Fail Mary
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Mike McCarthy's Packers were burned by the Fail Mary in Seattle in 2012.
Mike McCarthy was directly affected the last time the NFL used replacement officials. But he didn’t take the bait when asked about whether the “Fail Mary” would repeat itself if NFL officials go on strike again.
The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach punted when pressed if the legendary 2012 officiating gaffe if the league and its officiating union don’t come to an agreement before the season starts.
McCarthy was the coach of the Green Bay Packers in 2012 when his team was burned by replacement refs in the memorable ending of their Monday night game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Mike McCarthy: ‘Technology Would Take Care of’ Officiating Gaffes in 2026
McCarthy may still be bitter about the Seahawks’ infamous converted Hail Mary, which should have been ruled a game-ending interception but instead lifted Seattle to an astonishing 14-12 win over the Packers.
But if he is bitter, he wouldn’t show it publicly, despite the fact McAfee and his band of producers prodded him about whether a play like that would happen again.
“I think technology would take care of that today,” McCarthy said on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Monday. “I’m an optimist, because you can’t go back.”
On the play, Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate was ruled to have earned a dual possession with Green Bay DB M.D. Jennings and therefore a reception in the end zone. Contrary to McCarthy’s opinion, the Tate’s touchdown was reviewed and was upheld, which confirmed the blunder.
With a win in Seattle, Green Bay would have gone 12-4, and finished ahead of the San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) and may have reached the Super Bowl.
Instead, the Packers were the No. 3 seed after finishing 11-5. The Niners, of course, ended the Packers’ season with a 45-31 win in the divisional playoffs and went to the Super Bowl before falling to the Steelers’ rival, Baltimore Ravens.
The NFL and its Officials are Negotiating Again
The Fail Mary wasn’t the only horrible gaffe committed by replacement refs, but it was the final straw, since the league and the NFLRA agreed to a new CBA mere hours after the Seahawks’ win.
Yet, apparently some within the league have forgotten the embarrassment. The NFL has authorized the use of replacement refs if the league can’t come to a deal with the refs union before their current CBA expires May 31.
Negotiations between the league and officials have reportedly stalled, and with two months until the CBA expires, officials seem to be hurtling toward a strike.
Steelers fans can hope lightning won’t strike twice on McCarthy, who was named head coach of Pittsburgh in January, and potentially Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was, of course, McCarthy’s quarterback with the Packers in that game, and was sacked eight times by Seattle’s defense during the game.
Still, the Steelers are waiting on Rodgers’ decision about whether he will play in 2026 and if it will be in Pittsburgh. Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns in his lone season with the Steelers but could be motivated to play with McCarthy, with whom he won Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers.