OK, so he didn’t pin the ball against his helmet while suspended in air to make a miraculous reception on a key drive in the Super Bowl.

But Devin Thomas is another seldom-used wide receiver for the New York Giants that will be remembered for securing the ball at just the right moment.

Thomas was the man on the spot for the punt return miscues by Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park. He had the awareness to scoop up the ball that deflected off Williams’ leg and in overtime he recovered the fumbled return to set up the game-winning field goal drive.

“I figured maybe a kick return touchdown or something,” said Thomas, a former second-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins, according to the New York Daily News. “But then I started playing other roles.”

Thomas has primarily been a return man for the Giants but he’s also dabbled on special teams, where Tyree made his mark primarily.

The first one was key because not everyone thought Williams had touched the ball. Williams moved toward the ball for a moment and then tried to act as if he had not made contact with the ball.

“I saw it,” Thomas said. “(Williams) was going to try to play it off, but if I wouldn’t have got to it, he would have probably picked it up and run with it.”

Now, dreams will come true.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Super Bowl, and now I’m headed there,” he said.

Maybe he can make an even bigger play in Super Bowl XLVI.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune