Football is a thinking man's game. Players may have to memorize hundreds of different play variations, and coaches keep a few special ones tucked away for the moment a game is on the line. For the fans, some of these have become very memorable — a handful are known simply by a nickname, and no further explanation is needed. Here are some of the most famous plays from the college and professional game, listed in the order they happened.

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The Immaculate Reception

With 22 seconds left in the 1972 AFC divisional playoff at Three Rivers Stadium on 23 December, Pittsburgh trailed Oakland 7-6 and faced fourth down. Terry Bradshaw's desperate pass towards John Fuqua was broken up by Raiders safety Jack Tatum, and the ball flew backwards several yards — straight into the hands of Steelers rookie Franco Harris, who scooped it up just above the turf and ran it in for the winning touchdown. Pittsburgh won 13-7.

It remains one of the most argued-over plays in the sport. Under the rules of the time, a pass could not be touched by two offensive players in succession, so the touchdown would not have counted had the ball come off Fuqua rather than Tatum. In 2019 the NFL voted it the greatest play in the league's first 100 seasons.

The Hail Mary

The phrase had been kicking around Notre Dame since the 1930s, but it entered the everyday language of football on 28 December 1975. Trailing Minnesota 14-10 in the NFC divisional playoff with well under a minute to play, Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach launched the ball around 50 yards downfield to Drew Pearson, who gathered it in against his hip and stepped into the end zone for a 17-14 win.

"I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary," Staubach said afterwards — and the name has been attached to every desperate long throw since. Vikings fans have never accepted it, insisting that Pearson pushed off defender Nate Wright.

The Catch

The 1981 NFC Championship game, played on 10 January 1982, was decided with 51 seconds remaining. Facing third and three from the Dallas six-yard line, San Francisco's Joe Montana rolled to his right, was chased towards the sideline by three Cowboys, and threw the ball high towards the back of the end zone — so high that it looked like he was simply throwing it away. Dwight Clark leapt and pulled it down with his fingertips. The 49ers won 28-27 and went on to win the first of their four Super Bowls of the decade.

The Play

One of the most famous last minute plays in the history of College Football is the dramatic finish to the California vs Stanford game of 20 November 1982. It is commonly known as 'The Play', as there has never been anything like it and there may never be again. With four seconds on the clock and Stanford leading 20-19, California returned the kickoff for a touchdown using five lateral passes.

California's Kevin Moen not only had to negotiate his way past the remnants of Stanford's defense to get into the end zone, but also crashed through members of Stanford's marching band, who had come onto the field believing the Cardinal had already won the match. Moen flattened trombonist Gary Tyrrell as he scored. The final score was California 25 Stanford 20. (watch 'The Play' video)

Hail Flutie

On 23 November 1984, in a shootout between Boston College and defending national champions Miami, the lead changed hands twice inside the last minute. With six seconds left and BC trailing 45-41 on their own 37-yard line, the 5 ft 10 in Doug Flutie threw into a 30 mph wind and found Gerard Phelan between two defenders in the end zone, some 48 yards away. Boston College won 47-45. Flutie won the Heisman Trophy weeks later, and the play is still the reason the term "Hail Mary" is understood by people who have never watched a game.

Music City Miracle

Buffalo kicked a field goal with 16 seconds left to lead the Tennessee Titans 16-15 in the AFC wild card game of 8 January 2000. On the kickoff return, Lorenzo Neal took the ball and handed it to tight end Frank Wycheck, who threw it right across the field to Kevin Dyson. Dyson ran 75 yards down the untouched sideline to score, and Tennessee won 22-16 on their way to the Super Bowl.

Everything hinged on whether Wycheck's throw had gone forward, which would have made it an illegal forward pass. Referee Phil Luckett reviewed it and let the touchdown stand; a computer analysis by NFL Films some years later agreed the ball had not travelled forward. Bills fans have been calling it the "Homerun Throwback" — and worse — ever since.

The Fiesta Bowl Trick Plays

Underdogs Boise State beat Oklahoma 43-42 in the Fiesta Bowl on 1 January 2007 by running three trick plays in the space of a few minutes. Facing fourth and 18 with seven seconds left in regulation, they ran a hook and lateral: Jared Zabransky threw 15 yards to Drisan James, who pitched it back to Jerard Rabb for a 35-yard touchdown run down the sideline.

In overtime, on fourth and two, back-up wide receiver Vinny Perretta took the snap out of the backfield and threw a touchdown pass to tight end Derek Schouman. Boise State then went for the win rather than the tie, running a Statue of Liberty play — Zabransky faked a pass to his right and slipped the ball backhanded to running back Ian Johnson, who walked in untouched for the two-point conversion.

The Helmet Catch

New England came into Super Bowl XLII on 3 February 2008 with a perfect 18-0 record. On third and five with 1:15 to play, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was grabbed by three Patriots, somehow wriggled free, and threw the ball up for grabs. David Tyree jumped, was hit by safety Rodney Harrison, and pinned the ball against the side of his own helmet as he fell — a 32-yard gain. The Giants scored four plays later to win 17-14 and end the perfect season.

Kick Six

The 2013 Iron Bowl between top-ranked Alabama and fourth-ranked Auburn on 30 November was tied 28-28 when Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal with one second remaining. The kick fell short, and Auburn's Chris Davis caught it nine yards deep in his own end zone and ran it back down the left sideline, untouched, as time expired. Auburn won 34-28 and the play knocked Alabama out of the national championship race.

The Minneapolis Miracle

Minnesota trailed New Orleans 24-23 in the NFC divisional playoff on 14 January 2018, with 10 seconds left and no timeouts on their own 39-yard line. Case Keenum threw towards the right sideline to Stefon Diggs, who was expected to catch it and step out of bounds to set up a field goal. Instead, Saints safety Marcus Williams missed the tackle completely, and Diggs kept his feet and ran the remaining 34 yards to score as the clock hit zero. Vikings 29, Saints 24 — the first playoff game in NFL history to end on a walk-off touchdown.

The Philly Special

Perhaps the boldest call in Super Bowl history came on fourth and goal from the one-yard line, late in the second quarter of Super Bowl LII on 4 February 2018, with Philadelphia leading New England 15-12. Rather than take the easy field goal, the Eagles lined up with quarterback Nick Foles drifting out behind the right tackle. Jason Kelce snapped the ball to running back Corey Clement, who ran left and pitched to tight end Trey Burton, who reversed the ball back to the right and threw to Foles in the corner of the end zone.

Foles became the first player to both throw and catch a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl. Philadelphia won 41-33 for their first NFL championship in 57 years.

Wrong Ball Trick Play

Not every memorable play comes in a championship game. Watch this trick play, which leaves the defense standing around watching while the ball carrier quietly runs away with it. (watch the trick play video)