Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross was in quite the bind on Sunday. After Ka’imi Fairbairn was ruled out for the rest of the game against the Buccaneers at halftime with a quadriceps injury, Houston was left without a true kicker.
Fourth-string running back Dare Ogunbowale stepped up to handle kickoffs and performed admirably, even kicking three touchbacks (two of which came after penalties on Tampa Bay moved the kick up to midfield, but still).
But Ogunbowale’s biggest challenge came early in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 30. The Texans were facing a fourth-and-goal from the 11 and decided to send Ogunbowale out to attempt a 29-yard field goal to give them the lead. He nailed it.
It was one of the most memorable moments of the NFL season thus far, and no one was more elated than Ross.
Texans ST coordinator Frank Ross couldn't have been any happier with Dare Ogunbowale 🥲 pic.twitter.com/cNLesNTBLk
— NFL (@NFL) November 6, 2023
“I don’t think he was more excited than me, but he was pretty excited,” Ogunbowale told reporters after the game. “That was dope to see.”
Ross was the one who decided Ogunbowale would be the emergency kicker after seeing the former high school soccer player show off his leg in practice last year. On Sunday, Ross’s faith in Ogunbowale paid off in a major way.
