Fans have been buzzing about New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley’s unfortunate experience when he had his first career touchdown taken away due to a premature celebration. This incident has raised questions about how such things can happen, especially when it appears to occur more often than one would think, with Corley being the latest victim of the harmless yet costly mistake of celebrating too early.
In a game against the Texans, and with the Jets situated at the Texans’ 19-yard line early in the second quarter, Corley received a flip from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and dashed down the sideline. As he approached the end zone, he dropped the football from his right hand, seemingly in anticipation of his touchdown. However, video review confirmed that the fumble had occurred just before he crossed the goal line, resulting in an official ruling that credited him with an 18-yard run but also a fumble. The situation further worsened for the Jets when the ball rolled out of the end zone, leading to a touchback and a turnover.
Other notable instances of similar missteps can be recalled from NFL history. In a recent game, Atlanta’s tight end Kyle Pitts found himself in a close call while completing a 49-yard touchdown catch against Tampa Bay. As he neared the goal line, he eased up on his run and was caught by safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who knocked the ball loose. Fortunately for Pitts, the officials determined he had crossed the goal line before the ball was dislodged.
College football has also seen its share of such mishaps. Eight years ago, Ray Ray McCloud, who is now a teammate of Pitts in Atlanta, was celebrating a 75-yard punt return touchdown against Troy when he carelessly tossed the ball behind him at the one-yard mark. Reflecting on the incident after his team’s 30-24 victory, McCloud acknowledged that it was a mistake he would not forget.
Another example came from a rookie DeSean Jackson in 2008, who appeared to score a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. In a moment of over-exuberance, he threw the ball behind him right at the one-yard line, which resulted in the score being nullified.
The legendary miscalculation in this realm belongs to Pittsburgh tight end Dave Smith, who was en route to a 50-yard touchdown catch in a game against Kansas City in 1971. As he celebrated by raising his arms at the five-yard mark, the ball slipped from his grip and rolled through the end zone, creating a moment captured on national television during Monday Night Football.
Perhaps one of the most infamous but memorable mistakes in NFL history transpired during Super Bowl XXVII on January 31, 1993. Defensive lineman Leon Lett of the Dallas Cowboys, while holding a sizeable lead against the Buffalo Bills, celebrated what he thought would be a defensive score. However, he was chased down by speedy receiver Don Beebe, who managed to knock the ball from Lett’s hand before he crossed the goal line. Despite the blunder, it did not hinder the Cowboys from clinching the championship title.