Whalen is best known for a mistake he made rather than his play on the field. Even though the mistake happened on the field. During the 2015 season the Indianapolis Colts ran a play that still baffles and amuses. The Colts lined up in a fake punt formation with nine players lined up on one side of the ball close to the sidelines. Whalen lined up as the snapper and a safety lined up as a quarterback. The Patriots put three guys on Whalen with no other blockers to help. Whalen snapped the ball and the Patriots easily converged on the “quarterback”.