Top 10 Times Athletes Who Went from Goat to Hero in One Game

One minute, you're watching an athlete make the kind of mistake that can turn an entire stadium against them. A turnover, error, penalty, interception, or blown play suddenly makes that person the easiest target in sports. Then, before you have time to finish composing the angry rant in your head, the same athlete produces the play that saves the game.

That's the beauty of sports when redemption arrives at full speed. You get to watch a potential villain rewrite the story before the final whistle, buzzer, or out, transforming a nightmare into the moment everyone wants to replay.

The Top Ten

  1. David Freese - Game 6 of the 2011 World Series

    After committing an error that led to the go-ahead run in game six of the 2011 World Series, Cardinals third baseman David Freese delivered a two-out, two-run triple to tie the game when down to their last strike.

    Then in the eleventh inning, Freese won the game with a walk-off home run.

  2. Larry Bird - Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals

    Just seconds after committing a turnover that could've cost the Celtics a playoff game, Larry Bird stole the inbounds pass.

    He then fed Dennis Johnson, who defeated the Pistons with a game-winning layup.

  3. Tom Brady - Super Bowl LI

    Things went from bad to worse when New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw a pick-six that gave the Atlanta Falcons a 21-0 lead.

    But down 28-3, Brady led the Pats on the greatest Super Bowl comeback ever.

  4. George Springer - Game 5 of the 2017 World Series

    After diving for a ball that ended up going by him to lead to the Dodgers scoring the go-ahead run in game five of the 2017 World Series, Houston Astros outfielder George Springer drilled a solo home run to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.

    Houston went on to win 13-12.

  5. Steve Young - San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings (October 30, 1988)

    Not having the best game while starting for an injured Joe Montana, 49ers quarterback Steve Young pulled off the greatest touchdown run of his life by running 49 yards into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown against the Vikings.

  6. Diego Corrales - Diego Corrales vs. José Luis Castillo I (May 7, 2005)

    After getting knocked down twice in Round 10, boxer Diego Corrales rebounded to knock out Jose Luis Castillo in the very same round.

  7. Eric Hosmer - Game 1 of the 2015 World Series

    After committing an error in the top of the eighth inning of the 2015 World Series, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer ended up hitting the game-winning sacrifice fly in the fourteenth inning.

  8. Marián Hossa - Game 5 of the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals

    After committing a major boarding penalty in a critical Stanley Cup first-round game, Marian Hossa ended up scoring the overtime winner for the Chicago Blackhawks.

  9. Ray Knight - Game 6 of the 1986 World Series

    An error by Mets third baseman Ray Knight led to the Boston Red Sox scoring the go-ahead run.

    But in the bottom of the tenth inning, Ray Knight extended the game by hitting an RBI single that cut the lead to 5-4. He then scored the game-winning run.

  10. Jared Zabransky - 2007 Fiesta Bowl

    After throwing a pick-six with two minutes to go, Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky led the Broncos to a game-tying touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl.

    The Broncos then won in overtime.

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