Ranking the Most Iconic Sports Photos of All Time (Part 1: #20–11)
What makes a sports image iconic? In my book, the image has to be one that is emblazoned in your memory. It doesn’t feel one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or even three-dimensional—it sucks you into the picture.
The emotions they evoke go far beyond what’s happening in the frame. Sometimes they capture a player at the peak of greatness. Sometimes they mark a turning point for a team, a season, or an entire sport. And sometimes, they represent something bigger than the game itself.
I’ve put together my list of the 20 most iconic sports photos of all time. The top ten are coming soon. For now, here are numbers 20 through 11.
#20. Pete Rose head first slide
Love him or hate him, Pete Rose is still the all-time hits leader in Major League Baseball. No image captures “Charlie Hustle” better than this one—airborne, fully extended, headfirst, dirt flying, hair flowing. Rose was all about winning – at any cost. This picture perfectly captures that determination and competitveness.
Why this picture speaks to me
It’s a reminder that sports are children’s games being played by adults.
#19. Vince Lombardi carried off field
They don’t name the Super Bowl trophy after you by accident. Even as a Patriots fan, I have no problem saying it—Vince Lombardi is the greatest head coach in NFL history. Suit and tie, hoisted onto the shoulders of his players, this image is the personification of leadership. It’s all about mutual respect and appreciation.
Why this picture speaks to me
It shows the synergy required between head coach and players to win championships.
#18. Brandi Chastain (1999)
I was never a fan of soccer or women's sports, but that all changed thanks to one exact moment in 1999. The U.S. was playing China in the Finals of the World Cup. The game was tied, 0-0 (which is why I never liked soccer), at the end of regulation. The game went to penalty kicks and one of the lesser known players became a household name when she scored the game-winning goal. Brandi Chastain responded like any man would in the same situation – she slid to her knees... and tore off her jersey.
Why this picture speaks to me
This moment was a significant turning point in the way fans viewed women's sports.
#17. Dwight Clark "The Catch" (1982)
I was 11 years old when “The Catch” happened. I’m sure I watched it live, but I don’t actually remember it. The play became more myth than memory. It was Joe Montana at his best – rolling to his right, pump faking, then delivering a ball to the back of the endzone that delivered the 49ers to their first Super Bowl. It represented the end of one dynasty (Dallas Cowboys) and the beginning of a new one.
It wasn’t until years later that I realized Dwight Clark was a wide receiver—not a tight end. That’s how big he looks in this picture… and in my mind.
Why this picture speaks to me
This was the moment that began Joe Montana's ascent to the Mount Rushmore of NFL's greatest quarterbacks.
#16. Joe Namath cashes in on his "guarantee"
Recent generations may remember Joe Namath for telling sideline reporter Suzy Kolber, “I wanna kiss you.” But older NFL fans remember him for something far more lasting—“The Guarantee.”
It was 1969. The Baltimore Colts, coached by a young Don Shula, were 19-point favorites over the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. That didn’t matter to Namath. Young, confident, and unapologetically bold, he guaranteed victory in the days leading up to the game—and then delivered. This image captures him walking off the field, having backed up every word.
Why this picture speaks to me
This moment shows that any team can win on any given Sunday, and that no one should be taken lightly.
#15. Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics
I have other sports photos ranked higher—but I’m not sure any are more impactful than this one. Tommie Smith and John Carlos didn’t just stand on a podium at the 1968 Summer Olympics—they made a statement during one of the most turbulent times in American history, on the biggest stage in the world. In a moment meant to celebrate individual accomplishments, they chose to remind people across the world of something larger than themselves.
Why this picture speaks to me
It’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest moments in sports have nothing to do with the game.
#14. Hank Aaron's run around the bases after breaking Ruth's record
Other than Morganna, the Kissing Bandit, and the chaos of the 1982 Stanford marching band, few images of fans storming the field feel as powerful as this one. Two fans, having somehow evaded security, run alongside Hank Aaron as he rounds the bases after breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record.
But this isn’t just celebration. Aaron reached this moment under immense scrutiny and hostility as a Black man chasing one of the most hallowed records in sports. That’s what makes the image unforgettable—the tension between triumph and everything it took to get there.
Why this picture speaks to me
This image, like the Mexico City Olympics' image, transcends the game.
#13. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's meet for the first time in college finals
Many don’t realize that before Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the NBA with their Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the 1980s, they first met on the biggest stage in college basketball—the 1979 NCAA Championship Game. Two superstar players with completely different styles, personalities, and paths, collided for the first time.
Why this picture speaks to me
It captures the origin of one of the greatest, most competitive rivalries in the history of sports.
#12. Jason Varitek plays "smush-face" with Alex Rodriguez
You might have to be a Red Sox fan to fully understand why this picture ranks so high. Alex Rodriguez nearly became a Red Sox in 2004, but instead landed with the rival Yankees. The "pretty boy" A-Rod became the perfect foil for the blue collar Boston fanbase and, especially, their veteran catcher.
The best piece I’ve ever read capturing the weight of this moment was written by my sister-in-law, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.
Why this picture speaks to me
Jason Varitek’s reaction captured 86 years of frustration—and the moment the Curse of the Bambino was finally put to rest.
#11. Michael Jordan's Free Throw Line Dunk in the 1988 Dunk Contest
Michael Jordan’s greatness works against him here. There are too many iconic moments to choose from—The Shot over Ehlo, the celebratory leap that followed, the ‘Flu Game’ collapse into Scottie Pippen’s arms. But this image stands above the rest. Yes, others had done it before, and yes, he may have stepped over the line—but none of that matters. This is the image that defined him.
Reflecting on the numerous memorable images of Jordan as I proofread this, I am second-guessing myself on forgetting the picture of him embracing the 1996 NBA Championship trophy following his father's death.
Why this picture speaks to me
This is the moment that Michael Jordan became Air Jordan.
As a bonus one (we can call this #11B):
