CINCINNATI — Bengals rookie safety Daijahn Anthony doesn't have to watch video to remember one of the toughest plays of his career.
He just checks his phone.
Anthony said that along with family photos, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce are part of a rotating carousel of images on his phone's wallpaper. That way, their game-changing penalty in last weekend's 26-25 loss to Kansas City isn't far from his mind as he searches for motivation.
“They're not family,” Anthony said. “But I can't wait to see them again.”
In the final minute of the Week 2 game, the seventh-round pick out of Ole Miss was flagged for defensive pass interference when Mahomes threw a ball toward wide receiver Rashee Rice on fourth-and-16.
Anthony made contact before the ball arrived, giving Kansas City an automatic first down in field goal range. Harrison Butker kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired to give the back-to-back Super Bowl champions the win.
In the visitors' locker room after the game, Anthony was in tears. But afterward, Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt said Anthony did what most defensive backs would do in that situation.
“I feel like he did a great job, honestly,” Taylor-Britt said after the game. “Maybe a little early, but I feel like I would have done the same thing: go get the ball.”
Thursday was Anthony's first time meeting with reporters since the game. He revealed that it's not the first time he's had motivation on his phone's lock screen.
Last year, Ole Miss faced Penn State in the Peach Bowl and Anthony was met with comments from the Nittany Lions before the game. The Rebels won 38-25. Anthony had an interception in the victory.
The feeling remains the same.
“So you don't forget,” Anthony said. “Remember why you're doing it.”
