Video Shows Football Team Allowing Moms to Tackle Their Sons in Training Drill

A high school football team in Illinois created viral wish fulfillment for mothers everywhere when it invited players' moms to try and knock the stuffing out of their sons during a special "Mom's Night" practice. The annual preseason tradition got major play on social media and even made it to the tables of morning shows and SportsCenter. Read on to find out why it was held and what some clearly impressed online commentators had to say about it.

Peoria's Washington High Panthers hosted the annual Mom's Night practice, in which mothers donned shoulder pads and helmets and attempted to tackle their sons onto a big rubber mat. The intention was to encourage moms to learn more about the game.

Washington TV Sports director Kurt Pegler tweeted, "Favorite night at preseason football practice? Mom's night at Washington. Players' moms learn about equipment, rules, plays… and did we mention they get to tackle their sons?" Keep reading to see the video.

In the video, players cheered as mothers wearing the Panthers uniform individually plowed themselves into their sons, knocking them onto the practice mat. Coaches egged the women on: "Go as fast as you can go," they said.

Not all the mom were able to land a successful tackle. One woman attempted to ram into her extremely large son and bounced right off him as the crowd laughed and cheered. Social media commenters were largely amused by the antics. 

"Those moms tackle better than anyone on the Cowboys roster," said Twitter user @Cadguydvk.

"those moms been waiting 15 years for this one moment," said @jennytaftburner.

"I wish they would've done that when I played HS ball. I'm sure my mom had plenty of rage," tweeted @BriansOpinions.

Others were unimpressed. "Not one of them broke down, chopped their feet, exploded from the hips, initiated contact with the pads .. if that's how they pass down technical expertise to their offspring that 10 ply defense is showing up to a winless season of Friday nights," tweeted @HagsCIty.

The video—originally captured by Kurt Pegler of WMBD—attracted plenty of national attention, including from the hosts of CBS Mornings and ESPN's SportsCenter. "They're venting," CBS' Tony Dokoupil said as the video played and the hosts laughed. "Look at that hit! She, like, put her shoulder into it."

KSL Sports Radio host Trevor Allen analyzed the mothers' tackling techniques, and his breakdowns veered from technical to psychological. "Take a look at this one," said Olsen of one tackle. "Her son has been asked to do dishes, has been asked to vacuum, has been asked to be a better brother and hasn't been. So, mom is going to launch right here. She is going to get her head onto the side. That's a really good shot." About the mom who ricocheted off her son: "She's playing with loose pads, it's going to get you hurt," Olsen said. "Get that shoulder down, mom. Drop the heat on that boy."

Washington High School in Illinois had a "mom's night practice" where they put on pads and tackle their sons 😂

🎥: @KurtPegler pic.twitter.com/AgLSwK0k2e

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 25, 2022