The Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland snagged another pick-six in the 33-10 routing of the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Bland now has four interceptions returned for touchdowns this season, which ties the NFL record.
Bland’s pick six against the Panthers came early in the fourth quarter. Carolina’s rookie quarterback Bryce Young attempted a pass to wideout Jonathan Mingo on 1st&10, but Bland read his intention expertly, making a leaping interception and taking the ball back to the end zone.
Only three other players in NFL history: the Philadelphia Eagles’ Eric Allen in 1993, Kansas City Chiefs’ Jim Kearney in 1972, and Houston Oilers’ Ken Houston in 1971 – had four interceptions returned for a touchdown in NFL history. Bland will have plenty of chances to separate himself from the trio and take sole ownership of the record, as the Cowboys still have seven games left to play in the season.
DaRon Bland has been exceptional for the Dallas Cowboys since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a ball hawk, making five interceptions in his rookie year.
The pick six against the Panthers was also Bland’s sixth interception of the 2023 campaign. This means he now has 11 interceptions in the past two years, more than any other player in the league during that period.
