Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood (11) carries the ball on a 61-yard punt return during the first half of Super Bowl 50 game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. AP
It didn’t take long for Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood to have his Super Bowl moment.
Norwood, younger brother of Philippine national basketball team member Gabe, set a Super Bowl record with a 61-yard punt return in the Broncos’ 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Monday (Manila time).
As per Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports’ Shutdown Corner, no one has returned a punt longer than 45 yards in the first 49 Super Bowls.
“On his first return attempt of the game, Norwood caught Brad Nortman‘s punt at his own 25-yard line in traffic, and the Carolina Panthers stood around after as if he had called for a fair catch. Norwood didn’t, and he sidestepped two Panthers — Colin Jones and Teddy Williams — and turned up the right side of the field, sprung by a nice block from teammate Lerentee McCray on tight end Ed Dickson,” Edholm wrote, describing Norwood’s play in the second quarter.
The punt return led to a field goal by Brandon McManus and a 13-7 lead for the Broncos, who went on to win the franchise’s third Super Bowl.
What makes Norwood’s moment more special is that his brother Gabe was there at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California to witness it all.