This Nfl Special Teams Play Should Be Shown To Every High School Football Team

Life as a punt gunner can be hard in football, and particularly in the NFL.

The basic job description reads like something out of “American Gladiators.” Sprint 50 to 60 yards downfield while tracking a punt and either tackle one of the more elusive players on the opposing team after they field it, or have the awareness to track the football in flight, see where it lands, and touch it down inside the opponent’s five-yard line.

And if you botch either of those, not only will you become a meme overnight, but you will definitely hear about it in Monday’s film review session.

Oh, and adding to the difficulty is that you will often be up against at least one, sometimes two, players on the other side of the ball, trying their best to prevent you from even getting ten yards downfield.

That is what faced Washington Commanders safety Tyler Owens in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Commanders faced a 4th and 19, and brought the punt team into the game.

Owens aligned to the right side of the punt formation, with a pair of Eagles across from him.

He would not be denied:

Not only does Owens fight through the double-team, but he finishes off the play with a thunderous tackle on Eagles returner Britain Covey, in a move pulled from the infamous charity fight between another Philadelphia legend, Rocky Balboa, and Thunderlips.

Here is a tracking shot of the effort from Owens, from the NFL’s social media channel:

The Commanders fell short against the Eagles, losing by a final score of 24-22.

But on this play, Owens stood tall. Very tall.