The decision to cancel Jared Goff's touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs came from New York, according to Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, despite claims from officials
13:23 ET, 15 Oct 2025Updated 13:23 ET, 15 Oct 2025
Dan Campbell claimed he was told that New York canceled Jared Goff's touchdown
View 2 Images
Dan Campbell claimed he was told that New York canceled Jared Goff's touchdown(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell claims he was told that New York canceled Jared Goff's touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs, despite referee Craig Wrolstad claiming it was an on-field decision.
The Lions lost 30-17 to the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, and a brawl broke out after the final snap as Detroit safety Brian Branch landed a cheap blow on Kansas City wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. While it was a sizeable win for the Chiefs, there were controversial calls against the Lions.
Article continues below
The main talking point came from Goff's canceled score, which saw Detroit make a trick play that resulted in the quarterback receiving a touchdown. Goff was flagged for illegal motion, but inconsistencies surround how the penalty was decided.
Article continues below
READ MORE: Dawn Staley makes feelings clear on Napheesa Collier's Cathy Engelbert statementREAD MORE: Rory McIlroy says Ryder Cup fan abuse left him fearing for golf traditions
There was a one-minute and 15-second delay between the flag being thrown and the initial snap, which saw Goff violate the rules. Officials claimed that Goff wasn't fully set after moving to the outside, but the Lions' sideline was stunned after their innovation led to nothing.
How the motion was detected remains uncertain, but Wrolstad told a reporter that the penalty was called "after discussion" with fellow officials. However, during an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit on Wednesday, Campbell said he was told that the call came from New York.
During the Sunday Night Football broadcast, NBC rules expert Terry McAulay confirmed it was the right call. It cost the Lions four points, and they eventually lost by 13 against the Chiefs.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Goff committed an illegal shift, but the quarterback admitted that he was unaware of the rule after the game. "I've never heard this: because of how close I was to the center, that declares I'm the quarterback," Goff said.
"If that is the rule, I guess we need to do a little more research." The Chiefs outplayed the Lions after the canceled touchdown, but tensions began to rise when Detroit received penalty flags, but Kansas City wasn't punished.
The Chiefs received zero penalties against the Lions, and Branch called out the officials for missing clear fouls after the game. Branch claimed that he was body checked by Smith-Schuster in the fourth quarter, which led to his act of violence after the game.
Brian Branch unleashed a strike at the head of JuJu Smith-Schuster after Sunday's game
View 2 Images
Brian Branch unleashed a strike at the head of JuJu Smith-Schuster after Sunday's game(Image: AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
"I did a real childish thing," Branch said. "I'm tired of people doing stuff in between plays and refs don't catch it. They be trying to bully me out there. I shouldn't have did it, it was childish.
Article continues below
"I got blocked in the back illegally. And it was in front of the ref and the ref didn't do anything. And just stuff like that. I coulda got hurt off a that, but I still should not have done that.
"There was a lot of stuff, but I should've shown it between the whistle, not after the game, and I apologize for that," Branch concluded. The NFL disciplined Branch with a one-game suspension, but the Lions safety has appealed the ruling.
"Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players," NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Branch. "Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game."