PJ Fleck Does 'Most Insane Thing A Coach Has Ever Done,' Shocking Nation After Gophers Win

SEATTLE, WA — Minnesota Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck is known for his high-energy sideline persona, but one sports media outlet says his celebration after Saturday night's win at Washington may be "the most insane thing a coach has ever done."

Moments after the Gophers held on for a 27-24 victory over No. 23 Washington at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Fleck embraced senior linebacker and team captain Maverick Baranowski, whose mouth was bleeding after he took a cleat to the face while making the game-ending tackle.

Fleck grabbed Baranowski's head with both hands, wiped the blood from his chin and smeared it on his own cheek.

Video of the moment spread quickly on social media Sunday after the sports media brand Bussin' With The Boys and others shared the clip on X in shock.

The moment was on the FOX broadcast, where announcers Jack Kizer and Mark Helfrich reacted with surprise and noted Fleck had literally added blood to the team's "blood, sweat and tears" win.

By Sunday, the clip had drawn coverage well beyond sports media.

Some fans eyeing next week's matchup took notice, too. One X user joked that Minnesota's coach was performing a "blood oath" ritual after the win, adding, "We might have our hands full next week."

"He's my blood brother," Fleck told reporters after the game.

Baranowski, who said he was cut by a Washington receiver's cleat on the final play, took it in stride. "Winning's hard in the Big Ten and when you get to win at a place like this, just so exciting," he said at his postgame news conference, adding that Fleck has had his back for five years. "He's a crazy man."

Fleck said the team spent the week embracing a frontiersman theme for its trip to the Pacific Northwest, invoking figures like Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett and Lewis and Clark. He joked afterward that pioneers out West probably did something similar.

Baranowski finished with seven tackles, a sack and an interception. His pick, which came after Anthony Smith hit Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and forced an errant throw, set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Drake Lindsey to Quayd Hendryx for the game's first score.

Lindsey completed his first eight passes and finished 21 of 29 for 204 yards with one interception. He also hit Jalen Smith and Javon Tracy for scores, marking the first time in his career he threw three touchdowns in a first half, according to the university.

Minnesota led 21-10 at halftime and stretched its lead to 27-17 on a 51-yard field goal by Luke Drzewiecki. Washington pulled within three on a 13-yard touchdown run by Williams with 1:53 remaining, but the Gophers' defense held on the final possession.

Minnesota sacked Williams seven times and intercepted him twice, holding Washington to 40 rushing yards and 1-of-10 on third down. Karter Menz led the way with two sacks.

The Big Ten opener, the first meeting between the programs in 49 years, didn't wrap up until 1:27 a.m. Central time Sunday, according to the Star Tribune.

Minnesota (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) returns home Saturday, Oct. 3, to host Michigan for the Little Brown Jug at Huntington Bank Stadium.

The Wolverines are coming off a home loss to Iowa.

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on FOX, and the university has designated it as the annual Stripe Out game.

The matchup is also bringing FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" pregame show to campus for the first time.

The show will broadcast live outside 3M Arena at Mariucci starting at 9 a.m., and Fleck is scheduled to appear for a live interview during the first hour, according to the university.