Corn Dog (American football)

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Corn Dog
DateFebruary 12, 2023 (2023-02-12)
Kickoff time4:43 p.m. MST (UTC-7)
StadiumState Farm Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
FavoriteEagles by 1.5[1]
Attendance67,827
TV in the United States
NetworkFox
Fox Deportes
NFL.com
NFL+
AnnouncersKevin Burkhardt (play-by-play)
Greg Olsen (analyst)
Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi (sideline reporters)
Mike Pereira (rules analyst)

Corn Dog is the name of a misdirection offensive play used by the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023. The play was called twice by head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, resulting in two crucial touchdowns in the Chiefs' 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The unusual name and deceptive design of the play attracted widespread attention,[2] and the plays have been considered crucial to the game's outcome.[3]

Background

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Leading up to Super Bowl LVII, the Kansas City Chiefs were renowned for their creative and unorthodox offensive playbook under head coach Andy Reid.[4]

The Chiefs' offense, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, frequently used shifts, motion, and misdirection to disorient opposing defenses. The "Corn Dog" play drew inspiration from a similar misdirection concept run against the Eagles by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in the 2022 NFL season.[5]

Design and execution

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The "Corn Dog" play features a pre-snap motion that tricks defenders into anticipating a jet sweep or shallow crossing route, only for the motioning wide receiver to suddenly stop and pivot back toward the sideline. This misdirection exploits defenses in man coverage and often results in the receiver being left wide open.[6]

The Chiefs successfully ran the play twice in Super Bowl LVII:

  • Kadarius Toney touchdown (4th quarter, 12:04 remaining): Toney started in motion before quickly pivoting back to the outside, receiving a wide-open pass from Mahomes for a 5-yard touchdown that gave the Chiefs their first lead of the second half.
  • Skyy Moore touchdown (4th quarter, 9:22 remaining): On the opposite side of the field, the Chiefs ran a mirrored version of the same play. Moore, a rookie wide receiver, executed the motion and pivot to perfection, scoring an untouched 4-yard touchdown that extended the Chiefs’ lead to 35–27. This reception was Moore's first touchdown in the NFL.

Legacy

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"Corn Dog" was described alongside the Eagles' use of the Tush Push as the defining play of the game.[7] Alongside other plays such as Jet Chip Wasp, Corn Dog became emblematic of the Chiefs' innovative offensive style. The play has been analyzed in media breakdowns for its creativity and timing.[8] It played a pivotal role in the Chiefs' comeback and third Super Bowl title in franchise history, and critics suggested that it belonged alongside Jet Chip Wasp and 13 Seconds as a defining moment for the Chiefs and for the legacies of Mahomes and Reid.[9]

The following season, the Chiefs repeated as Super Bowl champions in Super Bowl LVIII, with the game concluding in overtime on a walk-off touchdown reception from Mahomes to Mecole Hardman, using the Corn Dog misdirection which the team had renamed in the snap to Tom and Jerry. [10]

Two years later, the Chiefs and Eagles again faced each other in a rematch of this super bowl in Super Bowl LIX, which was won by the Eagles 40-22.

Both receivers involved in the plays had limited roles with the Chiefs after the Super Bowl victory. Toney appeared in 13 games during the 2023 season, scoring one touchdown, but was inactive for the postseason. The Chiefs declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, making him a free agent in 2024.[11][12] Moore also recorded one touchdown in 2023 but missed the playoffs due to injury. He spent the following season on injured reserve before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2025 season in a late-round draft pick swap.[13][14][15]

Cultural impact

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The play's whimsical name sparked curiosity among fans and sports media.[16] Although the origin of the name has not been definitively explained, it aligns with Reid’s tradition of giving quirky names to trick plays such as Jet Chip Wasp and "Shift to Rose Bowl Right Parade".[17] Reid and Mahomes both referenced the significance of the play in postgame interviews, with Reid noting "There's nothing better than a good Corn Dog with some mustard and ketchup".[18] Corn Dog was also included in the Chiefs playbook in Madden 25. [19]

In 2024 the Chiefs referenced the play through the addition of a "Tom and Jerry Walkoff Corn Dog" to the stadium concessions menu.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Super Bowl 57 start time, NFL betting odds, spread: Chiefs vs. Eagles picks by K.C. expert who's 26-16". CBSSports.com. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  2. ^ DeArdo, Bryan (February 13, 2023). "'Corn dog' joins Chiefs Super Bowl lore: Andy Reid says Kadarius Toney TD came on a play with an unusual name". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  3. ^ Uthman, Dan (February 13, 2023). "Those two Chiefs plays that the Eagles just could not stop in the Super Bowl". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  4. ^ Simmons, Myles (February 4, 2021). "Andy Reid: We try to stay creative and have fun with our red zone offense". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  5. ^ Dodd, Rustin (February 13, 2023). "Patrick Mahomes leads Chiefs' comeback to win Super Bowl LVII". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  6. ^ Felton, Josh (February 19, 2023). "How the Chiefs offense won Super Bowl LVII". The Johns Hopkins News-Letter. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  7. ^ Jones, Mike (February 6, 2025). "Super Bowl's defining plays: Tush Push, Corndog, Scoop City". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  8. ^ Kansas City’s corn dog play is delicious. YouTube. Football Doesn't Matter. February 19, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  9. ^ Dodd, Rustin (February 13, 2023). "Patrick Mahomes leads Chiefs' comeback to win Super Bowl LVII". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  10. ^ Kasabian, Paul (February 12, 2024). "Chiefs' Reid Renamed 'Corn Dog' Play to 'Tom and Jerry' on Mahomes' Super Bowl Winner". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  11. ^ "Kadarius Toney 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  12. ^ Teicher, Adam (May 2, 2024). "Source: Chiefs decline fifth-year option for Kadarius Toney". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  13. ^ "Skyy Moore 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  14. ^ Brisco, Joshua (October 24, 2024). "Chiefs Place Beleagured [sic] WR Skyy Moore on IR, Announce DeAndre Hopkins Trade". SI.com. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  15. ^ "49ers Trade for WR Skyy Moore, Sign QB Tanner Mordecai in Roster Moves". 49ers.com. August 21, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  16. ^ DeArdo, Bryan (February 13, 2023). "'Corn dog' joins Chiefs Super Bowl lore: Andy Reid says Kadarius Toney TD came on a play with an unusual name". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  17. ^ Jones, Mike (January 31, 2025). "Chiefs' trick plays and creativity ahead of Super Bowl". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  18. ^ Goldman, Charles (February 13, 2023). "Chiefs' Reid Renamed 'Corn Dog' Play to 'Tom and Jerry' on Mahomes' Super Bowl Winner". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  19. ^ "Madden NFL 25 Gameplay Deep Dive". EA Sports. July 23, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  20. ^ Grathoff, Pete (August 27, 2024). "Chiefs selling dish at Arrowhead named after Super Bowl play". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

See also

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