Andrei Iosivas' 24th birthday was unlike any he had ever experienced before. The Cincinnati Bengals rookie receiver caught his second career reception that ended up being his first career touchdown.
He also made some Bengals history in the process.
According to ESPN's Ben Baby and ESPN Stats & Info, Iosivas is the first Bengals player to catch a touchdown pass on his birthday in 13 years. But the last player to do so wasn't a receiver, or a tight end, or even a running back.
It was offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth!
On December 12, 2010, Whitworth turned 29 years old during the fifth year of what should eventually be a Hall of Fame career. The Bengals were playing the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road and started off hot with an opening drive touchdown to none other than their left tackle.
The eighth and final play of the drive had Carson Palmer lobbing the ball up to a wide open (and eligible) Whitworth leaking into the end zone to put the Bengals up seven points along with the extra point. Those would be all the points Cincinnati scored in a 23-7 loss.
Iosivas' touchdown was also right next to the goal line as Joe Burrow found the rookie while scrambling to his right. Burrow also made sure "Yoshi" was able to keep his first touchdown game ball after the play.
They may have played two completely different positions, but Iosivas and Whitworth have an important commonality: A birthday during football season. Over the past 13 years, former Bengals wideout A.J. Green was unable to score on his birthday (July 31), and current Bengals Pro Bowler Ja'Marr Chase (March 1) will never be able to do the same. Tee Higgins (January 18) may one day find the end zone in a playoff game.
A win and a career milestone; hard to ask for a better birthday as an NFL rookie.
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