Watch: Falcons' Smith burns Vikings for 60-yard TD

Atlanta Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith. Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Falcons TE Jonnu Smith burns Vikings for 60-yard TD

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 11/5/23

Atlanta Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith is one of the more athletically gifted players at his position.

That athleticism was on full display midway through the third quarter on Sunday as Smith took a screen pass from quarterback Taylor Heinicke and outran the Minnesota Vikings defense for a 60-yard touchdown that gave the Falcons a 21-13 lead.

RUN JONNU RUN

FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/tt7x2YwVP7
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 5, 2023

It was Smith’s second touchdown catch of the season and the third-longest reception of his career.

Per NextGen Stats, Smith reached a top speed of 21.15 miles per hour on the play — the third-fastest speed recorded by a tight end in the NextGen era (since 2016), and he’s the only TE to reach 20 miles per hour or more since the start of the 2022 season.

It's the fastest speed reached by a tight end and the 18th fastest play in the NFL this season. Smith is the first tight end since Darren Waller in 2019 to reach 21.10 miles per hour on any play.

At time of publication, Smith had four receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. It’s the second most receiving yards Smith has had in a game this season behind his 95-yard performance five weeks ago against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

They are the only two games of Smith’s seven-year NFL career that he’s reached 90 or more yards.

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