In 2009, Lee Evans made one of the most memorable and spectacular catches in NFL history as a member of the Washington Redskins. It was an over-the-shoulder grab that appeared to have been caught on live television by none other than Joe Theismann himself. But only seconds later, it crashed down into his own hands for what would prove to be an embarrassing fluke mistake that cost him his job with the Redskins just three games after he’d broken out onto the field.,
Lee Evans has been making a name for himself in the NFL. He has had a few failed catches, but he is currently playing for the Carolina Panthers. In 2007, Lee Evans made a huge catch against the New York Giants that was supposed to put his team up by one point. However, on the next play, he dropped it and they lost by one point instead. 10 years later, he is still trying to make good on that drop.
Although the former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver hasn’t moved far from Baltimore, he has moved on from one of the worst playoff gaffes in NFL history.
Evans, 40, lives in Northern Virginia, about a one-hour drive away, where he invests in real estate and coaches his 13-year-old son in football, basketball, and baseball. One of the things Evans teaches as a coach comes from his lowest period during his eight-year NFL career.
“It’s not about what happens to you; it’s about how you respond to it,” Evans said. “When you’re talking to kids, I believe the most important thing is to let them know that it’s OK to fail, and that you’re going to fail.” It will take place. So if you can’t bounce back, you’re not going to go very far in anything.”
Evans failed to hang on to a possible game-winning touchdown grab in the final seconds of the AFC Championship Game 10 years ago on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2012, costing the Ravens a trip to the Super Bowl. With 15 seconds remaining, Billy Cundiff’s 32-yard field goal attempt went wide left, sealing the 23-20 defeat to the New England Patriots.
Evans has second-guessed what he might have done differently to keep CB Sterling Moore from slapping the ball away from him in the end zone, but he isn’t a perfectionist. He’s not bothered by the idea that the last pass thrown to him in Foxborough, Massachusetts, culminated in this horrible incident.
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“I felt like I could have been stronger with the catch,” Evans said, “but sure, that’s what a DB wants to accomplish.” “They want to grab a hold of the ball and strike it out.” And he did an excellent job of it.”
Evans is still a football fanatic. He brought his youngster to the Buffalo Bills’ playoff game last Saturday. Lee Evans IV is a Buffalo Bills fan since his father caught 377 catches with the team from 2004 to 2010.
The elder Evans still loves the Ravens. He has attended one game at M&T Bank Stadium a few years ago, and he believes his youngest son, 3-year-old Lyndon, will grow up to be a Ravens fan.
He still enjoys going to Baltimore. He spent a year in the city after being released by the Ravens, and he’s been visiting there often lately to look at real estate.
Evans does get seen every now and again.
He said, “There hasn’t been any sort of difficulty.” “Everything was in excellent hands.”
Evans has always been appreciative for his teammates’ support after the game, and he still is now. Through a common acquaintance, he just reunited with Hall of Fame middle linebacker Ray Lewis.
Lewis stated, “He placed us on a text, and my heart just grinned.” “At the time, I responded, ‘A single player does not win or lose a game; a team does, right?’ And, yes, it didn’t go the way he intended it to go for a little minute, but that is what it is. But I loved him much more as a brother. “I’m in love with him much more now.”
Evans stopped Lewis at Gillette Stadium a decade ago as he was boarding the bus. Evans wanted to apologize to the 36-year-old linebacker because he understood he would never have another opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. But Lewis intervened.
“”‘Oh, he should have made that catch,’ people say all the time,” Lewis remarked. “I know I should have made a lot more tackles. I’m sure there were many things we should have done. One of the reasons we were in the AFC Championship was because of him. Let’s be really clear about it. As a result, I’m proud of him as a brother. I’m proud of him for keeping his wits about him and living a happy life.”
Evans doesn’t dwell on the missed catch; instead, he utilizes it to educate children about the necessity of persevering in the face of adversity. Getty Images/By Barry Chin/The Boston Globe
Following the game, Evans requested a photo of his blown catch from public relations. He intended for it to act as a continual reminder to him to keep pushing forward. The photograph was displayed on a wall at his house for a period.
Evans’ last NFL game was caught in the photograph. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being cut by the Baltimore Ravens, but was dismissed early in training camp.
Many of Evans’ Ravens colleagues were given a second opportunity, and they took advantage of it. The next season, Baltimore avenged itself by defeating the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game and then defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.
Along the way, Evans was rooting for the Ravens.
“”I understood who that squad was and what it could do,” Evans added. “Seeing what that squad was made up of, whether I was on it or not, it was fantastic to see them go over that hurdle. I was ecstatic for those men because they were unquestionably a unique bunch.”
Evans has heard that the missed catch would be discussed in Tom Brady’s ESPN series “Man in the Arena,” and he intends to see it. He can’t recall the last time he considered the play before now.
Evans stated, “It’s not really on my mind a whole lot.” “Obviously, when you go to a game and watch football and see things happen, you remember when you were a player. But it’s not something I think about or focus on all the time.”
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