Sport Ron Rivera called a trick play from 'Little Giants' on Thanksgiving and fans loved it

Ron Rivera is the gift that keeps on giving in the NFL.

"Riverboat Ron" has long been one of the most respected coaches in all of football, dating to his days as the Panthers' head coach, where he gambled and attempted fourth-down conversions before it became mainstream across the league. His first season as head coach of the Washington Football Team has been one of, if not the toughest of his career as he has had to balance coaching while undergoing cancer treatments. But Rivera proved on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys that he's still the same fun-loving coach that he was with Carolina.

On a second-and-5 at the Dallas 16 in the first half, Washington ran a "fumblerooski" play that resulted in a 6-yard run for J.D. McKissic. It's a neat play at first glance, but upon further inspection many fans recognized it as "The Annexation of Puerto Rico," the famous trick play from the 1994 film classic "Little Giants."

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Rivera : trick play vs Texans inspired from similar play from " Little Giants " movie called the LaFell said the team walked through the play in In that movie, the Giants use a trick play in their game against the Cowboys that they called “The Annexation of Puerto Rico,” which is a fumblerooski play .

SEE IT : Ron Rivera delivers amazing postgame speech originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington. The Washington Football Team completed a season sweep of the rival Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, 41-16, which is always a cause for celebration.

Did Washington just run the Annexation of Puerto Rico because I'm pretty sure Washington just ran the Annexation of Puerto Rico #LittleGiants #Washington #Cowboys #Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/voVPB1k9LW

— John Breech (@johnbreech) November 26, 2020

Here's a video of the original play, for reference. So maybe there were fewer theatrics in Washington's version.

Rivera, who is half Puerto Rican on his father's side, said after the game that the play call was indeed inspired by the famous "Little Giants" play and that he had seen the movie "100 times" with his kids, who love the film.

Rivera also said the team calls the play the "Bumerooski" after legendary football coach Bum Phillips, who invented the particular variation of the play.

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I don’t think they know all the impact of what’s been going on with the virus and the economy. So it ’s still great to see that they’re enjoying life. © Ashley Landis, USA TODAY Sports Nets guard Jarrett Allen found a new way to do his "Meals + Math" Thanksgiving event for kids this year.

On the first play after the Cowboys’ failed fake punt in the fourth quarter, Gibson rushed for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 27-16. On his way to the end zone, Gibson taunted Donovan Wilson with a wave.

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This isn't even the first time we've seen a Rivera-led team execute "The Annexation of Puerto Rico." The Panthers ran it in 2011 against the Texans, with Richie Brockel running it in for a touchdown.

WOW:

Ron Rivera's first year as Carolina coach.

Week 15, 2011, vs. Houston

Look familiar? pic.twitter.com/ej4iFVas7K

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) November 26, 2020

It's plays like that one that make Rivera a treasure in the NFL. Bringing out an old backyard football trick on Thanksgiving is a great way to endear yourself to football fans across the country. And beating the Cowboys 41-16 doesn't hurt, either.