Month after signing a $67.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins, NFL quarterback Malik Willis found himself in the spotlight for an unexpected reason.
The Dolphins deal marked a major step in his career after previous stints in the league, and his arrival in Miami brought increased attention both on and off the field.
That attention shifted to baseball when Willis threw the ceremonial first pitch before the Miami Marlins faced the Philadelphia Phillies last Friday. The moment quickly became a talking point online.
Fans react as Malik Willis struggles with ceremonial first pitch
Willis’ throw before the Marlins’ 6-5 loss to the Phillies drew widespread reactions on social media. The pitch missed its target significantly, prompting a wave of comments on X.
“I’ll never understand why a quarterback can’t throw a baseball. It’s different but not that different,” one user wrote.
Others responded with humour. “What do you mean? That’s a 15-yard gain on the right side,” another fan posted ironically.
“Seems like we’re seeing this all the time now, otherwise good athletes who throw a baseball poorly,” read another comment, while a fourth person added, “Good thing this guy’s career doesn’t depend on being able to throw a ball with accuracy…”
Malik Willis offers simple explanation after viral moment
Willis addressed the situation briefly via Instagram after the game. His explanation focused on a single moment during the throw, as he wrote: “I slipped.”
Replays from different angles appear to support that claim. His plant foot visibly moved as he released the ball.
However, it remains unclear how much that slip affected the final result.
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