In many ways, the Washington Commanders' Hail Mary touchdown against the Chicago Bears was a work of art, and Jayden Daniels believes it deserves a spot next to some of the world's greatest masterpieces.
In a recent offseason trip to Paris, Daniels took some time away from his busy schedule of visiting kids at the Paris NFL Flag Tournament and watching soccer games to swing by the Louvre, home to several of the most influential works of art in Western history like the Mona Lisa, Diana of Versailles and The Raft of Medusa.
The museum's curators and historians have strict qualifications for which pieces of art deserve to be included in the collection, such as historical relevance, cultural impact and the ability to capture the essence of an era. Though Washington's Hail Mary might not be a representation of some of life's deep philosophical questions, it has more in common with those pieces than one would think.
"We gotta hang this shot in The Louvre," Daniels said in front of the museum while holding up a shot of the play.
The play is obviously not the first time a team has won a game in walk-off fashion, but there are some things that make it unique in the NFL's history. Daniel held the ball for almost 13 seconds -- the first touchdown pass with over 10 seconds of time to throw since NextGenStats was founded in 2016 -- and scrambled 40.7 yards -- the most yards traveled by any players before throwing a touchdown pass since 2019.
When it comes to cultural impact, the play did more than give Washington an 18-15 win and a 5-2 record; it immediately became one of the best moments in franchise and D.C. sports history, igniting a fan base into believing that their team could become one of the best in the league. It was also named the 2024 Moment of the Year at the 2024 NFL Honors, which is another bullet point on the play's already extensive resume.
And while the 2024 season was full of memorable moments for the Burgundy & Gold, none captured the essence of the team's identity quite like the Hail Mary. Head coach Dan Quinn wants his players to stay competitive and fight to the end, regardless of how the odds are stacked against them. Prior to Daniels' pass being tipped and falling into Noah Brown's hands, the Commanders had a 1.4% chance of winning the game. It's hard for things to get narrower than that.
So, it might not be as thought-provoking as Liberty Leading the People or portray a deity from Greek mythology, the Commanders' Hail Mary play has many similar traits. We'll get back to you on whether the officials at The Louvre hold the same opinion, but for Commanders fans, it will always be one-of-a-kind.
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