New England Patriots defensive tackle Elijah Ponder had himself a day in the team's home opener at Gillette Stadium, going as far as to finish the day with a touchdown.
And after the game, the young edge defender reflected on this memorable moment.
“I’m definitely going to keep the ball. This is my first touchdown, so I’m definitely going to keep the first one," he told reporters. "But honestly, when I score, I just black out. It’s just too much excitement. So, I just start screaming. That is usually what happens. But yeah, definitely a blessing.”
The play itself happened toward the beginning of the fourth quarter, with the Patriots' defense being able to get pressure on Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Following an impressive strip-sack from
Christian Barmore, Ponder picked up the football and took it to the house for a touchdown. The play extended the Patriots' lead to 20-6 following the extra point, putting the final cherry on top for New England.
Elijah Ponder said he blacked out when he scored, and it didn’t really hit him until he heard the crowd erupt.
— Ethan Hurwitz (@HurwitzSports) September 20, 2026
It had been a while since Ponder had last found himself in the end zone, recalling that he did so during "my second year at Cal Poly."
"Pick six, I think it was like 70 yards or something," he explained. "All I can remember, I was just dead tired afterwards.”
Ponder joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent last season, earning a spot on the 53-man roster. And this year, he worked his way up to becoming a starter. It's clear New England has got a good one, as the defender is hungry to keep forcing turnovers and hopefully add a few more touchdowns to his resume.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots’ Elijah Ponder has hilarious reaction to first NFL touchdown
