Premiere Day for Many NFL Players and Coaches to Start Season

The first Sunday of the 2024 NFL season is behind us. Among the excitement of the first weekend of the season are rookie debuts, offseason acquisitions and new coaches.

Here are some exciting “firsts” that took place on Sunday:

Caleb Williams claims first career victory

The No. 1 overall pick out of USC won in his NFL debut. The former Heisman Trophy winner became the first No. 1 quarterback to win in his first game since 2002.

Of course, Williams can thank his defense and special teams for helping him earn the win. The Bears’ two touchdowns came on a blocked punt and an interception return, leading to a comeback win over the Tennessee Titans.

More news: Bears’ Caleb Williams did something no rookie quarterback has done since 2002

Justin Fields and Sam Darnold get first wins with new teams

When Russell Wilson was ruled out before the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Atlanta Falcons, Justin Fields was inserted as the starter. Fields earned his first victory as a Steeler, going 17-23 for 156 yards and rushing for 57 yards as the Steelers claimed an 18-10 victory over Atlanta.

Darnold picked up a victory in his first game as a Viking, leading Minnesota to a dominant 28-6 victory over the New York Giants. After spending last season as a backup quarterback, Darnold completed 19 of 24 passes for two touchdowns and one interception.

Arizona Cardinals score first TD on kickoff return under new kickoff rules

One of the biggest topics of the offseason and preseason was the new kickoff return rules, which were intended to make kickoff returns more exciting. The Cardinals were the first team to really take advantage of this, with DeeJay Dallas scoring on a 96-yard kickoff return that nearly allowed them to beat the Bills.

Joe Mixon, Stefon Diggs First Touchdowns as Texans

After reaching the AFC Divisional Round last winter, the Houston Texans have been loading up on weapons this offseason. Most notably, the Texans have added running back Joe Mixon and wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Both players have proven to be important additions and scoring threats for the Texans.

Mixon had 30 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown, while Diggs caught six passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Tua Tagovailoa posts first 300-yard game of the season

The first game of the season wasn’t a great day for many quarterbacks. In fact, many good quarterbacks failed to even throw for 200 yards this week. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who led NFL in passing yards a season ago, became the first quarterback in the 2023 class to throw for more than 300 yards. He went 23-37 for 338 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

First safe victory of the season

The safety is one of the least common scoring plays, but the Denver Broncos managed to get two safetyes against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. It was only the 19th time in the NFL a story in which a team scored two safeties in one game.

Jim Harbaugh, Mike Macdonald and Jerod Mayo earn first wins with new teams

Three new coaches picked up victories in their first games with their teams on Sunday. Jim Harbaugh, who returned to NFL led the Chargers to a 22-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders for the first time in a decade. In classic Harbaugh style, he celebrated the victory by shouting, “Who’s got it better than us? Nobody!” after the victory.

Rookie coaches Mike Macdonald and Jerod Mayo both started their careers with 1-0 records. Macdonald, who was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens last season, helped the Seahawks to a 26-20 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Mayo pulled off the biggest upset of the weekend, securing a 16-10 victory for the Patriots over the Cincinnati Bengals.