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Former NFL referee weighs in on controversial Julio Jones touchdown

SimonGibbs_UserImageby:Simon Gibbs•09/19/21•

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Wesley Hitt/Getty Images.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Julio Jones appeared to have scored his first-career touchdown in a Titans uniform, executing a perfect, toe-tap touchdown in the back of the end zone, but the ruling on the field was later overturned, as the referees concluded that Jones was out of bounds.

With just a minute and some change left in the first half of the Titans’ matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee quarterback Ryan Tannehill dropped back in the pocket following a shotgun snap on third-and-5. Tannehill found Jones in single coverage, on a cross route through the end zone, and tried to deliver a pass before Jones stepped out.

Jones’ end zone reception appeared to have both feet in, and the initial ruling on the field was a touchdown. However, after official review, the call was overturned. Former NFL referee-turned-CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore agreed with the officials on the call — he tweeted his thoughts, stating that the overturned touchdown was in fact the right call.

“Since Julio Jones’ heel is coming down and fully lands on the ground, his entire foot must be in-bounds for the catch to count,” Steratore tweeted. “If a WR ‘toe-taps’ (ie – the Santonio Holmes catch in the Super Bowl), it counts as in-bounds. Replay concluded that Jones’ heel landed out of bounds.”

Despite the overturned touchdown, Jones is still having his best game in a Titans uniform, and he’s making a big impact for Tannehill for the first time this season. In the first half alone, Jones had four receptions for 102 yards, including a long of 51 yards. Both his receptions and yards paced the Titans’ receiving corps, as did his team-high five first-half targets. Previously a wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, Jones’ production has been hampered by injuries in the past two seasons. His 102 yards — and counting — is Jones’ highest tally in a game since his seven-reception, 137-yard finish when the Falcons played the Panthers on Oct. 29 of last season.

Evidently, Steratore is in the minority with his opinion. Other analysts across the country have expressed their belief that Jones did in fact have both feet in, and the rule should have remained a touchdown. The Tennessee Titans’ official account even tweeted a still-frame photo of Jones making the catch, with both feet visibly in bounds.

FOX Sports analyst Todd Fuhrman took the other side of the argument, disagreeing with Steratore and the decision to overturn the call. Fuhrman tweeted a picture of Jones’ feet on the broadcast, which both appear to be in-bounds, and said “This TD was just overturned…Somehow.”