Mike Tomlin rips referees for late-game call, vows to move on

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was furious with the referees’ decision-making late in Saturday’s 23-20 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks, but on Tuesday he vowed to move on, stating that there’s no reason to harp on the past.

The Steelers held a 20-17 lead with just 18 seconds left in regulation, and Geno Smith led a Seahawks drive to second-and-3 on the Steelers’ 35-yard line. Needing just a few more yards to squeak into safe field-goal range, Smith completed a pass on the sidelines to wide receiver DK Metcalf. Much to the disarray of Seahawks fans, Metcalf didn’t step out of bounds to stop the clock; instead, he mistakenly fumbled the ball.

Madness on this play.@Seahawks get into field goal range with seconds left.

📺: #SEAvsPIT on NBC
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/xKD5WbIfKH

— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2021

The Seahawks ended up recovering the fumble with 11 seconds on the clock, plenty of time to realign the ball spot and set up a game-tying field goal. But just as the Seahawks got into position to spike the ball — chewing some time of the clock — the officials blew the play dead, temporarily stopped the clock and entered the replay booth to review whether or not Metcalf made the catch.

“I hated it,” Tomlin said postgame, despite a win, when asked of the officials’ decision to review what seemed to be a clear reception. “I just hated it. I cannot believe that game was stopped to confirm catch-no catch in that moment. That’s all I’m going to say.

“It was an embarrassment.”

Maybe Tomlin has a point. To the naked eye, Metcalf’s reception looked clear as day; it seemed rather hard to justify taking it to the booth for review, thus stopping the play clock. The Steelers still ended up winning the game, but it wasn’t until overtime that they got revenge.

Come Tuesday, the play was still on Tomlin’s mind. Reporters pressed Tomlin on the topic, asking if he or the Steelers received further clarity on why it was taken to the booth for review. Tomlin said he had a conversation with the league, one that hardly changed his mind, but now he’s ready to move on.

“The game was stopped by the replay guy to find confirmation of a component of the play on the field, and I didn’t agree with that in the most significant moment. I expressed it,” Tomlin said on Tuesday. “And I had some conversations with New York regarding it, got an explanation — I wouldn’t necessarily say I got clarity — but I’m not going to discuss it any further. It’s in our rear view, it doesn’t benefit me or us in any way to continue to hash it, rehash it, so that’s my position. Often times after games — particularly hot, contested games like that — I acknowledge things that transpire in the bowl, particularly things that I think are significant, but on a Tuesday, as we and everyone else is moving forward, it’s fruitless for me to continue to expand upon it and my position. … I understand you guys are interested in it, but pardon me if I don’t indulge you.”

Even when Tomlin was pressed further, the Steelers coach refused to crack. He made it clear that he’s done talking about the play, and he’s ready to move onto the Steelers’ next game, an Oct. 31 away contest with the Cleveland Browns.

“I’m not answering any more components of it, and I apologize,” Tomlin said twice — verbatim — when asked to further elaborate.