his defender. Probably not enough evidence to go on.Īside to kanicbird: the Immaculate Reception was Franco Harris, snatching a Terry Bradshaw pass intended for “Frenchy” Fuqua from inches above the ground in the final seconds of the AFC Championship game (Steelers vs. With the big game in the balance, your pass in the air, and a mob of defenders and receivers in the end zone, you may as well pray–you’re going to need it!Īs for who coined it, Google gives one decent cite that it was Roger Staubach vs. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

The Lord is with thee.īlessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. The massive hang time is long enough for the receivers to get downfield under his pass, long enough for the defenders to set up coverage, and long enough for the quarterback to say the complete Hail Mary prayer, to wit: He throws long and high, knowing that the time left on the clock will expire no matter what kind of play is run. Nonetheless, the quarterback’s hand (and arm) is forced. Normally when a defense knows what you’re going to do, you try to do something else, but in this situation, it is the only possible play, and defending against it is pretty easy. Everyone in the stadium–offense, defense, fans, the hot dog guy, even the ref–knows what’s coming, because there’s really no other choice. The QB, desperate for more than three points but nowhere near scoring, with only a handful of seconds left on the clock, throws the ball in a long, high arc, aiming for the end zone. Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers has three successful Hail Marys to his credit.I seem to remember my father’s explanation going something like this… In one of the most famous Hail Mary plays, Doug Flutie-who went on to win the Heisman Trophy-completed a 48-yard pass to Gerard Phelan in 1984 with seconds left to give Boston College a stunning victory over the University of Miami. Most Hail Mary passes aren't completed because of the degree of difficulty, but scores of long heaves have been. But "Hail Mary" found its way into headlines in the Philadelphia Daily News ("'Hail Mary' Pass Blesses Dallas") and Miami News ("Cowboys had no prayer until 'Hail Mary' pass"). Newspaper sports sections the next day focused on the controversy about whether pass interference should have been called on the play. "Our only hope was to throw and hope for a miracle," Landry told reporters afterward.Īfter Pearson’s catch answered Staubach’s prayer, the Hail Mary emerged from college football obscurity and found a place in standard football terminology. For the Cowboys, the play was an instant classic. One fan threw an empty whiskey bottle that struck field judge Armen Terzian in the forehead, causing a gash. A hail mary pass is often the last resort for the offensive team to score in order to tie or win the game. This is a long pass in football that is usually thrown into a group of receivers who are either in the end zone or are at the maximum distance that the quarterback can throw the football. Vikings fans, already celebrating an apparent victory, turned surly. What Is The Definition Of Hail Mary In Football 1.

ORIGIN OF TERM HAIL MARY FOOTBALL PRO
Dallas Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson, elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, never tires of talking about his Hail Mary reception.
