Penn State in the NFL

Greatest Moments: As Tamba Hali retires, revisit his sack vs. Buckeyes

Published

May 10, 2021

Photo by Penn State Athletics

Welcome to our “Greatest Moments” series, where we take a look back at some of the best Penn State sports memories over the years.

Former Penn State great Tamba Hali is retiring in style after a lengthy NFL career, agreeing Monday to a one-day contract with Kansas City so he could retire as a Chief.

We have signed Tamba Hali to a one-day contract. The six-time Pro Bowler will officially retire as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UDTIvjl7pb

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 10, 2021

Hali, the No. 20 pick of the first round in 2006, played for the Chiefs from 2006-17. The defensive end/linebacker was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro (2011, ’13). He played in 177 NFL games, starting 157, and record 596 tackles, 89 1/2 sacks and 33 forced fumbles.

Hali had an excellent NFL career, no doubt.

He also produced perhaps the loudest moment in the history of Beaver Stadium.

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In 2005, during the now-famous electric whiteout game, No. 16 Penn State upset No. 6 Ohio State, 17-10, to legitimize the program’s return to prominence after the dark years of 2003 and ’04. The Nittany Lions improved to 6-0 with that win over Ohio State, and even though they lost at Michigan the next week, they still went on to finish 11-1 with an Orange Bowl victory over Florida State and No. 3 national ranking.

Hali helped make it all possible with this strip sack of Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith with 1:21 remaining. Scott Paxson recovered the fumble, and PSU sealed the win.

You can check out the video, and the crowd eruption, below.

Six-time Pro Bowler and Penn State legend Tamba Hali is officially retiring from the NFL

His forced fumble to seal an upset win over Ohio State in 2005 produced one of the loudest moments in Beaver Stadium history😤

pic.twitter.com/bbRF8Q2Dq5

— Barstool Penn State (@PSUBarstool) May 10, 2021