THE STORY
On September 8, 2002, Browns linebacker Dwayne Rudd prematurely celebrated by removing and throwing his helmet, thinking he had sacked Chiefs quarterback Trent Green on the final play. Green had lateraled the ball to lineman John Tait, who advanced it to the Browns' 25-yard line. Rudd's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball to the 13-yard line, enabling kicker Morten Andersen to score a 30-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Chiefs a 40-39 win.
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs
WHY IT MATTERS
This incident is remembered as one of the most infamous mistakes in NFL history, highlighting the importance of maintaining composure until the final whistle.