On Tuesday’s episode of *Wheel of Fortune*, host Ryan Seacrest had an unexpected 

and somewhat humorous encounter with a jubilant contestant after they won the game’s $40,000 grand prize.

In a heat-stopping moment, Pittsburgh native Daniel Thomas solved the final bonus puzzle in the nick of time,

only to accidentally knock Seacrest to the ground in his excitement.

The moment unfolded in the show’s thrilling bonus round, where Thomas faced a one-word, seven-letter puzzle under the category “Living Things.”

With the clock ticking down, Seacrest provided the standard starting letters: “R, S, T, L, N, E.” The letters “S” and “E” were already visible on the puzzle board, and Thomas then chose “H, G, D, O” — only “G” appeared on the board.

With just 10 seconds remaining, Thomas took a guess, blurting out “Guppies” as time expired. To his delight, the puzzle was solved, and Seacrest enthusiastically confirmed his victory. “Yes! You did it!” Seacrest exclaimed.

The exuberant contestant, caught up in the excitement of his big win, rushed to Seacrest to celebrate. However, in his eagerness, Thomas accidentally knocked the host to the floor. “Oh my gosh!” Thomas cried out as he hurried to help Seacrest up.

“I’m good, I’m good,” Seacrest reassured him, smiling despite the unexpected tumble. The *Wheel of Fortune* host quickly recovered and revealed the fantastic news: Thomas had just won $40,000.

“Daniel, easy on our host, but celebrate with $40,000!” announcer Jim Thornton chimed in, as Thomas embraced his family.

Seacrest, ever the professional, shared that Thomas was leaving the show with a grand total of $71,950 after his bonus round win. He even jokingly asked Thomas, “How did you do that in the last second?”

to which the contestant replied, “Push you over or solve the puzzle?” The lighthearted exchange added to the fun atmosphere of the moment.

Thomas later explained that when he saw the letter “P” appear, the word “Guppies” instantly popped into his head, allowing him to solve the puzzle just before time ran out.

His quick thinking earned him not only the grand prize but also a new memory — one that would go down in *Wheel of Fortune* history.

The video of the moment, which was posted on the game show’s YouTube page, quickly garnered a flood of reactions from fans.

Many expressed their joy for Thomas’s win, but some couldn’t help but laugh at the accidental takedown of Seacrest. One fan commented, “That was an amazing solve & the funniest thing I’ve seen all day after the solve.” Another joked, “That tackle is worth a lot of money!”

While fans found humor in the incident, some expressed concern for Seacrest, hoping he was alright after the fall.

“Whoa! I can’t believe Daniel won the bonus round, but he also knocked Ryan down! Ooh, I hope he’s all right,” one viewer wrote.

Seacrest, who took over as host of *Wheel of Fortune* alongside Vanna White on September 9, 2023, following Pat Sajak’s departure, is no stranger to high-pressure moments.

However, this particular moment was certainly a unique one, as he found himself on the receiving end of a celebratory hug that turned into an accidental tackle.

With the recent changes on *Wheel of Fortune*, viewers have been adjusting to Seacrest’s hosting style, but this memorable episode certainly showcased his ability to roll with the punches — or tackles — all while keeping the energy and excitement of the show high.

Ultimately, it was a big win for Thomas, who walked away with a life-changing amount of money, and a laugh-worthy moment that will be remembered by fans for years to come.