Lawrence Taylor's Sack of Joe Theismann

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Lawrence Taylor's sack of Joe Theismann on November 18, 1985, is one of the most infamous moments in NFL history. During a Monday Night Football game at RFK Stadium, Taylor tackled Theismann from behind, causing a severe injury. The play was a flea-flicker, where Theismann handed off to John Riggins, who then pitched it back to Theismann. The Giants' defense read the play correctly, and Taylor's tackle resulted in a compound fracture of Theismann's right leg, breaking both the tibia and fibula. The injury marked the end of Theismann's NFL career. Taylor has reflected on the incident, noting it was a significant moment in his career but also expressed regret for the harm caused. Theismann initially avoided watching footage of the injury but eventually did so years later. The play remains a pivotal moment in sports history, symbolizing the physical risks associated with football. Despite its notoriety, Taylor has never watched the play again, preferring not to revisit the incident.