No, we’re not talking about THAT Michael Jordan.. though THAT Michael Jordan was a shooting guard who grew up in North Carolina. In this instance, we are talking about Carolina Panthers offensive guard Michael Jordan, who added his name to recent NFL history with a remarkable achievement in Carolina’s 10-7 Sunday win over the New Orleans Saints.
The Panthers’ offensive output in this game was not what anybody would have liked. Quarterback Sam Darnold completed just five of 15 passes for 43 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 2.8. The team did run 41 times for 171 yards, but scored no touchdowns on the ground.
Except for the one that Jordan scored with 6:45 left in the third quarter. Darnold tried to get in the end zone, fumbled before he made it there, and Jordan — a 2019 fourth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 315 pounds — was on the spot for the Panthers’ only touchdown on the day.
MJ came through with the TD 🙌 pic.twitter.com/sYfkEIGu84
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 8, 2023
Of course, the Panthers’ outstanding social media team was ready with the jokes.
It's true. https://t.co/o9Z8p28yVe pic.twitter.com/dLv7PngZDj
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 8, 2023
As interim head coach Steve Wilks noted after the win, Jordan was an injury replacement.
“[Austin] Corbett, he went down,” Wilks said. “Mike had to step in. I thought he did a great job of just being attentive and understanding, knowing where the ball was at that particular time, and diving on it. He was emotional, just like a lot of those guys. Once again, they just poured it out for one another. I’m very proud of the way he stepped up.”
Per NFL Research, Jordan is the third offensive lineman since 2000 to score his team’s only touchdown in a game. Bradley Sowell of the Chicago Bears did it on December 9, 2018, and Jeff Hartings of the Detroit Lions did it on December 17, 2000.
Proof positive that if you’re a guard in the Carolinas, and your name is Michael Jordan, you are simply destined to make history.