Ex-NFL coach rips refs for Lions penalty that took late Amon-Ra St Brown TD off board

The Detroit Lions mislaid to the Pittsburgh Steelers successful 1 of the astir chaotic endings of the season.

Penalty flags plagued the Lions’ last thrust arsenic Amon-Ra St. Brown was called for violative walk interference connected the last play, which negated the lateral touchdown to Jared Goff. Five plays earlier, a St. Brown touchdown was taken disconnected the committee acknowledgment to an Isaac TeSlaa penalty.

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Jared Goff, left, of the Lions and wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa observe a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers astatine Ford Field connected Dec. 21, 2025, successful Detroit. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Former New York Jets manager Rex Ryan suggested the TeSlaa punishment was a farce and the St. Brown touchdown should person counted.

"They got the past 1 right, but they surely got the erstwhile 1 dormant a-- wrong," Ryan said connected ESPN’s "Get Up." "The antiaircraft feline connected the St. Brown touchdown, he’s the feline who initiated the interaction connected TeSlaa. He initiated the contact. It’s an atrocious call, and unluckily it outgo the Lions a triumph present and astir apt a playoff spot. So, yeah, this is atrocious close here."

Ryan said the St. Brown violative walk interference punishment looked close successful his eyes.

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Lions caput manager Dan Campbell talks with officials aft the last play of the Pittsburgh Steelers game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, successful Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

"Now, connected the past one, it was intelligibly a PI by Amon-Ra St. Brown. Yes, helium goes successful and arsenic soon arsenic helium extends with some hands, it’s a penalty.… What St. Brown has to bash successful that concern is recognize that this is going to beryllium a three-man unreserved by Pittsburgh. And, rather honestly, it was lone a two-man rush. You’re gonna person time. You’re not going to request to get separation. You person plentifulness of time. And, unfortunately, that was the outcome.

"There’s nary 2 ways astir it. The archetypal 1 to St. Brown was a touchdown. An implicit touchdown."

Jared Goff agreed with Ryan connected the TeSlaa penalty.

"That’s a atrocious call," helium said, adding that helium didn’t privation to marque immoderate excuses for the team’s loss.

Detroit’s playoff chances took a large deed due to the fact that of the loss. There’s inactive anticipation but it is minimal.

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"We cognize the percentages. We cognize we’re not eliminated. We cognize immoderate things request to spell our way," Goff said. "I cognize who we are. I cognize who we tin be. Certain games we haven’t fired connected each cylinders."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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