In 2007, Sheldon Brown made the cover of Sports Illustrated for his hit on NFL rookie Reggie Bush.
The play occurred during the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC Divisional Round game against the New Orleans Saints on January 13, 2007. Bush, a rookie running back for New Orleans, caught a short pass from quarterback Drew Brees and was met by Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown, whose forceful tackle became one of the game’s defining images.
The photograph captured Bush in midair as Brown delivered the hit. Sports Illustrated later used that image on a cover featuring the Eagles’ playoff run. The date can cause confusion because the game was played in January 2007, while the play itself came during the 2006 NFL season and 2006 playoffs.
Bush was the second overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and had already become one of the league’s most recognizable rookies. Brown’s tackle is also remembered because it helped turn a routine-looking reception into one of the most replayed defensive moments of that postseason.