Hall of Shame: Where does Demercado's goal-line fumble rank among the worst blunders in NFL history?

Everyone makes mistakes — even NFL players. They’ve accomplished things most of us can only dream about and have earned every ounce of the praise that comes their way. But now and then, they slip up in a way so unforgettable it becomes etched into NFL legend. The only difference? Their mistakes play out on one of the world's biggest stages.

Unfortunately for Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado, he added his name to that list on Sunday, coughing up a brutal fumble at the goal line after a 72-yard burst that should’ve been the highlight of his season.

To make matters worse, the Cardinals were cruising 21–3 at the time, only to collapse and lose on a walk-off field goal to the Tennessee Titans in a finish that Next Gen Stats labeled the second-most improbable comeback of the year .

Demercado’s mistake will be remembered for years to come, but he’s far from alone in the Hall of Shame. Here’s my take on the biggest blunders in NFL history.

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1. The 'Butt Fumble'

Without a doubt, the most notorious of blunders - watched by 20 million viewers and spreading online in an instant - Mark Sanchez’s moment to forget will be remembered by NFL fans forever.

As a former first-round pick who struggled most of his career, the 'Butt Fumble' became, fair or not, the defining point of his career.

2. The 'Sin City Miracle'

In 2022, the Patriots tried a desperate lateral sequence with the game tied. Instead, Chandler Jones intercepted the second backward pass attempt and scored a walk-off touchdown.

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It’s not the most famous mistake in NFL history, but the failed lateral might be one of the most underrated. It came on the final play of regulation with the score tied at 24–24, handing the Patriots a crushing loss. As it turned out, it also cost them a real shot at a Wild Card berth after they went on to drop their next two games.

3. Jim Marshall's 'Wrong Way Run'

On October 25, 1964. Minnesota Vikings' defensive end Jim Marshall scooped up a teammate’s fumble and proceeded to sprint 66 yards in the wrong direction, resulting in a safety for the San Francisco 49ers.

Granted, it ultimately didn't cost the Vikings the game, but Marshall's lapse in judgement ranks as the most bizarre play I've ever seen.

4. The 'Miracle at the Meadowlands'

In 1978, with the New York Giants just needing to run out the clock, Joe Pisarcik fumbled a simple handoff - and Philadelphia Eagles defender Herm Edwards scooped it up and ran it back for a touchdown.

The play cost New York the game and led NFL teams to adopt the quarterback kneel as a new victory formation.

5. 'Leon Lett’s Thanksgiving Blunder'

On a snowy Thanksgiving in 1993, after the Dallas Cowboys blocked a last-second Dolphins field goal, Lett slid into the loose ball on the icy field, accidentally turning it live and setting up Miami for a stunning, game-winning score.

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His actions were exacerbated by the fact that his teammates were already celebrating the win and had he done nothing whatsoever, the play would have been whistled dead.

Final thought

Emari Demercado is undoubtedly having a tough week. Maybe, with a little time and reflection, and assuming he has nothing better to do than read my article, he’ll take comfort in knowing his miscue didn’t quite make the list of my top five blunders in NFL history.

In fact, he joins a long list of players who have done exactly the same thing, including  the Indianapolis Colts’ Adonai Mitchell just a week earlier , and DeSean Jackson with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008.

Hopefully, Demercado will learn from his mistakes and keep his eyes and hands on the ball going forward.