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Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt turned a seventh-round draft slot into one of the feel-good stories of the entire 2025 season. A resurfaced clip this week reminded fans exactly why that moment mattered so much to everyone involved. NFL on FOX shared the moment again this weekend, counting down to the 2026 regular season with a throwback to Croskey-Merritt’s giddy exchange with Tom Brady after his breakout performance last October. Jacory Croskey-Merritt wins Tom Brady’s LFG award once more The clip surfaced through a recent post from NFL on FOX, counting down the final Sundays before the 2026 season kicks off across the league nationwide this fall. Croskey-Merritt earned the award after rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries in Washington’s 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last October, adding two catches for 39 receiving yards in the process during that breakout performance. The outing brought his Week 5 total to 150 all-purpose yards. The LFG Player of the Game is an award Brady hands out after every game he calls as the lead color commentator for NFL on FOX going to the one player who makes him say “Let’s f***ing go.” Brady presented Croskey-Merritt with the silver football-shaped trophy on camera, and the rookie could barely contain his excitement in the moment. “It definitely gives me a lot of confidence,” Croskey-Merritt told Brady. “I want to say thanks to God, my teammates, my family for just being with me the whole way, so it definitely gives me a lot of confidence. I’m so thankful for this organization for believing in me, for trusting me, and I’m so thankful and just excited to be here.” The seventh-round pick out of Arizona, nicknamed “Bill” for his childhood resemblance to a cartoon character, finished his rookie year with 805 rushing yards and a rookie-leading 8 rushing touchdowns across 17 games played that season. Croskey-Merritt faces crowded backfield battle this summer Washington’s offense enters 2026 with its own set of storylines heating up, including quarterback Jayden Daniels’ ongoing legal dispute with LSU over his old jersey number drawing attention away from actual football preparations this month at camp. Daniels has also addressed speculation about a potential reunion with close friend and former college teammate Brandon Aiyuk joining the Commanders this offseason as trade rumors swirl. Croskey-Merritt, meanwhile, has focused on adding roughly seven to eight pounds of muscle while working to become a more complete every-down back under new offensive coordinator David Blough. Croskey-Merritt now competes in a reshaped backfield that includes Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen and Jeremy McNichols, with the regular season opener just four Sundays away from kickoff. Whether he claims the lead role again will start to show once games actually count. More NFL News - Shedeur Sanders Receives Bold Browns Starting QB Prediction Over Deshaun Watson - Detroit Lions Extend Superstar To Record-Setting Contract Ahead Of 2026 Preseason - Colts Lock Up Jonathan Taylor With $44 Million Extension After NFL-Leading TD Season - Bills WR Khalil Shakir Believes Josh Allen And DJ Moore Are Already On Another Level