Over the past several seasons, the NFL has changed the way we view football. With the league’s “Mic’d Up” series, fans today have been granted access beyond the stands and inside the lines and minds of our favorite players.
Each week, certain NFL players are wired with a small microphone. This experience gives the common fan a first-person perspective of life on the field and in the helmet.
Here are seven of the top mic’d up moments during the 2020 NFL season so far.
7. Eddie Jackson
Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson is a dynamic playmaker in the secondary. Jackson’s Bears are currently 5-1 and are flourishing defensively thanks to his presence on the backend of the defense.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson leads all NFL safeties with the most coverage snaps without allowing a touchdown so far in 2020. He also would have two defensive touchdowns of his own this year if they weren’t called back to due penalties.
Chicago defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week five by a score of 20-19 in what was largely a defense-oriented game.
Jackson was jawing back and forth with Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans for most of the game. After the Tom Brady and Evans failed to connect on a deep pass late in the game, Jackson asked Evans why they keep throwing the ball away from him.
“Mike, why don’t y’all throw that to my side? Jackson chirped. He then asked the ref why they weren’t throwing in his direction.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson leads all NFL safeties with the most coverage snaps without allowing a touchdown so far in 2020. He also would have two defensive touchdowns of his own this year if they weren’t called back to due penalties.
Chicago defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week five by a score of 20-19 in what was largely a defense-oriented game.
Jackson was jawing back and forth with Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans for most of the game. After the Tom Brady and Evans failed to connect on a deep pass late in the game, Jackson asked Evans why they keep throwing the ball away from him.
“Mike, why don’t y’all throw that to my side? Jackson chirped. He then asked the ref why they weren’t throwing in his direction.
6. Todd Gurley
Running back Toddy Gurley is in his first season with the Atlanta Falcons, after spending his first five with the Los Angeles Rams.
The two-time All-Pro is off to a great start in 2020. He’s compiled 422 rushing and five touchdowns in his first five games to begin the year.
Gurley was mic’d up in Week 5 against against the division rival Carolina Panthers. In the best game of the season for Gurley thus far, the Falcons running back rushed 14 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. Prior to the game, he had a moment with one of the referees. The ref told him he remembers officiating one of Gurley’s collegiate games at the University of Georgia.
“I was watching Tennessee-Georgia yesterday, and I remember about six or seven years ago I had you over there. You jumped over this cat on Tennessee. I ran down there with you and I was like ‘God dang that was bad a–.'”
The two-time All-Pro is off to a great start in 2020. He’s compiled 422 rushing and five touchdowns in his first five games to begin the year.
Gurley was mic’d up in Week 5 against against the division rival Carolina Panthers. In the best game of the season for Gurley thus far, the Falcons running back rushed 14 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. Prior to the game, he had a moment with one of the referees. The ref told him he remembers officiating one of Gurley’s collegiate games at the University of Georgia.
“I was watching Tennessee-Georgia yesterday, and I remember about six or seven years ago I had you over there. You jumped over this cat on Tennessee. I ran down there with you and I was like ‘God dang that was bad a–.'”
5. DeForest Buckner
Like Gurley with the Falcons, DeForest Buckner is in his first season with the Indianapolis Colts after spending five years with the San Francisco 49ers.
At the beginning of the NFL offseason, the Colts struck a deal with San Francisco for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in exchange for a 2020 first-round draft pick. Subsequently, Buckner and Indianapolis agreed to terms on a four-year, $84 million contract extension.
Buckner was mic’d up in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was busy getting after rookie quarterback Joe Burrow all game long. At one point, Buckner came over to the sideline upset he had yet to record a sack.
“C’mon, man. I’m tired of all these damn quarterback hits, I need to get me a sack!”
At the beginning of the NFL offseason, the Colts struck a deal with San Francisco for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in exchange for a 2020 first-round draft pick. Subsequently, Buckner and Indianapolis agreed to terms on a four-year, $84 million contract extension.
Buckner was mic’d up in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was busy getting after rookie quarterback Joe Burrow all game long. At one point, Buckner came over to the sideline upset he had yet to record a sack.
“C’mon, man. I’m tired of all these damn quarterback hits, I need to get me a sack!”
4. Joe Burrow
Rookie quarter back Joe Burrow was selected with the first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. The reigning NCAA National Champion and Heisman Trophy winner has been impressive to start his young NFL career.
The rookie has thrown for 1,617 yards and a 6:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s also thrown for 300 or more yards in four of his last five games.
One of those games came in Week 4 when he was mic’d up versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. The game started with a hilarious moment Burrow introduced himself to one of the game’s referees.
“I’m sorry, what’s your name?” Burrow asked.
“Alex,” the ref responded.
“I didn’t want to just call you Mr. Ref all day,” Burrow joked.
Burrow and the Bengals would go on to defeat the Jaguars and pick up their first win of the 2020 season.
The rookie has thrown for 1,617 yards and a 6:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s also thrown for 300 or more yards in four of his last five games.
One of those games came in Week 4 when he was mic’d up versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. The game started with a hilarious moment Burrow introduced himself to one of the game’s referees.
“I’m sorry, what’s your name?” Burrow asked.
“Alex,” the ref responded.
“I didn’t want to just call you Mr. Ref all day,” Burrow joked.
Burrow and the Bengals would go on to defeat the Jaguars and pick up their first win of the 2020 season.
3. Justin Jefferson
Another rookie makes the list in Minnesota Vikings rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson, a former teammate of Joe Burrow at LSU, was a pivotal component to their national championship run.
Not to mention, he’s also off to a great start in the NFL. Through six games, Jefferson has amassed 28 catches for 537 yards and three touchdowns.
Jefferson had a career day while being mic’d up in Week 6 against the Falcons. He torched Atlanta’s secondary to the tune of nine receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns. However, he did make one mistake during the game when he accidentally grabbed one of his teammate’s helmets instead of his own.
“This is not my helmet,” the rookie laughed on his team’s sideline. “This is not my helmet.”
Not to mention, he’s also off to a great start in the NFL. Through six games, Jefferson has amassed 28 catches for 537 yards and three touchdowns.
Jefferson had a career day while being mic’d up in Week 6 against the Falcons. He torched Atlanta’s secondary to the tune of nine receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns. However, he did make one mistake during the game when he accidentally grabbed one of his teammate’s helmets instead of his own.
“This is not my helmet,” the rookie laughed on his team’s sideline. “This is not my helmet.”
🗣️ Hear @Vikings rookie WR @JJettas2 mic'd up as he reaches for a TD.
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) October 20, 2020
Watch more on #InsideTheNFL TONIGHT 9PM ET on Showtime. pic.twitter.com/TRBKGWLnGH
2. Taylor Decker
The Detroit Lions provided field-level action and mic’d up footage for their fans in the team’s Week 6 win against the Jaguars.
The Lions were 1-3 heading into the game with the Jags. However, that didn’t stop the team from being hyped up and excited to play. That goes especially for offensive tackle Taylor Decker. Footage from the game show Decker on the bench screaming “FOOOOTBAAAALL!!”
The Lions were 1-3 heading into the game with the Jags. However, that didn’t stop the team from being hyped up and excited to play. That goes especially for offensive tackle Taylor Decker. Footage from the game show Decker on the bench screaming “FOOOOTBAAAALL!!”
Well said. pic.twitter.com/1FiLrxd6uF
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) October 21, 2020
1. Robby Anderson
Wide receiver Robby Anderson spent his first four NFL seasons with the New York Jets before signing a deal in the off-season to join the Carolina Panthers.
Anderson is off to a great start with his new team having started all six games so far. He has caught 40 passes for 566 yards and a touchdown.
While Anderson is much more familiar with his new team now, that wasn’t always the case. In his first game with the team, Anderson and his teammates had a hilarious exchange regarding the Carolina Panthers mascot.
“What’s that bear doing?” Anderson asked.
Confused, fellow wide receive DJ Moore responded “Bear?”
“Panther,” Anderson said.
Realizing Anderson was referencing the team’s mascot, Moore replied “That’s Sir Purr, bro.”
Anderson is off to a great start with his new team having started all six games so far. He has caught 40 passes for 566 yards and a touchdown.
While Anderson is much more familiar with his new team now, that wasn’t always the case. In his first game with the team, Anderson and his teammates had a hilarious exchange regarding the Carolina Panthers mascot.
“What’s that bear doing?” Anderson asked.
Confused, fellow wide receive DJ Moore responded “Bear?”
“Panther,” Anderson said.
Realizing Anderson was referencing the team’s mascot, Moore replied “That’s Sir Purr, bro.”
Robby Anderson couldn’t believe the Panthers mascot was real life pic.twitter.com/1O3wftIsHT
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 16, 2020
