Ryan Day Has Strong Words on Emeka Egbuka After His Historic NFL Debut

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Sep 11, 2025 3:08 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened the NFL season with a 23-20 road win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, a game that featured four lead changes and a go-ahead fourth-quarter Bucs' touchdown with less than a minute remaining.

However, one of the biggest storylines came from rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who delivered two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 59 seconds left in his first NFL game.

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day praised his former receiver’s football intelligence and preparation on Thursday, calling him "a good example of somebody who is a student of the game" with "off-the-charts" IQ, the exact traits that showed up in the final minute in Atlanta.

Egbuka finished with four receptions for 67 yards and two scores on six targets, immediately validating Tampa Bay’s first-round investment.

Ryan Day praised Emeka Egbuka for his standout performance for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1:

"He's a good example of somebody who is a student of the game. His football IQ is off the charts," Day said. "I'm sure he's bringing a lot to the table there down in Tampa."
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) September 11, 2025

Egbuka actually put Tampa Bay ahead twice, first on a 30-yard strike in the second quarter and then on the back-breaking 25-yard post with under a minute to play.

According to team and league records, he became just the second player since the 1970 merger to catch a game-winning touchdown in the final minute (or overtime) of his NFL debut; Jacksonville’s Ernest Wilford was the first in 2004.

Tampa Bay also noted he’s the franchise’s first player with two TD catches in an NFL debut since Alex Smith did it in 2005.

Playing under Day from 2021-2024, Egbuka left Ohio State with 205 career receptions, the program’s all-time mark, along with 2,868 receiving yards and 24 receiving touchdowns across four seasons.

He topped 1,000 receiving yards twice (2022 and 2024) and added value as a ball-carrier with 145 career rushing yards and two rushing scores, reflecting the versatility that made him the No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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