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Fans all said the same thing about the first touchdown of the 2026 NFL season

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Eli Raridon scores his first NFL touchdown

The first touchdown of the 2026 NFL season belongs to *checks notes* New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon.

Not many expected the first-year pro to be the first to find the end zone in the 2026 campaign, but it did happen when Patriots quarterback Drake Maye connected with the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end on a 1st-and-goal throw in the second period.

Here is the video of that touchdown that put New England on the board at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash.

While Patriots fans rejoiced after seeing their team score, many were also left scratching their heads, wondering who exactly Raridon was.

Raridon’s touchdown came after a failed New England attempt to score on a deep pass from Maye to AJ Brown. Seahawks defensive back Josh Jobe committed a 34-yard pass interference penalty on that play, which set up the 1st-and-goal situation for the Patriots and led to Raridon’s score.

Maye never targeted Raridon again following that touchdown, but it certainly was a play to remember for the rookie, even though the Patriots ultimately lost, 13-10.

Even more interesting, Raridon did not have a touchdown in the 12 games he played in his final year with the Fighting Irish in 2025. 

Raridon is still far from being a household name, but the number of people who are aware that he exists has just increased many times over following his first NFL touchdown.

The Patriots selected Raridon in the third round (95th overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft.

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