In the fabric of sports history, moments are immortalized not solely by championships or scores, but by the individuals who deliver when it matters most. Whether it’s a game-winning shot, a last-second touchdown, a walk-off homer, or a blocked field goal that seals victory, each team has that someone — the final hero who carried the torch before the next came along.
The question looms, compelling, reflective, and timeless: Who was the last to do it for your squad?
That simple question sends a ripple through memory, reminding fans of glorious highs, near-misses, or the droughts that test loyalty. For every team, in every sport, there exists a defining player — the clutch performer who last led the team to greatness or pulled off a feat etched in lore.
The Power of the “Last”
“Last” carries weight. It’s not just a temporal reference; it’s a badge of honor. The last to win a title. The last to bring the city together. The last to silence doubters. The last to do it — whether it was lifting a trophy, delivering a Heisman-caliber season, or giving fans one shining moment.
The context varies. For the Boston Red Sox, before 2004, it was Bill Buckner’s error and the heartbreaks of ’86. For the Chicago Cubs, 108 years went by between heroes. Every franchise — from dynasties like the Lakers to cursed clubs like the Lions — has a timeline defined by their last doer.
But the question isn’t just “who.” It’s how, why, and what that moment meant.
Baseball: The Eternal Drama of the Final Out
Think back to the 2016 Chicago Cubs. After over a century of heartbreak, it was Kris Bryant fielding the slow roller and throwing to Anthony Rizzo for the final out of Game 7 in the World Series. Rizzo tucked the ball into his back pocket like a holy relic.
That was the moment. Those were the guys. Cubs fans will tell you: “That’s when it all changed.”
For Red Sox Nation, it was David Ortiz, “Big Papi,” who rewrote the script in 2004. From the walk-offs against the Yankees to his towering blasts, he was the one who did it.
Ask Dodgers fans who was the last to do it, and many will point to 2020 — a COVID-shortened season, yes — but finally, after years of postseason misery, Mookie Betts and Clayton Kershaw delivered the goods. Mookie brought swagger and a new identity. Kershaw shed his playoff demons.
Football: Fourth Quarter Legends
Football breeds heroes in chaos — when the clock ticks down and legacies are on the line.
For Philadelphia Eagles fans, Nick Foles’ performance in Super Bowl LII was mythic. The backup QB who outdueled Tom Brady, executing the “Philly Special” and leading the franchise to its first Super Bowl win — he did it.
In college football, “the last” becomes part of a school’s very identity. Who was the last to win a Heisman? The last to beat your biggest rival? The last to take you to the promised land?
Take Vince Young at Texas. January 4, 2006. 4th-and-5. The QB darts into the end zone, toppling USC and winning one of the greatest college games ever played. Texas fans still refer to him as the one who last did it right.
Basketball: The Last Shot, The Last Dance
In basketball, a single shot can change everything.
Michael Jordan’s jumper over Bryon Russell in 1998 sealed the Bulls’ sixth title — and cemented him as the clutch god. For years, that was the last moment of Bulls greatness. Six rings. Six last laughs. One unforgettable closer.
More recently, Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce buzzer-beater in 2019 for the Toronto Raptors enshrined him forever in Canadian lore. He did it — delivered a championship to a team many never expected to win.
For the Golden State Warriors, fans point to Steph Curry’s 2022 Finals MVP run. After injuries, roster turnover, and years in the wilderness, Curry rose once more. He brought the franchise back — again.
The Underrated “Lasts”
Not every moment involves a championship. Some are deeply personal to a fan base.
Who was the last to drop 50 in a game? The last to win an MVP? The last to make your heart race every time they had the ball?
For Miami Heat fans, it might be Dwyane Wade’s 35-point farewell game. For Knicks fans, it might be Linsanity — a magical February when Jeremy Lin turned the world upside down.
In the NFL, ask Dallas Cowboys fans: Who was the last to take you deep in the playoffs and give you hope? Was it Tony Romo’s clutch games? Dak Prescott’s playoff win? Or are you still waiting?
For some, the answer is still to come — and that’s a different kind of pain.
Women’s Sports: The Rise of New Legends
In the WNBA, who was the last to deliver glory?
For the Las Vegas Aces, it’s A’ja Wilson — two-time champ, MVP, culture-setter. She is the now and the next.
In college hoops, Caitlin Clark gave Iowa its last — and perhaps only — taste of the national spotlight in a way never seen before. Her deep threes and fearless play turned her into a legend.
LSU fans might say: Angel Reese. She brought a title and changed the perception of the program. She did it, unapologetically.
Sometimes, the Last Hurts
There’s another side to this question — when the last hero becomes a symbol of what once was.
New England Patriots fans have felt it since Tom Brady left. He was the last to do it — over and over — and now, the void is real.
For Oregon football, Marcus Mariota’s 2014 Heisman campaign is still the pinnacle. The Ducks have been chasing that level ever since.
In the NBA, Charlotte Hornets fans are still waiting for a player to truly do it. Kemba Walker came close. LaMelo Ball has potential. But the last to make them believe? That’s still up for debate.
Every Fan Has an Answer — and a Feeling
Ask any true fan “Who was the last to do it for your squad?” and you’ll get a passionate, immediate answer. Sometimes it’s full of pride. Sometimes regret. Sometimes longing.
It sparks memories:
- “I was there when…”
- “I’ll never forget that shot.”
- “We haven’t been the same since.”
- “That was our year.”
It’s a reminder of what was, and sometimes, what could still be.
The Next to Do It
The beauty of sports is that “last” is always one step from becoming “next.”
Some teams are poised to crown new heroes. USC football hopes Malachi Nelson or Julian Lewis might be the next generational QB. Knicks fans pray that Jalen Brunson is more than just a spark — that he’s the flame. Detroit Lions fans feel something different in the air after years of rebuilding — could Jared Goff or Aidan Hutchinson be the next?
The future is uncertain. But the past? That’s set in stone.
Legacy Lives On
Heroes fade. Games end. But the legacy of “the last one who did it” lives forever in the DNA of a franchise, a school, a fan base.
Whether they wore cleats or sneakers, delivered dimes or knocked down threes, stiff-armed defenders or struck out batters — they live on in highlight reels and barstool debates. In jerseys worn decades later. In emotional montages and YouTube rabbit holes.
So, ask yourself: Who was the last to do it for your squad?
And when you remember their name — say it with pride.
Because that’s what fandom is. A memory. A moment. A hero. And the hope that someday, someone else will do it again.
