David Tyree

David Tyree re-enacting his famous catch at the Giants' Super Bowl XLII Champions Celebration in New York City.
No. 17     Baltimore Ravens
Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: January 3, 1980 (1980-01-03) (age 29)
Place of birth: Livingston, New Jersey
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	Weight: 206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College: Syracuse
NFL Draft: 2003 / Round: 6 / Pick: 211
Debuted in 2003 for the New York Giants
Career history
As player: New York Giants (2003–2008) Baltimore Ravens (2009–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2005) Super Bowl champion (XLII)
Career NFL statistics as of 2008
Receptions	54
Receiving yards	650
Receiving TDs	4
Stats at NFL.com

David Mikel Tyree (born January 3, 1980, in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse.

Tyree earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2005 as a special teams player. He is best known for his helmet catch on the Giants' final drive of Super Bowl XLII that helped his team to a 17–14 victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

[edit] Early years

Tyree played high school football and was a three-year varsity letterman at Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey, where he was selected as a Blue Chip Illustrated All-American.^[1]

[edit] College career

Over Tyree's career at Syracuse, he ranked 13th on the career receiving record list with 1,214 yards, including 229 yards against Virginia Tech in 2002. He also developed a reputation for being an excellent special teams player, amassing six blocked punts.^[2]

[edit] Professional career

[edit] New York Giants

Tyree was primarily a backup for the Giants, never amassing more than 19 catches in a single season. However, he was known as an exceptional special teamer, and he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2005 as the special teams player.

During the 2007 season, Tyree amassed 4 receptions for 35 yards with no touchdowns, however his utilization in Super Bowl XLII was perhaps his most relevant contribution.^[3]

Tyree made two key plays in Super Bowl XLII. First he caught a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Manning, Tyree's first of the season, that gave the Giants a 10-7 lead late in the game.^[4] Later, on a 3rd-and-5 with 1:15 remaining and trailing 14-10, Manning eluded a sack and threw 32 yards downfield toward Tyree. In Manning's words, the ball "floated" high.^[5]

Tyree leaped and caught the ball fully extended, bringing it down against his helmet with his right hand, while the New England Patriots' Rodney Harrison pulled violently downward on that arm, simultaneously wrenching Tyree arching backwards towards the turf. Tyree, who managed to get a second hand on the ball during the descent, seemingly kept the ball only inches from the turf, thereafter struggling successfully for possession while Harrison tried to steal the ball away from him on the ground.^[4][6] "I told you. He's a gamer," Eli commented to his brother, Peyton, regarding Tyree, after the game.^[7] ESPN Sportscenter designated it the greatest play in Super Bowl history the following day. It was later voted for the 2008 ESPY award for Play of the Year. The pass moved the Giants to the Patriot's 23-yard line. Four plays and 36 seconds later, Manning threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress for the winning touchdown. The final score of Super Bowl XLII was Giants 17, Patriots 14.^[8] Tyree dedicated this catch to his mother, Thelma, who died of a heart attack that year.

In 2008, Tyree was placed on injured reserve for a knee injury suffered during training camp after being on the physically-unable-to-perform list most of the season. Tyree was released during the final cuts on September 5, 2009.^[9]

[edit] Baltimore Ravens

Tyree was signed by the Baltimore Ravens on October 13, 2009 after working out with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[edit] Personal

According to ESPN, David was arrested a few years ago for drug possession and intention to distribute, but has since turned his life around. Tyree is married to Leilah, and they have four children: two sons— Teyon and Josiah, and twin daughters— Sophia and Hannah. They reside in Wayne, New Jersey. He is a devout Christian. He has made appearances at the 2008 and 2009 Christian concert "BattleCry".^[10]

[edit] See also

• Super Bowl XLII
• History of the New York Giants (1994-present)
• Eli Manning pass to David Tyree

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Autographed Book
• Official Website
• New York Giants bio