Jordan Norwood sets Super Bowl record with 61-yard punt return

We have a Super Bowl record set early in SB50.

Denver Broncos punt returner Jordan Norwood did what no one has done in the first 49 Super Bowl: return a punt longer than 45 yards.

[Follow Shutdown Corner on Facebook for instant updates from Super Bowl 50]

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.

Sixty-one yards later, the Broncos were in business — yet another momentum shift in a wild first half — after the Panthers appeared to have seized control after falling behind 10-0.

Although the Broncos’ offense stalled in the red zone, Norwood’s Super Bowl-record return of 61 led to a Brandon McManus field goal and a 13-7 lead.

Believe it or not, Norwood is only 33 yards from tying the San Francisco 49ers’ John Taylor for career punt-return yards, which he set in three Super Bowls. Not bad for one return.

– – – – – – –

Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm