Don Beebe

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Beebe's most defining moment arrived during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXVII. With the Buffalo Bills trailing the Dallas Cowboys 52–17, defensive tackle Leon Lett recovered a fumble and advanced toward the end zone. Lett began celebrating prematurely by holding the ball out to his right side. Beebe streaked downfield and knocked the ball from Lett's hands just before he crossed the goal line. The loose ball went through the end zone for a touchback, preventing a Dallas touchdown that would have set a Super Bowl-record 58 points plus an extra point. Earlier in that same game, Beebe caught two passes for 50 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Frank Reich.

In Their Own Story

In his final two NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Beebe achieved what eluded him in Buffalo: a championship ring. He appeared in Super Bowl XXXI as part of the team that won the title. During the 1996 season, he served as the Packers' second-leading receiver with 39 receptions for 699 yards and four touchdown catches. His most memorable play came against the San Francisco 49ers in an overtime battle where he recorded 11 receptions for 220 yards and one touchdown in a 23–20 victory. Replays later showed he had been tagged by Marquez Pope and should have been down, but referees missed the call and video review was unavailable that year.

Reader's Guide

After retiring, Beebe founded House of Speed, LLC in 1998 to train athletes in speed and character, expanding to eleven states by 2006. He began coaching football at Aurora Christian Schools in 2004, leading the Eagles to their first state championship appearance in 2008. The team returned to win the 2011 IHSA Class 3A State Championship with a 34–7 victory over Mt. Carmel and secured a second straight title in 2012 by defeating Tolono-Unity 42–12. Beebe stepped down after the 2013 season with an overall record of 97–26. In November 2018, he was named head coach at Aurora University, replacing Rick Ponx.

Did You Know?

• Beebe holds the Chadron State school record for most touchdown receptions in a game (4) and most touchdowns scored in a game (5), both set against Black Hills State in 1988.
• In Super Bowl XXVII, Beebe prevented Dallas from scoring what would have been a Super Bowl-record 58 points by stripping the ball from Leon Lett just before he crossed the goal line.
• Beebe's brother David served as defensive coordinator and his brother Dan was the athletic director at Aurora Christian Schools during their state championship runs.
• Chadron State renamed its renovated football stadium Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium in 2000 in honor of his record-setting senior season.