Entering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ Week 7 game against the Chicago Bears, quarterback Tom Brady found himself just two touchdown passes away from becoming the only player in NFL history to ever have 600 career passing touchdowns. It didn’t take him long to do that, as he was able to find Mike Evans for a 9-yard touchdown in the first quarter that got him to that mark.
Generally, the balls from such milestones for all-time great quarterbacks are preserved for posterity. However, thanks to a Sunday giveaway by Evans, the Buccaneers had a little trouble trying to get Brady’s football.
After the touchdown, Evans found a fan wearing his jersey in the front row of the stands, and he gave the ball to him as a gift — only to realize exactly what he had done, exclaiming, “Oooooh, I gave the ball away!” when he was back on the sidelines.
According to a report by Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times, the fan in at the center of the story is 29-year old Byron Kennedy from St. Petersburg, Fla. Just after receiving the ball, Kennedy was approached by a Buccaneers staffer who told him that Brady wanted the ball, and a quid pro quo was arranged — Kennedy gave the ball back, but he received another ball and will receive some signed memorabilia from the team in exchange.
“I knew how much it meant to Tom, and I was willing to trade,” Kennedy said.
Regardless, it was a great day at Raymond James Stadium for Kennedy. The Buccaneers poured it on the visiting Chicago Bears as Brady tossed four touchdown passes in the 38-3 blowout win.
