Aaron Judge’s brutal postseason performance has officially crossed over into the realm of sports punchlines, as Fox announcer Greg Olsen took a swipe at the Yankees superstar during Sunday’s broadcast of the New Orleans Saints’ 20-17 upset victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The joke referenced Judge’s infamous dropped ball in center field during Game 5 of the World Series, a mistake that played a pivotal role in the Yankees’ loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
As Olsen analyzed the game, he drew a comparison between the Yankees outfielder’s costly error and a similarly egregious drop made by New Orleans star running back Alvin Kamara.
In the third quarter, Kamara dropped a pass that would have almost certainly resulted in a touchdown, much to the dismay of Saints fans. Olsen, quick on his feet, drew a sharp and somewhat stinging parallel.
“That’s Aaron Judge dropping the ball in the fifth inning of the World Series,” Olsen quipped. “There’s no explanation.”
Judge, who had been the face of the Yankees’ regular-season success, now finds himself as the unfortunate subject of ridicule. His disappointing October performance, which included struggles at the plate and a critical fielding error, has become fodder for jokes, and it seems it will continue to be used against him until he can rewrite the narrative surrounding his postseason play.
It’s one thing to struggle offensively, as Judge did by hitting just .184 (9-for-49) throughout the postseason, but it was his unexpected defensive blunder that made headlines.
The normally reliable center fielder dropped a routine fly ball during Game 5 of the World Series—a mistake that aided a Dodgers rally, allowing them to erase a five-run deficit in the fateful fifth inning.
The Dodgers went on to win that game 7-6, and Judge’s error became a lasting image of the Yankees’ postseason collapse.
While comparing the Saints’ Week 10 victory over the Falcons to the magnitude of a World Series game might be a stretch, it was nevertheless surprising to see Kamara, known for his sure hands, drop what appeared to be an easy touchdown on Sunday.
After beating a linebacker in coverage, Kamara found himself wide open with nothing but green turf ahead. However, the pass inexplicably bounced off his fingertips, denying the Saints a crucial scoring opportunity.
Olsen’s commentary on the play perhaps carried an extra layer of influence due to his broadcast partner, Joe Davis, who is also the Dodgers’ play-by-play announcer and had called the World Series just weeks earlier. Davis labeled Kamara’s miscue an “impossible drop,” a sentiment that added to the sting of Olsen’s comparison to Judge’s mishap.
Unlike the Yankees, who faced heartbreak in the World Series, the Saints were able to overcome Kamara’s mistake and secure a win in the end. The victory, which marked the debut of interim coach Darren Rizzi, improved New Orleans’ record to 3-7 and provided a rare bright spot in an otherwise challenging season.
The Saints were able to laugh about Kamara’s drop in the aftermath, largely because they emerged victorious, whereas Judge’s error is destined to be remembered as a costly turning point in a crushing defeat.
For Aaron Judge, the road to redemption may be a long one, and until he can change the narrative with a clutch postseason performance, it seems likely that his October woes will continue to be referenced—both in jest and in analysis.
As a player of Judge’s caliber, the expectations are always sky-high, and his struggles on the biggest stage have turned what should have been a routine play into a symbol of disappointment.
The comments from Greg Olsen on Sunday’s broadcast are just the latest reminder of the high stakes and intense scrutiny that accompany elite athletes, particularly in moments when they falter.
As the NFL season continues, comparisons like Olsen’s serve as a reminder that the world of professional sports is tightly interconnected, and mistakes made on one stage can reverberate far beyond their original context.
Judge’s dropped ball will not soon be forgotten, and the echoes of that moment have found their way into a different sport entirely, reminding fans just how unforgiving the spotlight can be.
