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Every Interception Return for a Touchdown (Pick-Six) in Super Bowl History
Dwight Smith with One of His Two Interceptions Returned for a Touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVII
Twelve different players have returned an interception for a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Only one – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ Dwight Smith – has two pick-sixes, both in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Smith is joined by teammate Derrick Brooks, who also converted an interception for a TD in the same Super Bowl, making it three pick-sixes for the Bucs in the same big game.
Here’s an odd note: eight of those listed below made their pick in 2000 or later. What does that mean? Are defenses getting better? Do teams have greater defensive intelligence (scouting, tapes, diagrams, etc)? That probably has a little to do with it.
More likely, though, the sport itself has become more and more one of passing, thus increasing interception opportunities.
Follow @VinGetz| PLAYER | TD | TEAM | SB | SEASON | |
| 1. | Dwight Smith | 2 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | XXXVII | 2002 |
| 2. | Herb Adderley | 1 | Green Bay Packers | II | 1967 |
| 3. | Derrick Brooks | 1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | XXXVII | 2002 |
| 4. | Willie Brown | 1 | Oakland Raiders | XI | 1976 |
| 5. | Nick Collins | 1 | Green Bay Packers | XLV | 2010 |
| 6. | James Harrison | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers | XLIII | 2008 |
| 7. | Kelvin Hayden | 1 | Indianapolis Colts | XLI | 2006 |
| 8. | Ty Law | 1 | New England Patriots | XXXVI | 2001 |
| 9. | Reggie Phillips | 1 | Chicago Bears | XX | 1985 |
| 10. | Tracy Porter | 1 | New Orleans Saints | XLIV | 2009 |
| 11. | Jack Squirek | 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | XVIII | 1983 |
| 12. | Duane Starks | 1 | Baltimore Ravens | XXXV | 2000 |
Thanks to pro-football-reference‘s play index, where I punched in this query.
Photo: tbo.com
Randy Moss Returning to NFL: Where Does He Rank All-Time?
Randy Moss Is Coming Out of Retirement (boston.com)
This is no rumor. Randy Moss is returning to play football next season. He is “ready to rock ‘n’ roll.” And he’ll “have no trouble finding a team to play for in 2012.” (rotoworld.com)
Well, that’s kind of exciting. There’s been a drop off – 2010 was a waste – and he is 35 (today’s his birthday, in fact), but as late as 2009, Moss had 1,200+ yards and led the league in receiving touchdowns. So, it will be good to have him back.
Where will he play, though? That’s anyone’s guess, though most are saying it will not be with the New England Patriots.
Here’s a look at where Randy Moss ranks all time amongst the best receivers to play the game, of which he is of course one…
He’s just 46 catches away from becoming the ninth receiver in history with 1,000 receptions. By season’s end he possibly will be seventh all time.
| RECEPTIONS | ||
| 1. | Jerry Rice | 1,549 |
| 2. | Tony Gonzalez | 1,149 |
| 3. | Marvin Harrison | 1,102 |
| 4. | Cris Carter | 1,101 |
| 5. | Tim Brown | 1,094 |
| 6. | Terrell Owens | 1,078 |
| 7. | Isaac Bruce | 1,024 |
| 8. | Hines Ward | 1,000 |
| 9. | Randy Moss | 954 |
| 10. | Andre Reed | 951 |
| 11. | Derrick Mason | 943 |
| 12. | Art Monk | 940 |
It is likely that Moss will wind up with the second most receiving yards in NFL history. He needs less than 1,100 yards.
| RECEIVING YDS | ||
| 1. | Jerry Rice | 22,895 |
| 2. | Terrell Owens | 15,934 |
| 3. | Isaac Bruce | 15,208 |
| 4. | Tim Brown | 14,934 |
| 5. | Randy Moss | 14,858 |
| 6. | Marvin Harrison | 14,580 |
| 7. | James Lofton | 14,004 |
| 8. | Cris Carter | 13,899 |
Moss will pass Terrell Owens this season to become sole possessor of second all-time in receiving touchdowns, behind Jerry Rice again.
| RECEIVING TD | ||
| 1. | Jerry Rice | 197 |
| 2. | Terrell Owens | 153 |
| Randy Moss | 153 | |
| 4. | Cris Carter | 130 |
| 5. | Marvin Harrison | 128 |
| 6. | Steve Largent | 100 |
| Tim Brown | 100 | |
It’s a recent group of receivers who lead the receiving yards per game list, but Moss clings to the top 10.
| RECEIVING YDS PER GAME | ||
| 1. | Andre Johnson | 79.1 |
| 2. | Larry Fitzgerald | 77.5 |
| 3. | Torry Holt | 77.4 |
| 4. | Calvin Johnson | 77.3 |
| 5. | Marvin Harrison | 76.7 |
| 6. | Jerry Rice | 75.6 |
| 7. | Lance Alworth | 75.5 |
| 8. | Michael Irvin | 74.9 |
| 9. | Anquan Boldin | 74.0 |
| 10. | Randy Moss | 73.6 |
| 11. | Terrell Owens | 72.8 |
| 12. | Sterling Sharpe | 72.6 |
| Marques Colston | 72.6 | |
Here’s an anomaly. And it’s a surprising one. Moss is 199th in yards per reception, in the company of the likes of Jeff Chadwick.
| YDS PER RECEPTION | ||
| 199. | Joey Galloway | 15.6 |
| Art Graham | 15.6 | |
| Miles Austin | 15.6 | |
| Braylon Edwards | 15.6 | |
| Dave Parks | 15.6 | |
| Don Beebe | 15.6 | |
| Elbie Nickel | 15.6 | |
| Jeff Chadwick | 15.6 | |
| Randy Moss | 15.6 | |
| J.D. Hill | 15.6 | |
| Corey Bradford | 15.6 | |
| Jake Reed | 15.6 | |
Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.
