Football gives us a hundred small collisions every game, but a few hits stop time. You don't need slow-mo or telestrators to feel them. The sound changes, the crowd inhales, and for a second everybody knows they just watched something that will live on highlight reels.
These photos collect the kind of NFL tackles that fans still trade links about. They set the tone in Super Bowls, flipped the playoff momentum, or turned regular-season drives into folklore. The names span eras, but the feeling is the same- These are impacts you can almost hear through the screen.
1. When Lawrence Taylor sacked Joe Theismann – MNF, 1985, Washington vs. Giants
A routine play collapsed fast when Taylor came off the edge and met Theismann in the backfield. The leg injury ended the quarterback's career and changed the mood of the sport in an instant. It's one of the most replayed Monday night moments ever. The hit also helped redefine how teams valued blind-side protection.
2. When Steve Atwater stonewalled Christian Okoye – MNF, 1990, Broncos vs. Chiefs
Okoye was the "Nigerian Nightmare," a 250-plus pound freight train who ran through people. Atwater met him in the hole and won the collision clean, stopping him dead. The crowd's reaction told the story: pure disbelief. That single tackle became Atwater's calling card for fearlessness.
3. When Jack Tatum detonated Sammy White – Super Bowl XI, 1977, Raiders vs. Vikings
White caught a slant and turned upfield, and Tatum arrived like a hammer. The hit separated White from his helmet and the ball, and it set a tone the Vikings never shook. Fans still reference it when talking about 1970s physicality. It's the rare Super Bowl moment that's remembered for a defensive blow.
4. Brian Dawkins vs. Alge Crumpler – 2004 NFC Championship, Eagles vs. Falcons
Michael Vick floated a pass over the middle, and Crumpler paid for it. Dawkins arrived with perfect timing, lifted, and planted, textbook form and force. Crumpler held on, which somehow made the moment bigger. Philly fed off the energy, and the Eagles never looked back.
5. When Sean Taylor flattened Brian Moorman – 2007 Pro Bowl, NFC vs AFC
Even in an exhibition, Taylor didn't have a "half speed". The Bills' punter tried a fake and got met at full throttle. The hit became a viral loop and a window into Taylor's relentless style. It's still the most-shared Pro Bowl clip ever.
6. The time Kam Chancellor welcomed Demaryius Thomas – Super Bowl XLVIII, Seahawks vs. Broncos
Early crossing routes are supposed to calm the nerves. Chancellor turned one into a statement. He squared Thomas up, drove through, and the roar said everything about the night to come. Seattle's defense owned the middle after that.
7. Ray Lewis vs. Eddie George – 2001 Playoffs, Ravens vs. Titans
These two traded shots for years, but the playoff meetings were meaner. Lewis knifed through and met George in the gap, jarring the ball loose and swinging momentum. Baltimore fed off the violence and field position. The rivalry became a template for old-school playoff football.
8. When Sheldon Brown erased Reggie Bush – 2006 NFC Divisional, Eagles vs. Saints
Bush ran a flare, turned up, and never saw Brown. The corner timed it perfectly: no helmet-to-helmet, just shoulder through the chest. The ball flew, the sideline exploded, and Bush had to gather himself. It's the definitive reminder to keep your head on a swivel.
9. When James Harrison frustrated Mohamed Massaquoi – 2010, Steelers vs. Browns
Harrison closed from the side and landed a shot that sent the ball and receiver in different directions. Flags and fines would become part of Harrison's story, but the force here is what people remember. It ignited a league-wide conversation about strike zones. Pittsburgh's defense lived on intimidation, and this was Exhibit A.
10. Kam Chancellor vs. Vernon Davis – 2011, 49ers vs. Seahawks
Few safeties could square up Davis clean; Chancellor did it more than once. The best-known collision arrived on a seam route, and it sounded like two pads snapping together. The hit changed how San Francisco attacked the middle. Chancellor's reputation as the Boom's enforcer crystallized that day.
11. When Roy William dragged down Terrell Owens – 2004, Cowboys vs. Eagles
William's signature horse-collar made headlines after this takedown injured Owens. The tackle technique became so dangerous that it helped trigger a rule change the following season. You can see the leverage and suddenness on replay. It's a rare case where one defender's move reshaped the rulebook.
12. When Bernard Pollard leveled Stevan Ridley – 2013 AFC Championship, Ravens vs. Patriots
Ridley hit the hole hard; Pollard met him harder. The ball popped loose, and the game swung toward Baltimore. Pollard had a knack for high-impact moments against New England, and this one stuck to the rivalry's memory. It's the kind of January hit that flips a sideline's mood.
13. When Anquan Boldin was separated by Eric Smith and Kerry Rhodes – 2008, Jets vs. Cardinals
Boldin went fearless over the middle, and two Jets arrived at once. The collision was violent enough to pause the stadium. Boldin missed time, then returned with the same edge, which only added to his legend. The play is still cited in debates about protections for defenseless receivers.
14. When Ronnie Lott cut down Ickey Woods – Late 80s, 49ers vs. Bengals
Woods danced through arm tackles all season; Lott stopped the music with one clean shot. He anticipated the angle and met him square. The tackle reminded people why Lott wore the C: speed, intent, and no wasted motion. Cincinnati learned to find the sideline when 42 lurked.
15. When John Lynch halted Dallas Clark – Early 2000s, Bucs vs. Colts
The Bucs' safety read the seam and delivered a body shot that stopped Clark short. Tampa's Tampa-2 only worked if the safeties punished the middle; Lynch did, relentlessly. The tackle is a coaching clinic clip for closing angle and finish.
16. When Dont'a Hightower stuffed Marshawn Lynch at the 1 – Super Bowl XLIX, 2015, Patriots vs. Seahawks
Before the famous interception, there was this. Lynch is almost never denied a one-on-one inside a yard, but Hightower shed a block and hit him square. Seattle kicked instead of celebrating six. In a game of inches, it was a full stop when New England most needed one.
17. When Troy Polamalu flew over the line – Goal-line leap, Steelers
Polamalu timed snap counts like a drummer hears tempo. On this goal-line play, he hurdled the line and met the runner chest-to-chest before momentum ever started. It turned a sure score into a scramble. Few tackles feel like sleight of hand; this one did.
18. When Patrick Willis smothered Brad Smith – 49ers vs. Jets, Late 2000s
Smith took a reverse with space, and Willis erased it with closing speed. The tackle looked like a net tightening, with no bounce or forward movement. San Francisco's defense fed off its captain's angles and finish. It's a quiet highlight that linebackers love.
19. When Ed Reed blasted Erick Decker – 2012 Playoffs, Ravens vs. Broncos
Decker crossed the field in tight traffic, and Reed arrived like a closing door. The ball hit the turf, and the Broncos lost a critical first down. Baltimore kept believing through a cold, chaotic night in Denver. Reed's timing, as usual, was the difference.
20. When Hardy faced the old NFC Central backs
Films from the 60s show Dick Butkus driving runners backward like a shovel moving dirt. One showcase tackle against Detroit is still taught for leverage and wrap. The collision ends three yards shy of where the runner thought he'd land. It's the blueprint for middle-linebacker menace.
Want more sports' content?
If these collisions made you sit up straight, keep the reel rolling with these20 Dual Sport Athletes Who Excelled at Both Sports, or these15 Vintage Sports Photos That Prove Why 20th Century Games Were Grittier.You may also like these25 Yearbook Photos of Famous NFL Players From the 1960s.
