In recent years, in-season acquisitions have paid off in February

In recent years, the NFL trade deadline has proven to be significant, with a trend of mid-season acquisitions scoring touchdowns in the last five Super Bowls. According to NFL Media researcher John Todd, such occurrences did not happen from the 1997 through 2018 seasons. Notable players who achieved this feat include Chiefs receiver DeAndre Hopkins in Super Bowl LIX, Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman in Super Bowl LVIII, Chiefs receiver Kadarius Toney in Super Bowl LVII, Rams receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in Super Bowl LVI, and Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown in Super Bowl LV. Mecole Hardman's touchdown was particularly crucial as it was the game-winner in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII. Despite the immediate impact these trades have made, only one of these touchdown-scoring players remains active in the NFL.