Do you want to get nuts? Let’s get nuts! Picture this: it’s 2012, and you’re watching the Redskins-Bengals game. Instead of the usual yawn-fest, star WR Mohamed Sanu steps up to add a dash of excitement. And just like that—BOOM — a perfect 73-yard pass, hitting A.J. Green in stride for a touchdown!

In an all-exclusive, Essentially Sports interview in collaboration with the MyCave My Rulez Series, Sanu opened up about the whole experience. “Yeah, it was one of those plays where I didn’t really think too much, as I’ve always just showed up and did what I was asked to do.” Classic Sanu—pretty chill and ready to roll! When Coach Jay Gruden hit him up with the idea, the ex-Bengals’ WR was all in. “He was like, ‘Hey man, you wanna throw it this week?’ I said, ‘Yeah!’ Then he said, ‘I’m gonna call it the first play of the game.’ I was like, ‘Do it!’”

And boy, did he deliver! The Scarlet Knights’ standout’s execution was on point, but there were a few bumps along the way. “But the funny thing was my shoulder was sore all week ‘cause, you know, I’m a blocking receiver,” Sanu confessed during our exclusive interview segment. The 35-year-old was left a bit battered by the blocks and practicing before the BIG moment. But when life threw lemons his way, he made sure to make a lemonade, instead of slipping down in the dumps. 

As the game kicked off, Mohamed Sanu kept his eye on the prize. “Pre-game, I was just warming up—like, just playing around, but just throwing to make sure it felt good.” And then, it was the first play of the game—adrenaline kicking in, nerves locked down, eye on cover zero. With Leonard Fletcher as the LB, the Cincinnati wideout waited for him to make the move—and BAM—lifted his leg and let it fly. 

And fly, it did! “It wasn’t much else to think about; it was like throwing the ball a million times. So, I was like, ‘Hey A.J., go get it!’” Sanu made it sound like a walk in the park. The way he connected with wide-open A.J. Green, who was running the exact route needed, made it sound like a classic Disney flick, where everything just falls into place. “Yeah, it’s easy when you throw it to someone who’s running where they’re supposed to go, and you just put it where it’s meant to be,” the star WR alluded during our all-exclusive Essentially Sports interview. 

Mohamed Sanu’s 73-yard TD pass was fab! But the Bengals’ QB1 Andy Dalton had a nightmare, going just 2-for-4 for 24 yards and tossing a pick in the end zone. Ouch! It’s a wildly fun scene when a WR’s pass outshines the QB’s efforts. For the Redskins, though—it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies, but a compromise—Trent Williams’ leg injury. 

As we wrap up Sanu’s 2012 on-field touchdown masterpiece, we’ve got to talk about his off-field touchdown moments as well. 

Mohamed Sanu’s three-story hub of hope

Get ready to swing for something bigger than par! The former Falcons WR was hitting the greens for a cause – that’s way more important than just birdies and eagles. On July 11th, Sanu hosted a star-studded golf outing at Bear’s Best Atlanta, and it was all about building a community center in Sierra Leone.

While the NFL’s busy planting its flags in far-off lands like Madrid and São Paulo, Sanu’s got his eyes on a different kind of touchdown. Partnering up with his mom, Aminata Koroma, and the nonprofit Develop Africa, he’s all about making a real impact. “This community center is one of my biggest responsibilities,” the star said, and it’s clear he’s not just playing around.

The center is taking shape in Freetown—the bustling capital of Sierra Leone. Picture this: a three-story hub of hope! The first floor will be buzzing with individual workspaces for locals to run their businesses. On the second floor? A large hall for events like graduations, banquets, and all those community celebrations that bring people together. But wait, it’s the third floor that really gets Sanu pumped—a state-of-the-art computer training center. “The average high school graduate in Sierra Leone has never had access to a computer,” he explained. 

With a decade in the NFL—representing the Bengals, Patriots, and more—Mohamed Sanu brings that competitive fire to his off-field game. And he’s not alone! The golf outing will see a lineup of fellow athletes and celebs, like ex-Falcons Sean Weatherspoon and Christian Blake, joining the fun to make this day not just impactful but also a blast.

Here at EssentiallySports Exclusive, we’re all about bringing you the inside scoop on your favorite athletes. For more fun information on the ongoing NFL season, college football, and more, do check out our latest Think Tank exclusive interview segment with Doug Sanders.