Top 10 Athletes Best Remembered for One Bad Play

Scott Norwood

With the Bills down 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV, Scott Norwood missed what would have been the game-winning field goal in the loss to the New York Giants.

Earnest Byner

Ernest Byner had the game-tying touchdown in sight for the Cleveland Browns in the 1987 AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos. But a strip from a Broncos defensive player forced a fumble, and the Browns lost the game.

Chris Webber

Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III is an American former professional basketball player. Born on March 1, 1973, he played 15 seasons in the NBA and was a five-time All-Star. Webber also worked as a sports analyst and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Down by one in the 1993 NCAA Title game against North Carolina, Chris Webber of Michigan, who wasn't called for traveling, called a timeout. The only problem was that Michigan didn't have any timeouts left. The Tar Heels ended up winning 77-71.

I'm pretty sure Chris Webber's stellar career supersedes that one college play.

Jackie Smith

In Super Bowl XIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jackie Smith dropped what would have been a game-tying touchdown pass in the end zone. Dallas settled for a field goal to trail by four points. They lost the game by four points, 35-31.

Mark Sanchez

Mark Travis John Sanchez is a former American football quarterback. He played in the National Football League, primarily for the New York Jets, after being selected fifth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Sanchez retired from professional football in 2019 and later worked as a television analyst.

Gary Anderson

Perfect in field goals and extra points all season long, kicker Gary Anderson missed a game-sealing kick for the Minnesota Vikings. This miss would have given the Vikings a trip to the Super Bowl. Atlanta tied the game and won it in overtime.

Fred Brown

After Michael Jordan gave North Carolina a 63-62 lead in the 1982 NCAA Title game, Fred Brown of Georgetown made a critical turnover. He threw a pass directly to James Worthy of North Carolina, and Georgetown lost.

Charles Smith

With a chance to tie and beat the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks forward Charles Smith was blocked multiple times by Scottie Pippen. The Bulls won the game and the series.

Andres Escobar

At the 1994 World Cup, Colombian defender Andres Escobar accidentally scored an own goal. This allowed the United States to take a 1-0 lead in a 2-1 victory for the Americans. Escobar was later murdered for the mistake.

Bill Buckner

A great player who is almost entirely remembered for the ground ball that went between his legs. Such a shame.

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Roberto Duran

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Nelson Cruz

In the 2011 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, Nelson Cruz dropped a fly ball that would have ended the game and made the Rangers the series winners.

Dennis Eckersley

Despite a Hall of Fame career, Dennis Eckersley is best remembered for giving up a walk-off homer to an injured Kirk Gibson of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 World Series. The Oakland A's lost the series in five games.

Ralph Branca

Cody Parkey

Donnie Moore

Mike Torrez

The pitcher who gave up Bucky Dent's go-ahead home run in a playoff for the 1978 American League East title.
Its Joeysworld

Blair Walsh

Blair Richard Walsh, born on January 8, 1990, is an American former professional football placekicker. He played college football at the University of Georgia and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks. Walsh is well known... read more

He missed the game-winning field goal against Seattle in the playoffs a few years ago.

Jim Marshall

J.R. Smith

Scottie Pippen

Scottie Maurice Pippen is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association, most notably with the Chicago Bulls. Pippen was a six-time NBA champion and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.