Bengals’ Fil-Am rookie Andrei Iosivas lands 1st NFL touchdown on birthday
Photo from andreiiosivas/Instagram
In an iconic National Football League moment, a Filipino-American rookie marked his 24th birthday with a spectacular touchdown.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ promising wide receiver, Andrei Iosivas, caught a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Burrow.
Born in Japan to a Filipino mother and a Romanian father but based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Iosivas displayed exceptional skills and composure as he gave his team a lead of 14-7, firmly establishing presence on the NFL stage.
The thrilling play unfolded with 12 minutes and 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter, igniting the stadium with an eruption of cheers and applause.
First NFL TD on your birthday? Doesn’t get better than that 🥳 @AndreiIosivas#SEAvsCIN | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/a3JzzNXMeN
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 15, 2023
In an interview with Spectrum News, the athlete shared that it was one of the best birthdays he had. “I had a couple of good ones as a kid. A TD on your birthday is comparable.”
The Hawaii native was drafted in the sixth round and made his second successful catch in his sixth game of the season. Additionally, the team he plays for achieved two consecutive wins for the first time during the current season, and their overall record improved to 3 wins and 3 losses.
Get to know Andrei Iosivas more
With his remarkable journey from college to the pros, the player with a mixed ancestry was nicknamed “The Romanian Rocket” as a child. His rich cultural background played a role in the young Iosivas’ ability to adapt to various environments throughout his upbringing.
He set his sights on the prestigious Ivy League, enrolling at Princeton University in 2018. During his freshman year, he joined the junior varsity football team, where he honed his skills as a wide receiver.
According to Kollective Hustle, that season turned out to be quite exceptional and memorable, as it coincided with Princeton’s triumphant Ivy championship year, marking their first undefeated season since the historic milestone of 1964.
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On Instagram, he posted some snapshots of his first NFL game, allowing fans to catch a glimpse of this momentous milestone in his football career.
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