In the entire history of the National Football League before Sunday, there had been exactly one 98-yard run — Ahman Green of the Packers did it in 2003. On Sunday, running back Ronald Jones of the Buccaneers matched Green’s effort with this 98-yard jaunt against the Panthers.
RONALD JONES GOES 98 YARDS!
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/6yCTrUNGY8 pic.twitter.com/gP9CxTXpsu— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2020
Not to be outdone, Carolina running back Trenton Cannon took this fourth-quarter return 98 yards as well — and he didn’t even score, as he took the ball two yards in the end zone and was tackled at the Tampa Bay 4-yard line by cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting.
Trenton Cannon gets the @Panthers inside the five with a 98-yard kick return!
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/6yCTrUNGY8 pic.twitter.com/JUR8vXPacC— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2020
The Panthers picked up the touchdown on a Teddy Bridgewater three-yard scramble, but Cannon was unable to come up with the catch on the two-point conversion.
While there have been several 98-yard kick returns in NFL history, we’ve never seen two 98-yard plays in the same game, and that’s a mark that may never be broken — especially with one not resulting in a touchdown!