His next touchdown pass, the one that moves Brett Favre past Dan Marino and makes him the NFL's all-time Touchdown Passing King, will be the one everybody remembers. His first is the one nobody should forget.
Interestingly, Favre wasn't even supposed to be on the field that day. But on Green Bay's sixth play of the game, Bengals nose tackle Tim Krumrie sacked and injured Packers starting quarterback Don Majkowksi. Mike Tomzcak, who would have been Majkowski's replacement, had been embroiled in a contract holdout and wound up in Cleveland instead. So the Packers turned to Favre, and he helped turn around the franchise, starting that day.
Down 20-10 midway through the the fourth quarter, Favre threw his first NFL touchdown pass to Sharpe, and then his second to Kitrick Taylor, giving Green Bay a 24-23 come-from-behind victory that marked Mike Holmgren's first win as Packers head coach.
The significance of that day was lost, even if the game wasn't. After Sharpe caught the football that probably would be worth thousands on eBay today, he brought it back home and gave it -- like he did with all his touchdowns -- to a kid at one of his annual football camps.
The rest of the men involved in that day also went on, not realizing the history they had witnessed. The quarterback whom Favre beat, Cincinnati's Boomer Esiason, ultimately became the replacement for the noted radio man, Don Imus.
The NBC-TV announcers that day, Jim Lampley and Ahmad Rashad, made their marks outside football.
And the Packers' coaching staff -- which included quarterbacks coach Steve Mariucci, tight ends and assistant offensive line coach Andy Reid, offensive quality control assistant Jon Gruden, defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes and defensive backs coach Dick Jauron -- went on to earn head coaching jobs of their own.
While others moved on, Favre stayed right there in Green Bay, playing Sundays, beating defenses, thowing touchdowns and making history -- which he will be throwing for again Sunday in Minnesota.
Now No. 4 tries for touchdown pass No. 421. For the number and touchdown everybody remembers.
