It may skip the box score, but points could never cover the meaning and love behind a special Saturday score
Martin. McNeil. Boozer. Snell. A.J.
One of the first touchdowns to open MetLife Stadium’s 2022-23 New York Jets campaign was scored by a young green supporter named A.J. The junior fan, battling Stage 1 Cerebral Palsy, took over at running back for Michael Carter and Breece Hall to charge into the end zone (with some help from quarterback Zach Wilson) on one of the final plays of the Jets’ Green & White Scrimmage on Saturday night.
To finish our Green & White scrimmage, we got a new running back in @SNYtv Play Ball kid, AJ, who has Stage 1 Cerebral Palsy.
He took it to the house. pic.twitter.com/A847heWBnW
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 7, 2022
Upon his entry into the end zone, officially running in from about three yards out, A.J. is encouraged to spike the ball and gets a high-five from Sauce Gardner. After a quick tutorial from Connor McGovern, A.J. then breaks the team down with a chant of his own name as his mother, crying tears of joy, likewise enters the circle.
The Jets shared more in-depth photos of the touchdown on their official accounts, including one where A.J. gets to meet the presumed playcaller of his rush to glory, head coach Robert Saleh.
A.J.’s victorious score, partly facilitated by SNY as part of its “Play Ball” program, has earned unanimous awe and praise on social media.
Sports are the best
— NYJ Matt (@NYJ_Matt) August 7, 2022
Wonderful https://t.co/NFj72hZ2Di
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) August 8, 2022
This. This is wholesome and amazing https://t.co/MGYq4qOSlS
— Madison Wade (@madisoncwade) August 8, 2022
The Jets will play their first unofficial game at MetLife on Aug. 22, when the Atlanta Falcons descend upon East Rutherford for an exhibition clash. Their preseason opener will be staged in Philadelphia on Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET, WCBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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