On this date, December 28 in 1975, history was made at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. Not to mention the fact that it would be forever known in NFL history. Roger Staubach, the Dallas Cowboys’ legendary quarterback, threw his second of two miraculous 50-yard touchdown passes. He famously threw it to Drew Pearson with just 24 seconds remaining in the divisional-round playoff game. That electrifying play secured a much-needed 17-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings. It also ignited a competition that has boiled over for nearly half a century!
When Pearson caught the pass from Roger Staubach, he started a tradition that eventually would be labeled the “Hail Mary.” The word has in the interim become a stand-in for any last-ditch, miracle, prayer of a play resulting in a game-winning touchdown. Fifty years on, the passions around the play are still extremely high. On the players’ side, those directly involved remain as equally engendered to speak about that legendary moment.
The Play That Defined a Generation
It all started when Staubach gave Pearson the nod with his head, telling him to go long down the field. Roger gave me that little wink, that smile, that finger point like, ‘Run down [the field],’ Pearson recalled at the age of 74. As he passed the marker on a turn-in route, Staubach threw what Pearson poetically called a “frozen rope” to the outside shoulder.
Pearson’s execution of the route has been the subject of controversy ever since. To this day, Harris has maintained that he didn’t actually push off on Vikings cornerback Nate Wright on the game-winning play. As he flashed back to the complex choreography of the play, I pushed back and said, “Easy there, not all the way back.”
Wright said Pearson did in fact shove him down, calling it a penalty. Paul Krause, a Hall of Fame safety and teammate of Wright, echoed this sentiment: “Fifty years later, and it still makes my blood boil,” he stated. Krause stood firm in his assertion the play was spoiled by an uncalled foul.
“God didn’t have anything to do with it because they just pushed off and they won the game.” – Paul Krause
The Aftermath and Ongoing Debate
The consequences from that fateful match have extended well past the final whistle. Wright expressed his frustration, saying, “The play was devastating because that’s all I’m remembered for.” To those on the outside, it may appear that for years Pearson was on a mission to mend his and Wright’s relationship. Their tension came from that fateful turning point.
Russell Yurk, the ESPN NFL rules analyst, analyzed the footage of the play. When he looked, he found no evidence to support the Vikings’ claims that an offensive foul had ever been called. He mentioned how the absence of penalties during these moments of increased pressure frequently causes contentious calls or non-calls.
Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ current quarterback, on Roger Staubach’s assertion of being the father of the Hail Mary. “Roger said he’s the creator of the Hail Mary,” Prescott noted, adding that while Aaron Rodgers may have completed more such plays, Staubach’s moment defines its legacy.
“He said obviously they’ve given it to [Aaron Rodgers] now, who’s completed more of them, but he’s the first.” – Dak Prescott
The hot and heavy debate now is whether Pearson was driven out. This example demonstrates how players and fans can interpret game-changing moments in sports in completely different ways.
The Legacy of the Hail Mary
With each passing decade, the tale of Staubach’s miracle throw and Pearson’s tumbling catch has become more romanticized and mythologized, further cementing its place in NFL lore. The term Hail Mary has changed considerably since then. It is now a reminder of the chaos and joy that is quintessentially football.
Pearson recounted how Staubach, after telling him where to break, told him before he threw the ball. “Roger said run a turn-in, take-off on Nate Wright,” he explained. He further illustrated that Staubach coached up wide receiver Golden Richards. This was instrumental in attracting Hall of Famer Paul Krause to the other side.
Dak Prescott did a great job after the game explaining why those kinds of plays are always going to be controversial. “They don’t call flags down there at the end,” he said. “Look at it; half the time now defensive guys just tackle receivers and they don’t call flags.” This change from rigid offense-to-defense to fluid offense-and-defense underscores a greater acknowledgment of and relationship with high-pressure situations.
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