Commanders OL Cornelius Lucas is from New Orleans, so it was a little bittersweet for him being down at the Super Bowl festivities last week after the Commanders came up one game short of playing there.
But, for the 11-year vet who played in DC for the whole Ron Rivera era, the 2024 season was ‘the most fun I’ve ever had playing football.’
“I still look at it as we accomplished an unimaginable amount of stuff. No one predicted us to do anything this year, and for us to take it as far as we took it…it's still bittersweet coming so close, but at the end of the day, to go from 4-13 to 12-5 is a big difference,” Lucas told BMitch & Finlay Friday. “This year I had the most fun I've ever had playing football, and I’m going in year 12, you know what I'm saying? Been doing it a long time, and this year was the most fun ever.”
And as you might imagine, yes, being in New Orleans after coming up a game short was a HUGE motivator.
“It’s a little bittersweet because I'm at home and I wish it was that burgundy and gold strapped on the walls, but it's green,” Lucas laughed. “I keep getting reporters with green shirts on, and I’m like, ‘man, you got the wrong shirt on!’ It’s a weird feeling, being at home fellowshipping with my people, but it feels like something special is going on. I wish I was gearing up to play football on Sunday, but I’m taking it all in.”
Among his favorite moments of the season was the “Hail Jayden,” which won NFL Moment of the Year at the NFL Honors ceremony, and Lucas had both a unique perspective and celebration for it.
“I had just rolled my ankle maybe 15 plays before, I was on the sideline hobbling and it wasn't looking too good, but they pranced out there and I saw the ball go in the air and I couldn't move,” Lucas said. “I just melted on the sideline. Once the ball came down, and he scored, I just rolled on the sideline because I couldn’t walk! I was so elated.”
Lucas is at the Super Bowl as a Commander but his contract expires next week – and it sounds like with the new vibe in town, he’s ready, willing, and eager to come back.
“Everything had a purpose. With the past regime, I felt like we were just out there hanging out, but when DQ and AP got here, the schedule married together and had a purpose,” Lucas said. “Starting in offseason we had three weeks on, one week off, so by the time we got to camp, we weren’t burnt out versus in the past years. All of OTAs we were hitting it, and I felt like DQ and AP kept us fresh; I felt like camp never started, because we never had more than three days of back-to-back, and I felt like that was monumental in just keeping us fresh, keeping us motivated for the season to go out and play our best each week. I would love to be back here and retire here!"
Take a listen to Lucas’ entire visit above, as he also gives some thoughts on Jayden Daniels’ demeanor, the offense's evolution throughout the season, and more!