Babineaux play always topical when Seahawks face Cowboys

Jordan Babineaux wasn’t supposed to be the hero on this short Dallas field-goal attempt.

Cornerback Kelly Jennings was to mount the main block attempt from the other side of the Seahawks defense, and Babineaux was to get into the backfield and be positioned to scoop the ball up and run it in for a score if the block worked.

Jennings did, in fact, make a great rush, and dove in front of Cowboy kicker Martin Gramatica. But by then, quarterback/holder Tony Romo already had butterfingered the snap in one of the NFL’s all-time colossal mistakes.

Cowboys fans probably used the same wording as Romo famously bobbled the hold and was tackled by Babineaux in one of those can’t-miss plays that provide historical verification that nothing is a sure-thing in the NFL.

It helped preserve the Seahawks’ 21-20 win in the first round of the playoffs in January 2007, and solidified the nickname already given to Babineaux — Big Play Babs.

It surely will come again this week, as it does every time the Seahawks meet Dallas.

Babineaux has gone into broadcasting, with NFL Network and local radio, as well as forming a burgeoning multi-media production company with his brother Jonathan, now in his 11th season with the Atlanta Falcons.

In his seven seasons with the Seahawks, Jordan Babineaux proved his knack for being around the action, intercepting Drew Bledsoe in October of 2005 to set up a final-play field goal by Josh Brown to defeat Dallas. And later returning an interception for a touchdown against the Redskins in a playoff game in 2008.

But the most memorable was his dramatic tackle of Romo.

The Seahawks and Dallas each had struggled during 9-7 seasons, and the Hawks got the home-field advantage in the wild-card round as the NFC West Division champions.

Seattle scrapped to a 21-20 lead, but Romo drove Dallas in the final 2 minutes and connected with tight end Jason Witten to the Seahawks 2, leaving the Cowboys with fourth-and-1 with 1:19 on the clock.

Dallas coach Bill Parcells sent Gramatica on for the formality of a 19-yard field goal that would put the Cowboys ahead 23-21, leaving the Hawks very little time — and no timeouts — to respond.

Both head coaches, Parcels and Seattle’s Mike Holmgren, were so certain the kick would be good, neither saw the play as they were busy plotting how to manage the game’s final minute or so.

Babineaux was not so sure the kick was a foregone conclusion. “It had been close the whole game, so I never thought it was over,” Babineaux said. “It was one of those rare plays you see in football and you say, ‘Wow, that’s why nothing is ever certain in this game.’”

Once he saw Romo trying to gather in the ball and head toward the end zone, Babineaux was in chase mode, and he had to hurdle the fallen Jennings to pursue. Coming from the middle of the field, safety Ken Hamlin had an angle on Romo, but didn’t look likely to intersect his path before the goal line.

But racing from behind, Babineaux tripped him up not only short of the end zone, but also just shy of the first-down marker, giving the Hawks possession.

“The biggest thing I remember was the rush of joy,” Babineaux said. “I remember running down at least to midfield with my hands in the air. The crowd erupted. It was a special moment for me. But even in that moment, there was still time on the clock and we had to finish the game.”

With 1:14 remaining, the Seahawks got out of their end zone thanks to a 20-yard run by Shaun Alexander, but quickly stalled and a meager 26-yard punt by Ryan Plackemeier left Dallas with the ball at midfield and :02 on the clock. Their desperation pass to Terrell Owens in the end zone fell incomplete.

Babineaux’s play had been the difference, and his nickname became a permanent part of his identity in Seattle.

Romo, meanwhile, was viewed with some suspicion for years afterward by some Cowboy fans. And Parcells, with a year remaining on his contract, decided to retire early.

Babineaux said he’s only run into Romo once since that day, and the play wasn’t mentioned. “We talked more about golf,” he said.

Having been a broadcasting major at Southern Arkansas, Babineaux knew what he wanted to get into after his career finished up with the Tennessee Titans.

The Babineaux’s Two Brothers’ Production company has produced two Kevin Hart comedy specials and a feature film titled: “Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day.”

“The production side of it has been a huge interest of mine, how things are made and developed,” he said. “I have an attraction for the camera, not just being in front of it. I’m into directing and doing some producing myself the last few years.”

Like an athletic career, show business, he said, “is a climb, it’s a grind.”

And it’s unrelenting.

“I’m always working on something, trying to create something and develop something, it never stops,” he said.

His celebrity now is mainly as a media member. He’ll appear at a viewing party for military staff and personnel at Joint Base Lewis-McChord during the Seahawks-Cowboys game Sunday.

You know he’ll repeatedly be asked about the timely game-saving tackle of Romo, still the biggest of his big plays.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.