Jameis Winston catches 33-yard TD pass from Gunner Olszewski in epic Giants-Lions trick play

On a chilly Sunday afternoon at Ford Field, something football fans had never seen before happened: Jameis Louis Winston, the 31-year-old quarterback for the New York Giants, caught a 33-yard touchdown pass — from his own wide receiver. The play, executed during Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season on November 23, 2025, wasn’t just a fluke. It was a meticulously designed trick, labeled by the National Football League as a "Can't-Miss Play," and it briefly turned the tide in a game the Giants ultimately lost 34-27 to the Detroit Lions.

The Play That Broke the Internet

With 8:12 left in the second quarter and the Giants trailing 14-10, the offense lined up in a standard shotgun formation. Everyone expected a pass from Winston. Instead, he faked a handoff, stepped back, and — as the defense bit hard on the run fake — Gunner Robert Olszewski, the 5’10", 190-pound wideout, took the snap and launched a perfect spiral down the left sideline. Winston, who had slipped behind the safety like a ghost, caught it at the 10-yard line, juked one defender, and dove into the end zone. The crowd of 65,000 at Ford Field fell silent for a beat — then erupted. The play wasn’t just rare. It was historic.

According to NFL.com’s official video description, the play was designed by Mike Kafka, the Giants’ offensive coordinator, as part of their "Fun and games" package — a collection of gadget plays meant to exploit defensive overconfidence. "We knew they’d respect Winston’s arm," Kafka told reporters after the game. "But we also knew they’d never expect him to catch one. That’s the beauty of it. You make them guess, and then you make them pay."

Why This Play Was So Unusual

Quarterbacks catching touchdown passes? It happens — but almost always from trick plays involving a backup QB, a wildcat formation, or a last-second desperation heave. Winston isn’t just any quarterback. He’s a former first overall pick, a 2019 MVP runner-up, and now the temporary starter for a team that lost its rookie heir apparent, Jaxson Dart, to a knee injury. For Winston — a 10-year veteran who once threw 30 touchdowns in a season — to become the *receiver* on a scoring play is like a chef suddenly becoming the dishwasher and then serving the Michelin-starred dessert.

And yet, Winston wasn’t just a decoy. He also threw a 39-yard touchdown to rookie tight end Joshua Moore later in the game, showing he could still operate as a passer. In fact, he finished with 287 yards passing, one TD throw, and now — one TD catch. That’s the kind of stat line you don’t see outside of Madden’s "Create-a-Player" mode.

The Bigger Picture: Giants’ Offensive Identity

The Giants, under head coach Brian Daboll, have long been criticized for playing too conservatively. But since Winston took over for Dart, things have changed. There’s swagger. There’s unpredictability. And now, there’s a highlight reel that will live forever on NFL Network.

This wasn’t just a one-off gimmick. The Giants ran three trick plays in the first half — a reverse, a flea-flicker, and now this. Each one forced the Lions’ defense, led by coordinator Aaron Glenn, to overcommit. And when they did, Winston and Olszewski made them pay. "They didn’t just beat us," said Lions linebacker Jeff Okudah afterward. "They made us feel stupid. And that’s worse than losing."

The Players Behind the Play

Jameis Winston, born in Bessemer, Alabama, has spent his career as a gunslinger — sometimes reckless, always entertaining. He led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl in 2020, then spent three seasons with the Cleveland Browns before signing with the Giants in 2025 as a veteran mentor. Now, he’s become their most unlikely weapon.

Meanwhile, Gunner Olszewski, a former undrafted free agent out of Boston University, has carved out a niche as a gadget player. He’s never thrown a pass in a regular-season game before. But on this day, he threw the most memorable one of the year. "I’ve been waiting for this moment since high school," Olszewski said with a grin. "I just hoped I didn’t throw it too hard."

What Comes Next?

The Giants still sit at 5-6. Their playoff hopes are slim, but this play? This play has reignited interest. Ticket sales for their next home game jumped 40% in 24 hours. NFL Films has already started production on a 10-minute feature about the play. And fantasy managers? They’re scrambling to add both Winston and Olszewski — even though neither is eligible as a receiver or QB in standard leagues.

As for Winston? He’s not done. "I’ve thrown for 200 touchdowns," he told reporters. "I’ve never caught one. Now I have. And I’m not done yet."

Historical Context: Rare QB Receptions in NFL History

Only 12 times in NFL history has a starting quarterback caught a touchdown pass — and only three of those came since 2000. The last was in 2013, when Colin Kaepernick caught a 1-yard TD from Vernon Davis in a 49ers game. But those were short-yardage, goal-line gimmicks. Winston’s 33-yard catch? That’s a deep route. That’s a designed play. That’s art.

Even the Detroit Lions, who won the game, couldn’t deny its brilliance. "I didn’t sleep last night," said head coach Dan Campbell. "I kept replaying it. I thought, ‘How did they not get flagged for illegal man downfield?’ Then I realized — they didn’t. They just outsmarted us."