Second-year cornerback DaRon Bland helped Dallas win the game on Sunday by hauling in his sixth interception of the season and returning it for an NFL record-tying fourth pick-six of the year during the team’s 33-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Bryce Young attempted a first-down pass in the fourth quarter that went behind Jonathan Mingo and into Bland’s outstretched hands. Bland then somersaulted and ran 30 yards back to the end zone, increasing the lead to three scores.
“Once I had the ball in my hands, I wanted to keep it going and go score,” Bland said. “I saw him running an under, and he kind of had a step on me at first so I had to catch up. Once I caught up and turned, I saw the ball was coming and I said, ‘I have to go get this one.'”
That’s exactly what he did, as Bland’s fourth-year interception return for a touchdown tied an NFL record and established a franchise record.
“It just makes another goal to break it,” he said about the record. “I think it was when I touched the end zone, it was like, ‘Wow, I just did it. I tied the record.’ I’m level-headed now and I want to go break it.”
“It wasn’t really about the record. It’s really about being in the history books, being remembered.”
Since joining the league in 2022, the Fresno State cornerback in his second year has already racked up 11 interceptions, which he attributes to his time spent as a receiver in high school.
“It goes back to high school and playing receiver, always having the ball in my hands,” he said. “That’s a play I can make any other day.”
Because of his outstanding play in 2023, he is being discussed as an All-Pro; Micah Parsons even stated that the young corner should be honored at the end of the season. Conversely, Bland was far more subdued.
He said, “I have no thoughts on it.” “This is how things are. I’ll have to make them pay if I can’t make it.”