Dan Campbell: “New York Got Involved” in Controversial Lions TD Overturn vs. Chiefs
By Bob Brozowski | MittenSportsTalk.com | October 15, 2025
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell made headlines Wednesday morning on 97.1 The Ticket when he revealed something that could reignite a major officiating debate.
During his weekly appearance with Jim Costa and John Jansen, Campbell said an official told him the controversial opening-drive touchdown that was wiped away against the Kansas City Chiefs “came from New York.”
If true, that would mean the NFL’s replay command center — the Art McNally GameDay Central in New York — stepped in to influence a penalty call, something that’s not allowed under current NFL replay rules.
The Play in Question
On Detroit’s first possession last Sunday, the Lions dialed up a bit of trickery.
David Montgomery took a direct snap and lofted a short pass to Jared Goff, who had motioned across the formation and slipped uncovered into the flat. Goff hauled it in for what appeared to be a touchdown.
The celebration was short-lived.
Over a minute later — nearly 90 seconds after the play ended — a flag appeared on the field. Officials ruled illegal motion, erasing the score and stalling the drive.
Referee Craig Wrolstad told a pool reporter postgame that the call resulted from a crew huddle on the field, not from replay input.
But Campbell’s comments on Wednesday directly contradict that account.
“Yeah,” Campbell said. “We were told it came from New York.”
What the NFL’s Rules Say
Under the NFL’s Replay Assist protocol, replay officials in New York can communicate with on-field refs only for objective, reviewable elements — things like whether a ball crossed the goal line, whether a foot was inbounds, or if a turnover occurred.
Judgment penalties (like illegal motion, holding, or pass interference) are not reviewable and cannot be initiated by replay personnel.
If the league’s replay center directed or influenced a penalty decision — especially one coming that long after the play — it would fall outside of established protocol.
Timing Matters
The delay is as concerning as the decision itself. Scoring plays are automatically reviewed, but reviews are meant to begin immediately, not over a minute later.
By then, the next play sequence was nearly set. The optics — and the rulebook — suggest that an after-the-fact flag from an outside source would be irregular at best, and potentially a violation of replay procedure.
A Familiar Feeling in Detroit
For Lions fans, this isn’t new territory.
From the infamous hands to the face calls in Green Bay to the Dallas no-call debacle last season, Detroit has often found itself at the center of controversial officiating moments.
Campbell’s revelation that “New York got involved” only deepens that history — and fuels questions about bias and consistency in league oversight.
Will the NFL Respond?
As of Wednesday afternoon, the NFL and Referee Craig Wrolstad’s crew had not publicly addressed Campbell’s remarks. It’s unclear whether the league will issue a clarification or stand by the original explanation.
Either way, Campbell’s comment is bound to raise eyebrows among analysts and fans alike — not just in Detroit, but across the league — about where the line is between replay assistance and officiating interference.
What’s Next
The Lions return home for Monday Night Football against Tampa Bay, hoping to bounce back from the Kansas City loss.
But the fallout from this revelation will linger — especially if the NFL stays silent on what really happened in Kansas City.
Your Take
Do you think New York overstepped? Let us hear what you think! Comment below or take it over to the Lions Den
