Playing mainly in mop up duty, or even as a WR or special teamer during the first few years of his career, Jeff Hostetler was ready to retire at the end of the 1990 season. “I blocked a punt, ran the ball, caught a pass before I ever threw one in the NFL,” he recalled.
However, Hostetler got his shot after a season-ending injury to Giants’ starter Phil Simms. “I can still remember all the media experts out there saying that our season was over, there was no way that we could advance to the playoffs and win a Super Bowl with a backup quarterback like that,” team president John Mara said.
In the big game — remembered for Scott Norwood’s miss wide right and Whitney Houston’s iconic performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” — Hostetler was 20-of-32 for 222 yards and a TD, though he also was sacked in the end zone for a safety. He previously won a ring with the Giants (Super Bowl XXI) backing up Simms, and continued playing until 1998.
