The tackle everyone is talking about: Commanders’ Tyler Owens delivers NFL’s best special teams play
The Washington player powered through both blockers, maintained his balance, and finished the tackle on a return specialist
Special teams rarely command national attention. Touchdown passes, game-changing interceptions, and explosive runs usually dominate the conversation on NFL Sundays. But Washington Commanders safety Tyler Owens managed to steal the spotlight in Week 1 with a play that had some of the biggest names in football raving.
In Washington's 24-22 season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Owens recorded just two tackles in the official box score. On paper, it looked like a relatively quiet afternoon for a player whose primary role comes on special teams.
The film told a completely different story
During a punt return, Owens produced what many are already calling one of the best special teams plays of the young NFL season. Racing downfield in coverage, the third-year safety encountered a double team designed to take him out of the play. Instead, he powered through both blockers, maintained his balance, and finished the tackle on return specialist Britain Covey.
The effort was so extraordinary that future Pro Football Hall of Famer J.J. Watt immediately took notice. "One of the greatest football plays I've ever seen," Watt said. He went even further, adding that "every coach in America will be showing this rep to their team this week."
That is not the kind of praise typically reserved for a special teams tackle. Even Tom Brady, now serving as a broadcaster, highlighted the play during the game and praised Owens' relentless effort. What made the sequence remarkable was not simply the tackle itself, but the determination required to complete it. Most coverage players would have been erased from the play after encountering two blockers in space.
Owens used speed and pursuit angles to work around traffic
Owens refused to accept that outcome, fighting through contact and turning what should have been a positive return for Philadelphia into a momentum-changing stop. As impressive as that play was, it wasn't even Tyler's only standout moment of the afternoon.
His second tackle on special teams showcased a different skill set. Instead of muscling through blockers, Owens used speed and pursuit angles to work around traffic. When Covey attempted to make him miss in the open field, Tyler stayed under control and delivered another textbook tackle.
Taken together, the two plays offered a masterclass in special teams coverage. It's the type of performance that often goes unnoticed outside meeting rooms, where coaches obsess over fundamentals, effort, and execution. Yet Owens' contributions became impossible to ignore.
The performance also served as a reminder of the journey Tyler has taken to reach this point. After going undrafted in 2024, Owens faced long odds to carve out a place in the NFL. He earned a roster spot with Washington and has gradually established himself as one of the team's most dependable special teams contributors.
