It is one of the most iconic moments in Super Bowl history and the most significant moment in David Tyree's career. Of course, we're talking about the helmet catch during Super Bowl XLII. The iconic play helped lead the New York Giants to their victory over the undefeated New England Patriots.
The play, which a lot of insiders think would not have been possible if it wasn't for it being in the Super Bowl, cemented Tyree into Super Bowl lore. Joining The MSG 150 to discuss his career, the former Giants wideout understands how important “The Helmet Catch” is in Super Bowl history.
“For me, it’s this moment that I call the monumental moment,” Tyree said of the helmet catch. “It’s always something that I can go back to and celebrate with fans and teammates. And to be a part of history is pretty monumental. It’s amazing.”
Surprisingly, Tyree admitted that he actually does not have the ball he caught. The ball was kept in the game following the catch and was eventually caught by Plaxico Burress for the game-winning touchdown minutes later, and Burress subsequently kept the ball himself. When talking about it, Tyree joked about the ball's legacy.
“That’s a true to the fact statement,” said Tyree. “He’s got the two-for-one of a lifetime.”
Tyree also heaped praise on Eli Manning, in spite of his roller-coaster career.
“I think what I appreciate is the journey and evolution of Eli Manning,” Tyree said. “When you’re drafted No. 1 overall, the expectations are extremely high. When you think about the legacy attached to the name and the many shoes he had to walk into, especially coming into New York City. And what I appreciate is that it wasn’t all roses when he first stepped into New York. But he just worked. He was consistent, he was full of integrity and he was full of character. He was the best teammate I think any of us ever played with throughout our years. He never spoke ill of his teammates. He was very true to himself and he improved and matured into a Hall of Fame quarterback.”
Follow Us
Subscribe