Major Blunders: NFL Players Lose Ball Before Scoring

The Unusual Phenomenon in the NFL: When the Celebration Surpasses the Score

The image has become surprisingly familiar: a player breaks away towards the end zone, outrunning the defenders, with a touchdown almost assured. However, just before crossing the goal line, a monumental error in judgment occurs, and the ball slips from his hands. The result is a change of possession for the opposing team, transforming joy into frustration. This phenomenon, which has occurred repeatedly in recent weeks, has sparked a debate about concentration and execution in crucial moments of the game. The recent defeat of the Arizona Cardinals against the Tennessee Titans, where running back Emari Demercado made this mistake, is a clear example.

Emari Demercado about to score a touchdown that would have likely sealed the Cardinals’ victory, but he fumbled the ball too early and was then reprimanded on the sidelines by his coach, who was fined for his outburst.Demercado, after his mistake that cost him a 72-yard touchdown, stated: “You have to be smarter. It’s that simple.” This type of error is not exclusive to Demercado, as Adonai Mitchell, receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, also experienced a similar situation, turning a 76-yard touchdown into a humiliating experience. These errors have generated greater awareness among coaches and players.

“Every time it happens, we mention it [to the team]”, said Titans coach Brian Callahan. “We have a saying: ‘Letters and logos’. Never, ever, ever, under any circumstances, drop the ball until you see the letters and logos in the end zone. And that’s something I know every team in the league preaches”.

Brian Callahan, Titans Coach

This phenomenon is not new. DeSean Jackson, former star of the Philadelphia Eagles, made a similar mistake in 2008, before the eyes of a national television audience. These incidents highlight the importance of concentration and execution until the end of the play. What distinguishes these incidents from others, such as Leon Lett’s failed celebration in Super Bowl XXVII, is that the ball was not snatched from Demercado or Mitchell. Here, the error is purely one of execution on the part of the player.

We analyze the most recent examples:

Emari Demercado, Cardinals, 2025

Demercado’s play was the longest of his career, with 71 yards. If it had been half a yard more, the result would have been different. When he fumbled the ball with 12:51 left in the game, the Cardinals were leading 21-6, and the touchdown would have likely sealed the victory. Instead, Demercado became a footnote in history and Arizona lost. This situation was not well handled by their coach, Jonathan Gannon, who was seen yelling at Demercado on the sidelines. Gannon apologized and was fined $100,000 for his behavior.

Adonai Mitchell, Colts, 2025

It would be hard to find a better reception and run in the NFL this season than Mitchell’s 75-yard play against the Rams. Despite making a late adjustment to an incomplete pass from quarterback Daniel Jones, and using a spin move to break free from two defenders he outran to the sideline, the receiver couldn’t complete the play. Mitchell, however, dropped the ball before reaching the end zone. The player seemed to realize his mistake in real time, chasing the ball, but couldn’t control it before it bounced out of the end zone. This mistake was not only costly, but also frustrating. Coach Shane Steichen had been regularly urging his players to be aware of these types of errors since Colts running back Jonathan Taylor’s similar mistake last season, but Mitchell didn’t seem to get the message. For this reason, Steichen took the error-prone young player out of the starting lineup last Sunday.

“He has to earn it,” Steichen said.

Shane Steichen, Colts Coach

Jordan Battle, Bengals, 2024

Battle, a safety, was a half-step away from the first touchdown of his career after recovering a fumble from the Titans and running 61 yards towards the end zone, but just before crossing the goal line, he carelessly lost control of the ball. “I knew it as soon as I did it,” Battle recalled on Tuesday. “It slipped out of my hands. I knew exactly when it happened. That’s why I told [my teammates] not to celebrate when I scored.” The play was declared a touchback and Tennessee received the ball. And Battle still hasn’t scored a touchdown. “It’s a strange feeling,” Battle said. Battle gave advice to other players who might find themselves in a similar situation.

“Just run through the end zone with the ball and then celebrate,” he said.

Jordan Battle, Bengals Safety

And if he ever finds himself in a similar situation again, he said: “I could run to the locker room.”

Jonathan Taylor, Colts, 2024

Taylor broke free for what would have been a 41-yard touchdown in a crucial season-ending game against the Broncos. The touchdown would have given the Colts a two-touchdown lead in a contest that had a significant impact on the AFC wild card race. But the 2021 race champion had done the unthinkable, dropping the ball just before reaching the goal line and starting a celebration. The Broncos won possession after the replay, the Colts lost significant momentum and, ultimately, the game.

“It just can’t happen, no matter the game, no matter the scenario,” Taylor said later.

Jonathan Taylor, Colts Running Back

Malachi Corley, Jets, 2024

What should have been the pinnacle of Corley’s football career became his most regrettable moment. On his second touch of the season, the rookie receiver caught the ball at one end and found a clear path to the end zone along the sideline. But he fumbled the ball just before crossing the goal line and his first touchdown was disallowed. The Houston Texans received the ball after the play resulted in a touchback, and Corley’s 18-yard run was the last time he saw the ball that night. Fortunately for him, the Jets prevailed, and a week after the game, he didn’t let the frustration of the play persist.

“Take things with a grain of salt,” he said at the time. “You play this game for a long time and you see a lot more things and less embarrassing things happen on the field. For me, it was a great learning experience overall. I was still extremely excited to run into the end zone and be able to run around the field and do all that kind of stuff. So, overall, it was fun.”

Malachi Corley, Jets Receiver

Corley, a third-round selection, was released after the season and is now with the Cleveland Browns. He has yet to score a touchdown.

Danny Trevathan, Broncos, 2013

Perhaps there’s nothing better for a defensive player than scoring a touchdown. Trevathan, former Broncos linebacker, seemed to be heading for the first TD of his career when he intercepted then-Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and ran towards the end zone. But Trevathan dropped the ball before crossing the goal line and the ball bounced out of bounds in the end zone. Baltimore received possession on the touchback and Trevathan would have to wait two more years before scoring the only touchdown of his career. “It was a youthful mistake,” said Trevathan, who was in his second season at the time, after the Broncos won by a landslide. “It won’t happen again.”

DeSean Jackson forgot something when he crossed the goal line in a 2008 MNF game against the Cowboys.

DeSean Jackson, Eagles, 2008

Jackson, at his best, was one of the most electrifying players in American football, and this play was a perfect example. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb dropped back and threw a long ball towards the rookie, who had positioned himself behind the Dallas defense. Jackson caught the ball in stride and crossed the goal line untouched. But in doing so, he forgot the ball. Jackson, perhaps in a hurry to celebrate the apparent 61-yard touchdown, threw the ball aside before crossing the line and the Cowboys challenged the play. The touchdown was overturned and the ball was declared at the 1-yard line because there was no immediate recovery by the Cowboys. The Eagles retained possession at the 1-yard line and eventually scored, but the memory of the play endured. “A lot of people have been joking with me about it,” Jackson, now head coach at Delaware State, said at the time. “But I’m going to keep going. I have a lot more football to play.” The Eagles lost the game, 41-37.