Marshon Lattimore #23 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates his interception with teammates. Photo / Getty
It's a Christmas miracle.
NFL rookie Marshon Lattimore pulled off one of the most spectacular catches of the year while playing for the New Orleans Saints in their clash against the Atlanta Falcons.
The 21-year-old was able to intercept the ball after diving to tackle Falcons wide receiver Marvin Hall.
Hall was running to catch a pass but fumbled it, leaving it falling through the air above Lattimore who was flat on his stomach.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.The Saints young gun was able to miraculously clench the ball between his *ahem* legs and secured the ball.
Forget the butt fumble, we’ve got a butt pick.#SaintsGameday | #ATLvsNO
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 24, 2017
"It's the best interception I've ever had," he said after the game. "I must be living right.
"I saw the ball pop up, but I was mad because I fell down and I could have easily intercepted it off the tip," Lattimore said. "I felt it on the back of my leg and everybody tried to come grab it. I did a little leg curl and it was there."
Saints star Marcus Williams was the closest man to the action and said he'd never seen anything of the sort throughout his time as a footballer.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME."I've never seen one like that before," Williams said. "I knew it didn't hit the ground. When we saw the ball like that, all of us were trying to grab it. Big play. Momentum-changer right before halftime."
Saints linebacker Craig Robertson was also in disbelief.
"It was a huge play. It's rare because a lot of times on a play like that the ball rolls off the back and falls on the ground," he said.
Fans around the world were quick to dub the bizarre moment a "butt-ception".
Marshon Lattimore is so good he can intercept passes with his butt
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) December 24, 2017
That Marshon Lattimore ass-ception is the greatest pick of all time, no ifs, ands, or butts.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) December 24, 2017
We’ve had a butt fumble, did we just have a Marshon Lattimore “Butt Interception” ?
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) December 24, 2017
