When the Washington Commanders beat the Chicago Bears on a last-second Hail Mary this past Sunday, rational thinking was shoved to the side and emotion took center stage in the immediate aftermath. Yet while dozens stormed the field in unbridled joy, a 22-year-old standing near the end zone on the Commanders sideline was able to snap out of the euphoric haze to make a clear-eyed decision.
"I just had my hands on my head in awe, and I saw everyone running around. I saw Noah [Brown] drop the ball, and my instincts just kicked in," said equipment intern Drew Sinclair.
Sinclair's instinct was to sprint to get the precious Hail Mary ball that Brown had dropped as everyone celebrated. In the mayhem of the moment, the intern embodied a value that's been preached all around him and seized a chance to help his team in a small way.
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The New Jersey native found himself in prime position to pounce on that ball as part of his regular gameday duties as a seasonal equipment intern.
"During the game, I'm the K-ball ball boy, which means throwing the balls to the kickers and punters when they need it," he explained.
He was stationed around Washington's five-yard line to be ready if Austin Seibert needed to kick a last-play field goal. Though that wouldn't end up happening, Sinclair stayed put. A very long 12.79 seconds later, Jayden Daniels threw the ball. Brown caught it. The ball was on the ground, and all of a sudden coach Dan Quinn's voice was in Sinclair's head.
"DQ always preaches, 'The ball is life.' We see it everywhere" Sinclair said with a smile. "I saw ball and I got ball…I was just thinking, 'That's a pretty meaningful football for this team and for this organization.'"
The young intern's move can't be seen in most angles of the incredible play. You have to really be looking to even make it out in the couple shots that do catch it.
And in that way, the Sinclair's action, though once-in-a-lifetime in context, is so much like the hundreds of actions the equipment team does every day. They work, mostly in the background or on the fringes, to provide the best support they can be for the team. Sinclair was merely acting in that interest when he secured the Hail Mary ball.
"I say this at the beginning of every training camp, 'We do not work for recognition, but we do work worthy of recognition.' That's what he did," Sinclair's boss Justin Brooks said. "He wasn't doing it to be recognized. He was doing it to provide a great service, and I'm really proud of him for that."
With the ball in tow and the field cleared, Washington players and staff headed into the locker room to continue the celebrations. Quinn took a second to shout out Sinclair for his recognition-worthy effort, leaving a lasting impression on the intern.
"I wasn't expecting it. I was in the back of the huddle listening to him talk. I heard my name, and I was still in awe from the play, and I was like, 'Oh crap that's me,' and I ran into the center," Sinclair said. "That was one of the best moments of my life, for sure."
