Tyler Owens’ viral Eagles demolition confirms his Commanders rise is coming

Third-year safety Tyler Owens went viral for a sensational special-teams play against the Philadelphia Eagles that caught the national media's attention. But for the Washington Commanders, this sort of work ethic and elite-level athleticism came as no surprise.

After all, Owens has been displaying these traits all summer long.

The play was phenomenal. Owens imposed his will on two Eagles players as a special-teams gunner, throwing them to the ground with ruthless efficiency before blowing up the returner with a move that wouldn't have looked out of place in a WWE ring.

Tyler Owens is now a household name after phenomenal Commanders special teams play

And this wasn't the only sensational special-teams effort Owens put together that day.

The explosiveness, instincts, and closing speed gave the Commanders a significant boost. Owens went from a nobody to a household name in the blink of an eye. Everyone wanted to know who this guy is and why Washington has been hiding him for so long.

Owens joined the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024. His exceptional pre-draft athletic testing gave him a shot, though there wasn't much college production to go off of at Texas Tech.

He's made the 53-man roster every year since. Owens is growing in confidence, and new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones is trying to find ways to get him on the field.

Until then, he's a dynamic special-teams force.

And that is exactly how young players get to stick around.

This sort of effort and intensity might have been unfamiliar to the wider NFL, but Commanders fans know exactly what sort of promise Owens possesses.

Commanders' confidence is rapidly growing in Tyler Owens at the perfect time

The physical tools are all there, but previous defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. had no idea how to maximize his strengths. This allowed him to grow on special teams, and Jones now seems to be finding the correct formula.

All this notoriety is new to Owens. He's been more worried about fighting for his place in the league rather than hogging the headlines, so this represents a refreshing change of pace.

But make no mistake; the best is still to come.

Owens recently turned 25. His prime years are ahead, and even though he is in the final season of his rookie deal, keeping him around should be pretty straightforward as a restricted free agent.

And if he gradually emerges as a defensive asset as the campaign goes on, which is entirely possible as confidence in his capabilities surges, a long-term commitment beyond that might be in the player's future.

Given the determination it's taken for Owens to reach this point, this is richly deserved. And this special-teams play will be teaching tape around the league for coaches looking for similar effort from their players.

Unfortunately, very few have the athletic traits Owens brings to the table.

Though it's only one game and one viral play, it represents a small sample of what the Commanders have seen from the defensive back in recent months.

High effort. Gradual growth. And a relentless mindset to force his way into the team's plans.

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