What It Is
Julio Jones’ spectacular sideline catch in Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017, where he hauled in a 27-yard pass from Matt Ryan while maintaining possession with his toes barely inbounds. The catch put Atlanta in field goal range with a 28-20 lead late in the game.
Why It Matters
The catch appeared to seal the Falcons’ first Super Bowl championship. Jones demonstrated elite concentration and body control, and the play was initially ruled incomplete before review confirmed the catch. It should have been the signature moment of Atlanta’s championship run.
Impact
Tragically for Atlanta, a holding penalty and sack pushed them out of field goal range on the next two plays, and the Patriots completed the greatest Super Bowl comeback (from 28-3 down) to win 34-28 in overtime. Jones’ catch is remembered as a “what could have been” moment in NFL history.
Source: https://www.nfl.com/videos/julio-jones-toe-tap-sideline-catch-super-bowl-li