“Wheel of Fortune” often delights fans with unexpected moments, but contestant Will Jordan’s recent “sausage” blunder on the popular game show took the internet by storm.
Jordan, a former police officer from Wethersfield, Connecticut, joined two other veterans in a special episode celebrating Veterans Day. The stage was set, the pressure was high, and Jordan had already built a solid start in the game. When the puzzle read, “_ _ _ E _ OURSE _ F A ROUN_ OF A _ _ _ AUSE,” Jordan felt confident enough to buzz in with his answer. But, under the blinding stage lights, his mind took a detour.
With all sincerity, Jordan offered, “Treat yourself a round of sausage.” Host Ryan Seacrest, visibly amused, tried to keep a straight face as he informed Jordan, “I’m sorry, that’s not it.” The correct answer, delivered by Air Force veteran Kitina Thomas, was “Give yourself a round of applause.”
Ever the good sport, Seacrest quipped, “Will, I kind of liked yours better,” adding with a grin, “That sounds better than just clapping right now.” Jordan may not have scored the points, but his blunder won the affection of viewers everywhere. Fans lit up social media with comments, with one TikTok user proclaiming it the “single worst, but best wheel performance I’ve ever seen.” Another chimed in, “I never laughed so hard,” while another viewer admitted, “I can’t be the only one who yelled at their TV.”
Jordan ended up in third place with $8,000, while Thomas and Army Reserves veteran Chantel Toran took second and first place with $10,500 and $13,000, respectively. But the memorable moment of the night was Jordan’s “sausage” slip-up, which instantly became one of the show’s most viral moments of the year.
Speaking with Maggie Sajak, Pat Sajak’s daughter and the show’s social media correspondent, Jordan reflected on his moment under the spotlight. “I tell you, when the lights are on, and the stars—Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White—I just went blank,” he confessed with a laugh. Jordan joked that if his blunder managed to give retired host Pat Sajak “a laugh with a cold beer,” then it was all worth it.
The self-deprecating humor continued as Jordan predicted his coworkers would have a field day with his viral mistake. “I’m sure I’m gonna have sausages in my locker and police car when I get back,” he quipped, knowing he’d never hear the end of it. Maggie Sajak, ever the encouraging presence, reassured him, “Don’t worry about it, Will. Even if they put sausages in your locker room now.”
After signing an autograph for Jordan’s family, Seacrest offered a few words of encouragement, and the laughter-filled segment ended with Jordan chuckling at the thought of his unexpected internet fame.
“Wheel of Fortune” shared the moment with a lighthearted caption on TikTok, acknowledging how much tougher it is to play the game under the lights than from a couch at home. Fans wholeheartedly agreed, pointing out that the pressure and the bright lights turn even the sharpest minds into mush at times.
In a world full of serious news, Jordan’s “round of sausage” mix-up was a welcome laugh – and a reminder that sometimes, the best entertainment comes from the simplest of human moments. And as for Jordan, he may have walked away in third place, but he certainly left with the most memorable win of the night.
