NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens ‘TO’ Scores a Touchdown in Fan-Controlled-Football Debut

| American Football | 04/17/2022

They say age is just a number. Only a little more than a year after 44-year-old Tom Brady won the Super Bowl, another NFL legend in his 40s made history last night in his own unique way.

NFL Hall of Famer Terrell ‘TO” Owens’s returned to the field at the tender age of 48. The NFL’s second all-time leading receiver was the poster boy of the Fan-Controlled-Football kick-off weekend as a packed house in Atlanta cheered on the NFL great’s return to the gridiron.

TO’s star quarterback and former Heisman winner Johnny Manziel was unfortunately a late scratch for the game. This was very disappointing to fans who were ready to see the unlikely duo hit the field together. However, Owens’s Zappers team were supposedly in good hands, led by Arena League veteran Danny Southwick.

T.O’s night started slow as he saw four targets in the first half with no completions. This included an extra point conversion that just slipped out of the 48-year-olds hands. His quarterback Danny Southwick went into halftime with only one completion total as it was apparent, he hadn’t built much chemistry with the Zappers receiving corps.

Southwick continued to struggle in the second half taking sacks and simply looking uncomfortable out there. Owens on the other hand looked physically ready to go yet seemed a bit rusty between the lines. Owen’s was able to beat his defender on a deep route, but the pass was drastically under-thrown.

TO’s rust was apparent as he dropped the first two passes that hit his hands, although they were tough catches. The offensive woes continued as the Zappers were simply unable to get the Hall of Famer the ball despite their best efforts. Eventually, enough was enough and Southwick was benched for third stringer Laquan Horton.

On the final play of the game, with the winner already decided, TO brought the near sold-out crowd to its feet. The five-time all pro leapt into the air high pointing the ball for an impressive touchdown grab. Owens used his height well as he took the ball right off the defender’s head in the same dominant fashion that made him one of the NFL’s best to ever do it. Horton delivered an accurate high point pass that he’s sure to tell his friends and family about for years.

With that touchdown, the league had the moment it was looking for all night. Finally, they got their “ageing star, big play moment” in his league debut. Unfortunately, TO did not lean over the railing for popcorn, dance with the cheerleaders, or run to the middle of the field as he seemed ready to hit the showers with his team taking the loss.

Fans of the 5th downs, power plays (yes like hockey), and rock paper scissors infused football hope Zappers quarterback Johnny Manziel can make it on the field next week and give TO a quarterback that can feed him the ball.  We all fully expect the Hall of Famer to be a factor in this league, not only in the marketing department but also the field as he shakes off the rust of game one.

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and