GREATER LANDOVER, Md. — The Washington Commanders shocked Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears with a last-second walk-off win. The game came down to one final desperation heave by rookie quarterback and No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels. After scrambling around, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner launched a pass to the end zone. Noah Brown was standing alone to make the reception, and send Commanders fans into a frenzy.
It was a Hail Mary pass that officially traveled 52 yards. But what exactly is a Hail Mary pass? Let's break it down.
What is a Hail Mary?
Put simply, a Hail Mary pass is a long forward pass in a football game — usually made out of desperation — where a quarterback lofts the ball into the air and players jockey for position as it lands.
Who coined the term Hail Mary for a football play?
Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach is credited with helping the term gain widespread use following a 1975 playoff game between Dallas and Minnesota. After throwing a game-winning touchdown pass to Drew Pearson, Staubach said, "I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary."
How common are Hail Mary passes in the NFL?
According to the most recent data from ESPN in 2019, there have been 193 Hail Mary attempts since the start of the 2009 season, including the regular season and playoffs. They have produced 16 touchdowns.
Commanders Hail Mary by the numbers:
According to the NFL, Daniels held onto the ball for 12.79 seconds before he heaved the pass downfield. It was the first touchdown pass with over 10 seconds of time to throw since 2016, the first season tracked by Next Gen Stats.
Daniels also scrambled 40.7 yards before throwing the ball. It traveled 64 yards through the air. Daniels's attempt to avoid the pass rush marked the third-most scramble yards on a touchdown pass since 2016.
The rookie quarterback never even saw Brown make the catch.
“I just heard people screaming and our sideline rushing the field. That’s how I knew,” said Daniels, whose status was uncertain until hours before kickoff because of a rib injury. “That’s kind of like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not too many people get to experience stuff like that.”
The Hail Mary was Daniels' only touchdown pass of the day. Daniels threw for 326 yards and ran for 52.