The dispute surrounding Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s overturned touchdown has continued for more than a week, with a senior NFL executive pushing back on the head coach’s claim that the league influenced the decision.
Goff appeared to score on a trick play during the team’s Week 6 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, but the touchdown was wiped out after an extended review determined that the Lions quarterback moved illegally after lining up under center.
The lead game official later told reporters that the decision was made entirely by the on-field crew, though Campbell insisted the league office had stepped in. Now, an NFL executive has clarified that Campbell’s version of events was inaccurate and that the league had no role in overturning the call.
Detroit ran the play on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, with Goff lining up wide and running back David Montgomery taking the direct snap before throwing to his quarterback. Goff briefly bobbled the ball before securing it as he crossed the goal line.
After a discussion among officials, it was ruled that Goff failed to get properly set before the snap, resulting in an illegal motion penalty. The Lions were moved back five yards and ultimately had to settle for a field goal.
Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, addressed the situation on Pro Football Talk, refuting Campbell’s statement that the reversal came from New York. He explained that delays like this are typical for complex rulings.
“It was not (any input from the league office),” Vincent said. “I’m not sure who Coach Campbell was talking about, but we didn’t assist in that. We didn’t need to. I’m part of Gameday Central for every game, and just for clarity, the officials were already discussing it as the play unfolded. That pause happens often — like with intentional grounding — when they’re confirming communication.”
Mark Butterworth, the league’s vice president of replay training and development, also clarified that league personnel are not permitted to review illegal motion calls and only provide assistance when identifying the player’s jersey number.
The defeat to the Chiefs is now two weeks in the past, as the Lions bounced back with a decisive victory over the NFC-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers before entering their bye week.
Following that win, Goff commended his teammates for staying strong through challenges. The Lions have now gone more than three years without losing back-to-back games.
“Being a good team means having resilience and the ability to fight through adversity,” Goff told SI.com. “We’ve got a really tough group, and we don’t let one loss shake us. We responded the way we should today.”




