Today, I decided to dig into something that’s always fascinated me – the longest throw in NFL history. You know, one of those bar trivia questions that sparks endless debates. So, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
First, I hit up Google, just to see what the general consensus was. I found a bunch of articles and forum threads, and it seemed like there wasn’t one definitive answer. Some folks were saying it was Baker Mayfield with a 70.5-yard Hail Mary attempt. Now, that’s a bomb, but apparently, it didn’t connect, so it doesn’t really count as a completed pass. This was getting interesting.
Then I stumbled upon a name I hadn’t heard in a while – Shane Matthews. According to some sources, he unleashed a throw back in 2000 that might be the real record holder. But, there wasn’t a lot of detail about it. It had me wondering, was this for real, or just some urban legend?
Diving Deeper
I decided to change my approach. Instead of just looking for the longest throw, I started searching for things like “longest overtime fumble returned for a touchdown” and “longest throw competition.” This led me to some interesting tidbits. Like, did you know that Johnie Cooks had a 52-yard fumble return for a touchdown in overtime? Not exactly what I was looking for, but still a cool fact.
- Found mention of a throwing challenge in 1993 where Randall Cunningham apparently chucked the ball 76 yards. That’s further than Mayfield’s Hail Mary!
- Then there’s this guy, Joe Milton, a college QB who can supposedly throw an orange over 100 yards. Now that’s just showing off!
I even found a video claiming someone threw a football 200 yards! I watched it, but it seemed a little fishy. I mean, 200 yards? That’s like throwing it across two football fields. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I’d need to see some serious proof before I believe that one.
After hours of searching, reading, and watching, I realized that finding the definitive answer to the longest throw in NFL history is like chasing a ghost. There are a lot of contenders, a lot of “maybes,” and a lot of hearsay. The NFL doesn’t officially track this stat, so it’s all based on unofficial reports and grainy footage. But it is true!
So, while I didn’t find a clear winner today, I did have a lot of fun going down this rabbit hole. And it reminded me that sometimes, the journey of discovery is just as rewarding as the destination. Plus, I now have a bunch of random football facts to impress (or annoy) my friends with. Maybe I’ll try throwing an orange next weekend, just to see how far it goes. Just kidding (maybe)!
