 U.S. Bank Stadium inMinneapolis, the site of the game | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | February 4, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Stadium | U.S. Bank Stadium Minneapolis, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Patriots by 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Gene Steratore | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 67,612 | ||||||||||||||||||
| TV in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | NBC | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Al Michaels,Cris Collinsworth, andMichele Tafoya | ||||||||||||||||||
ThePhilly Special,[1] also known asPhilly Philly,[2] was anAmerican footballtrick play betweenPhiladelphia Eagles playersCorey Clement,Trey Burton, andNick Foles on fourth-down-and-goal toward the end of the second quarter ofSuper Bowl LII on February 4, 2018 atU.S. Bank Stadium inMinneapolis.
On the play,quarterback Nick Foles moved up behind hisoffensive line, andJason Kelcesnapped the ball directly torunning back Corey Clement. Clement pitched the ball to Trey Burton who passed it to a wide open Foles for atouchdown. Foles became the first player inSuper Bowl history to throw and catch a touchdown pass during a Super Bowl game.[3]
Eagles coachDoug Pederson's decision to attempt a touchdown rather than afield goal on the play helped put the Eagles in a better position to defeat theNew England Patriots, which they did, 41–33. The victory was the Eagles' first championship in 57 years.[4] Many analysts have since called the play one of the gutsiest play-calls in Super Bowl history.[5]
The play was described byNFL Films as "a play that the Eagles had never called before, run on 4th down by an undrafted rookie running back pitching the football to a third-stringtight end who had never attempted an NFL pass before, throwing to a backup quarterback who had never caught an NFL (or college) pass before, on the biggest stage for football," whilst also remarking that "there isn't a play in the playbook that illustrates what makes this Philly team special more than the Philly Special."[6][7]
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A play identical to the Philly Special had been successfully run at the college level on a two-point conversion attempt in 2012 byClemson withAndre Ellington,DeAndre Hopkins andTajh Boyd against Georgia Tech.[8] The Patriots also pulled off a version of the Philly Special against the Eagles in 2015.Tom Brady wandered out of the pocket and the ball was snapped toJames White. White then pitched the ball toDanny Amendola who connected with Brady for a 36-yard pass.[9] In 2016, the play was run in the NFL by theChicago Bears against theMinnesota Vikings, atU.S. Bank Stadium, the same stadium in which the Philly Special also took place.[10] Like Clemson, the Bears' attempt, led byMatt Barkley,Jeremy Langford andCameron Meredith, was a success as they scored a touchdown on the play. Eagles receiverAlshon Jeffery, who was a member of the Bears at the time, stated his team's wide receivers coachMike Groh, a former Bears coach in the same position, introduced the play to Doug Pederson. During theDetroit Lions Week 17 game against theGreen Bay Packers, the Lions ran a nearly identical play to the Philly Special on a two point conversion late in the game.Ameer Abdullah took a direct snap,reversed toGolden Tate, who completed a pass toMatthew Stafford for a successful conversion. Eagles offensive coordinatorFrank Reich considered running the play against the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game before Super Bowl LII, but relented due to the lopsided score.[11]
Nick Foles had played as a tight end in high school during his sophomore year. After the Super Bowl, he stated that the last time he had caught a pass for a touchdown was when he was in high school.[12] Trey Burton, at his high school, had been a first team all-state quarterback duringhis junior and senior years. Duringhis freshman year at theUniversity of Florida, he scored six touchdowns in a single game, breaking the team record set byTim Tebow.[13]
Foles' experience as quarterback and tight end was atWestlake High nearAustin, Texas.Sam Ehlinger, who went on to start as quarterback at theUniversity of Texas, also played at Westlake and ran this same play during his junior year on November 28, 2015. Soon after the Super Bowl, Ehlinger tweeted a video of his high school touchdown catch, saying "It's a Westlake thing."[14][15]
During the second quarter, the Patriots had attempted a trick play with quarterbackTom Brady running a pattern as a receiver. The ball was thrown on target byDanny Amendola, but it slipped through Brady's hands. The drive ended after the next play with the Eagles taking possession.[16]
During Philadelphia's drive previous to their attempt at a trick play at the end of the second quarter, Nick Foles's pass was intercepted by Patriots defensive backDuron Harmon.[17] The Patriots, led by Tom Brady, drove down the field and scored on aJames White 26 yard touchdown run to cut the Eagles lead to 3.[18][19] After aKenjon Barner kick return to the 30 yard line and two plays for 7 yards, the Eagles were faced with 3rd and 3. Nick Foles was able to find Corey Clement on a wheel route for 55 yards, which set up first-and-goal, but the Eagles' drive stalled, which brought up fourth-and-goal on the Patriots' 1-yard line.[20][21] Foles and the Eagles were lining up to run a fourth-down play before Pederson called for a timeout (Philadelphia's first timeout).[22]
When Foles and Pederson met during the timeout, Foles suggested to use the Philly Special, which Pederson then gave his approval.[23][24]
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Foles lined up in theshotgun formation, but moved up to the right side of the offensive line behind right tackleLane Johnson and yelled "kill, kill". Foles then stayed on the right side of the offensive line and the ball was snapped to running back Corey Clement. Clement then ran left and flipped the ball to Trey Burton, to complete a reverse to the right side of the field. Finally, Burton threw the ball to Foles, who ran a route to the right corner of the end zone and made the catch for a Philadelphia touchdown. After the extra-point was successfully kicked byJake Elliott, the Eagles went up 22–12, maintaining the score into halftime.
Following the play, some questioned if it was legal.[25] The NFL rule states that the "offensive team must have at least seven players on line" and defines that a non-snapper player is on the line if his helmet "break[s] a vertical plane that passes through the beltline of the snapper."[26] However, they argued that Eagles' wide receiverAlshon Jeffery was slightly off the line of scrimmage. Therefore, some argued that the Eagles had only six players on the line instead of the required seven.Fox Sports rules expert and former NFL refereeMike Pereira even said "...They lined up wrong ... Not only that, [but] it's a trick play. And if you're going to run a trick-type play, then you have to be lined up properly ... It's kind of one of those [penalties] that has no effect on the play. I get it. But they didn't line up properly. And it really should've been called."[27][28] However, before the snap, Jeffery pointed to the down judge several times to confirm he lined up correctly and got a head nod in return each time, indicating he was properly aligned.[29] This practice is typical at all levels of the sport for confirming proper alignment.[29][30]
Before the play was called, NBC broadcasterCris Collinsworth expressed his shock on-air that the Eagles would go for it, as he said, "This is an unbelievable call ... This is like going for an onside kick. This could decide the game." He then noticed the alignment just prior to the snap, and uttered, "Uh-oh," quietly.[31]
Al Michaels made the call with Collinsworth forNBC.
4th and Goal. And they're gonna snap it, and it's Trey Burton who throws, caught! Foles, touchdown! How do you figure? They go to the very, very, very back of the playbook for the touchdown!
— Al Michaels
Eagles broadcastersMerrill Reese andMike Quick made the call for94.1 WIP, the team's flagship station.[32]
Foles in the gun. Clement to his right. Now lines up behind Foles. Foles moves to the right and it goes directly to Clement and Clement reverses it and it goes into the end zone ... AND IT'S A TOUCHDOWN BY NICK FOLES.
— Merrill Reese
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The Eagles went on to win Super Bowl LII, 41–33. It was the team's first NFL championship since1960, and first ever Super Bowl win.[33]
After the game, coachDoug Pederson told reporters, "We call [the play] the Philly special." Pederson also noted that the play came from "[looking] at different plays around the league and the collegiate ranks, and things that over the years that might fit what we do. We found this one that fit, and we've been working on it for the last couple of weeks and tonight was the night."[34]
Two days after the game,Showtime'sInside the NFL released footage with audio between Coach Doug Pederson and Nick Foles. It showed Foles suggesting the Philly Special, saying "You want Philly Philly?", and Pederson responding, after a thoughtful pause, by saying "Yeah, let's do it."[35][36]
On February 20, ESPN'sDarren Rovell announced that the Philadelphia Eagles had filed for a trademark for the term "Philly Special." Seven other groups, includingYuengling, also filed for the trademark.[37] Yuengling later retracted their file for the trademark. The Eagles successfully secured a trademark registration for the term on October 5, 2021.[38] The team uses the term for apparel and other paraphernalia.
At the 2018 NFL owners meetings in Houston Texas, Pederson said that the play is being unofficially retired for at least one season due to other teams' awareness of the play.[39]
On June 14, 2018, the Eagles received their Super Bowl rings. The bezel of the ring contained 127 diamonds, which is the total from the numbers of the jerseys of the three players who handled the ball after the snap on the Philly Special—Corey Clement (30), Trey Burton (88) and Nick Foles (9).[40][41]
In September 2018, a statue commemorating the Philly Special, showing the moment of discussion between Nick Foles and Doug Pederson, was unveiled at Lincoln Financial Field.[42] The statue was commissioned by Bud Light and sculpted by Raymond Gibby.
In 2022, Eagles' offensive linemenLane Johnson,Jason Kelce andJordan Mailata released a Christmas album namedA Philly Special Christmas. The album's name is inspired by the Philly Special.[43] The trio released a second Christmas album in 2023, calledA Philly Special Christmas Special.[44]
On September 6, 2018, during the first game of the2018 season, theEagles ran a similar trick play against theAtlanta Falcons successfully, gaining a first down. Despite the Philly Special being occasionally called "Philly Philly" due to the conversation Foles and Pederson had regarding calling that play, Pederson indicated the play in the Falcons–Eagles game is called "Philly Philly."[45]
On September 20, 2018, theCleveland Browns ran the play successfully for a two-point conversion against theNew York Jets. Running backDuke Johnson took the snap and handed the ball off to wide receiverJarvis Landry, who threw a pass to quarterbackBaker Mayfield. As Landry is left-handed, the play was run to the left side of the field, rather than the right side. This play has earned nicknames "Baker Special"[46] after Mayfield, "Cleveland Special,"[47] and the "Dilly Special"[48] in reference toBud Light's "Dilly Dilly" ad campaign. This play tied the game that the Browns went on to win, ending a 19-game winless streak. Bud Light placed "victory fridges" in several Cleveland-area taverns that unlocked upon the Browns winning.[49]
On December 2, 2018, theChicago Bears successfully ran the play for a touchdown against theNew York Giants as time expired in the fourth quarter to tie the game and force overtime. Trey Burton, who signed with the Bears during the 2018 offseason, flipped the ball toTarik Cohen, who threw the touchdown. However, the Giants would go on to win the game in overtime.[50]
On October 11, 2020, theDallas Cowboys successfully ran a very similar play to score a touchdown in their week 5 game against theNew York Giants, but with a couple of key differences: The snap went to QBDak Prescott who handed the ball off to RBEzekiel Elliott instead of directly to Elliott, and throwerCedrick Wilson was a Wide Receiver instead of a Tight End.[51]
On September 19, 2021, the Eagles attempted a similar play against theSan Francisco 49ers.Greg Ward, a quarterback in college, attempted to throw toJalen Hurts, but the pass was incomplete.[52]
On October 18th, 2021, theBuffalo Bills successfully attempted a very similar play on a two point conversion against theTennessee Titans onMonday Night Football; quarterbackJosh Allen took the snap, ran right for a couple steps and flipped the ball to wide receiverIsaiah McKenzie on an end-around, who then flipped the ball to tight endDawson Knox on a reverse, who completed the pass back to Allen.[53] Play-by-play announcerSteve Levy coined the play "The Buffalo Special."
On October 31st, 2021, theNew York Jets successfully converted a similar play on a two point conversion in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals in an upset win. Backup quarterbackMike White, filling in for the injuredZach Wilson, took the snap in shotgun and handed the ball toMichael Carter, who proceeded to pitch it back toJamison Crowder. Crowder promptly threw the ball to White, who was waiting on the right side of the end zone for the successful conversion. That attempt ended up being the final scoring play of the game, and the Jets ended up winning 34-31. White, who threw for 405 yards, was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.[54]
InSuper Bowl LVI, theCincinnati Bengals ran a trick-play where running backJoe Mixon threw a touchdown to wide receiverTee Higgins. Mixon was the first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl since Burton. TheLos Angeles Rams tried to run a similar trick play to the Philly Special later in the game. Rams quarterbackMatthew Stafford handed off the ball to running backDarrell Henderson, who flipped the ball to wide receiverCooper Kupp, but Kupp overthrew an open Stafford.[55]
On October 2, 2022 theNew York Jets successfully ran a similar play for a touchdown against thePittsburgh Steelers. Wide receiverBraxton Berrios took the handoff on a reverse and rolling to his right. He then threw a touchdown pass to quarterbackZach Wilson, who was wide open in the end zone.[56]
On September 30, 2024, theDetroit Lions pulled off the play against theSeattle Seahawks. QuarterbackJared Goff tossed the ball backwards to wide receiverAmon-Ra St. Brown, who lobbed a high ball back to Goff, who was found in the end zone, while a defender was scrambling after Goff.[57]
Steve Spurrier called the "Orlando Special" during the inaugural game of theAlliance of American Football; it was a success, propelling theOrlando Apollos to a 40–6 win over theAtlanta Legends.[58]
On September 21, 2019, thePittsburgh Pantherscollege football team called the "Pitt Special" during a matchup against the then-unbeatenUCF Knights, leading the Panthers to a 35–34 victory over the Knights.[59]
TheNorth Carolina Tar Heels ran an adaptation of the play on two occasions, first in the2019 Military Bowl againstTemple, and secondly againstMiami in the final game of the 2020 regular season. The Tar Heels' variation was run from under center, with wide receiver Rontavius "Toe" Groves throwing the pass to quarterbackSam Howell both times. Both instances resulted in touchdowns.
On September 11, 2021,Notre Dame tried to execute a Philly Special againstToledo, but quarterbackJack Coan was covered on the play. Avery Davis instead improvised, finding running backKyren Williams for a successful two-point conversion.
On September 18, 2021,San Diego State and backup quarterbackLucas Johnson successfully executed the Philly Special to defeat theUtah Utes in the third overtime.
On November 20, 2021, theCincinnati Bearcats executed the Philly Special in the third quarter against theSMU Mustangs. The play resulted in quarterbackDesmond Ridder's first collegiate touchdown reception.[60]
Video of the play (from the NFL's official YouTube channel) onYouTube
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