Kenny Wheaton: The Pick
97 yards. One play. Modern Oregon football starts right here.
On October 22, 1994, Kenny Wheaton jumped a route against Washington and returned the interception 97 yards for a touchdown. Oregon won 31-20. That play clinched Oregon's first outright Pac-10 title and sent the Ducks to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1957. It is the most important single play in Oregon football history. Everything that came after, every coach, every recruit, every championship game, traces back to this moment.
97
Yards
INT return for TD
1994
The Year
vs Washington, Oct 22
1st
Pac-10 Title
First outright since 1957
#1
All-Time DB
In Oregon program history
The Play
Fourth quarter. Oregon leading 24-20 but Washington was driving. The Huskies needed one more score to steal the game, the Pac-10 title, and the Rose Bowl berth. Damon Huard threw toward the sideline. Kenny Wheaton read it, jumped the route, picked it off, and ran 97 yards the other way. Touchdown. 31-20. Autzen exploded. The drought was over.
The Call
Jerry Allen on the radio: 'Wheaton's gonna score! Wheaton's gonna score! Kenny Wheaton is going to score!' The call is as iconic as the play itself. Every Oregon fan can recite it from memory. It is the sound of a program being born.
What It Meant
Oregon had not won a Pac-10 title since 1957. Had not been to the Rose Bowl since 1957. The program was an afterthought nationally. The Pick changed everything. It proved Oregon could beat Washington, could win the conference, could go to the biggest bowl game in the Pac-10. Rich Brooks took the Ducks to Pasadena and then left for the NFL. Mike Bellotti took over and built on the foundation. Chip Kelly turned it into a machine. Dan Lanning is still running on the fuel that was lit on October 22, 1994.
Legacy
Wheaton was drafted in the 3rd round (94th overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in 1997. He separated his shoulder in preseason and missed nearly the entire rookie year. He later became a CFL star with the Toronto Argonauts (2003-2008), earning 4 consecutive East Division All-Star selections. In a CFL playoff game, he returned an interception 116 yards for a touchdown, a postseason record. The echoes of The Pick followed his entire career. Today he runs the Kenny Wheaton Foundation, providing school supplies and holiday gifts for underprivileged children in Lane County, Oregon. He is ranked #1 among all defensive backs in Oregon history, not because of career stats, but because one play changed the trajectory of the entire program. There is no Chip Kelly, no Marcus Mariota, no Dan Lanning without Kenny Wheaton.
Career Highlights
Record
97-Yard Interception Return
October 22, 1994. Washington driving, reaching Oregon's 9-yard line with under a minute left. Damon Huard threw toward the corner of the end zone. Wheaton intercepted and ran 97 yards untouched for the touchdown. Oregon 31, Washington 20.
Fact
The Radio Call
Jerry Allen: 'Huard gonna go back to throw, sets up, looks, throws toward the corner of the end zone and it's INTERCEPTED! Kenny Wheaton has the ball! KENNY WHEATON IS GONNA SCORE! KENNY WHEATON IS GONNA SCORE! Touchdown!' The call is still played before every home game at Autzen.
Fact
First Rose Bowl Since 1957
The Pick clinched Oregon's first outright Pac-10 title and sent them to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 37 years. Oregon lost to Penn State 38-20, but getting there changed everything.
Stat
10 Career Interceptions, 3x All-Pac-10
Led the team in interceptions all three seasons as a starter. 173 career tackles. 28 career pass breakups. Three-time All-Pac-10 selection. Inducted into Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
NFL
Drafted 3rd Round by Dallas Cowboys
Selected 94th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. Separated his shoulder in preseason and missed nearly the entire rookie year. Later became a CFL star with the Toronto Argonauts (2003-2008), earning 4 consecutive East Division All-Star selections.
Fact
CFL Echo of The Pick
In a CFL playoff game with the Toronto Argonauts, Wheaton returned an interception 116 yards for a touchdown, a postseason record. The echoes of The Pick followed him his entire career.
Fact
From Tempe, Arizona
Attended McClintock High School in Tempe, AZ. Now runs the Kenny Wheaton Foundation, providing school supplies and holiday gifts for underprivileged children in Lane County, Oregon.
Fact
Son Committed to Oregon State
Wheaton's son Kai committed to Oregon State as a 3-star cornerback in 2025. He did not receive an offer from Oregon. His cousin Markus Wheaton also played at Oregon State and was an All-Pac-12 WR.
Sources: Sports Reference, GoDucks.com, Oregon Athletics archives
Where were you when Wheaton made The Pick?
you hear it building...
end of the third quarter...
54,000 on their feet
AUTZEN IS SHAKING
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