Zylstra Scores NFL Touchdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. (12/27/20)---Former Concordia All-MIAC wide receiver Brandon Zylstra '16 scored his first NFL touchdown on Sunday in the Carolina Panthers win at the Washington Football Team.

It is believed that Zylstra becomes the first Concordia alumni to score a touchdown in an NFL game. He is the first Cobber to score in an NFL game in the history of the modern game.

Zylstra's historic play came at the end of the first quarter in Carolina's 20-13 win over Washington. With the game tied at 0-0, the Panthers were forced to punt the ball. The punt sailed to the Washington 12-yard line where the Washington return man fielded the ball and was immediately hit by the Panther's punt coverage team. The ball ricocheted towards the end zone and started to roll out of the back end of the end zone. Zylstra was the first to the ball and was able to slide on top of it and recovered it for ther touchdown.

The play turned the game in the Panther's favored and was a catalyst for the team's fifth win of the season. The Carolina website said about the play, "They needed Brandon Zylstra's recovery of a muffed punt for a touchdown to break a slow start for both teams, and when that happened, the Panthers' offense and defense ran onto the field in a moment of jubilation."

Brandon Zylstra Scores for the Panthers