It’s an old saying in the United States sports sphere, dating back to the mid-20th century, that tying a game is ‘like kissing your sister’.
While the origins of the phrase remain unclear, it’s been credited to two college football coaches in 1949 – but other claims from earlier have also popped up.
It’s a bizarre phrase, but it’s common enough in the American lexicon that one NFL reporter broke it out during a post-game press conference.
On Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys played to the first tie of the 2025 season.
The contest went into overtime, with the Packers kicking a last-second field goal to draw even at 40-40.
Following the game, one reporter decided to ask both Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott about their thoughts on the draw – using that antiquated phrase.
A reporter asked Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones if a tie felt like ‘kissing your sister’
Jones threw the question back at the reporter, while Prescott deflected on his way off the field
Jones had the best reply of all of them: ‘Well, I never kissed my sister’ before pausing a beat and quipping back, ‘How does it taste?’ – causing laughter to break out among the huddled press.
Then, as Prescott was walking to the locker room, a reporter asked the same question, with the quarterback replying, ‘Good thing I ain’t got one.’
Despite the use of the phrase for decades, NFL fans felt immediately uncomfortable on social media.
‘Lock up the guy who asked that bc wtf,’ wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter.
Another wondered, ‘Who the f**k asked that??’ One comment said, ‘Someone check his browser history.’
The main Barstool Sports account commented, ‘This reporter needs to be investigated.’
Prescott completed 31-of-40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns in a strong performance on Sunday evening. His counterpart, Jordan Love, did just as well with 31 completions for 337 yards and three touchdowns of his own.
The Packers (2-1-1) next host the Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile, the Cowboys (1-2-1) hit the road to play the New York Jets.
