New York Jets pass rusher Will McDonald had a self-proclaimed “legendary play” in the Week 3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At the 2:00 minute warning in the fourth quarter, the Bucs led 26-20 over the Jets. Tampa Bay lined up for a 43-yard field goal that, if successful, likely would have sealed the win over the green and white.
McDonald leapt over the long snapper, blocked the kick, and returned it 50 yards to the house for the touchdown. The return score initially tied up the game at 26, and Nick Folk converted his extra point to give the Jets a 27-26 lead.
That was short-lived as the Bucs went on a seven-play 49-yard drive to kick the 36-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to give them the 29-27 victory.
Head Coach Aaron Glenn Explains the Secret Sauce Behind McDonald’s Huge Play
“Well, our special teams coordinator [Chris] Banjo does a good job of identifying guys that can go make a play for us. It just so happened during scout team, Will wanted to rush the kick, and he was rushing from the edge, and me and Banjo looked at each other, ‘Listen, we might give this guy a chance’ and we did,” head coach Aaron Glenn explained on Sunday, September 21.
“We had some edge rushing, and the one critical one where he was able to leap and make a play. It was one that Banjo did a really good job of calling at that time of need. Listen, playmakers make plays, and that is what this game was all about. I mean, there is a number of things that can go through a game, there are ebbs and flows that go through a game, but at the end of the day, your playmakers gotta make plays, and that is what Will did,” Glenn said.
Social Media Set Ablaze After McDonald’s Impressive Play
After the game, McDonald met with the media to react to his game-changing play.
“Nah, I wasn’t worried about nothing. I ain’t even tried to look back, I was just trying to catch my breath, to be honest, running down there because I knew I was going to be tired. I feel like it was kind of a legendary play for me. Probably the best play I have made in my NFL career. At the end of the day, I still helped out, and I was still able to get my team in a good position to win. For me, I just felt like I could have did a little bit more in the game to get our team in a better position, we all seen the outcome. At the end of the day, we still got that belief that down the stretch we gonna get the win,” McDonald explained via Jets content creator Harrison Glaser.
“I felt like it was a legendary play for me, probably the best play I’ve ever made in my NFL career. At the end of the day, I still helped out & I was still able to get my team in a good position to win. For me, I feel like
The Jets just wasted one of the greatest plays in franchise history by Will McDonald. No words,” ESPN Radio host Jake Asman posted on social media.
McDonald’s Unique Talent Translates to the NFL
The former Iowa State product is a different cat. He stands at 6-foot-4 and tips the scales at 245 pounds. McDonald struts around with rainbow colored locks and piercings. Growing up, McDonald discovered he could jump over cars and only got better as he grew older.
“I need all of you to retrieve the tweets that said jumping over cars was meaningless. Will McDonald is SPECIAL,” Jets analyst Dan Essien of Badlands posted.
Jets Reveal Secret Behind Will McDonald’s ‘Legendary Play’ vs. Bucs