Dan Campbell Takes Responsibility for Trick-Play Misstep Against Chiefs
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is facing scrutiny following a controversial trick play that was flagged for illegal motion during the team’s recent matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The penalty resulted in a touchdown being nullified, forcing the Lions to settle for a field goal instead.
Campbell Owns the Mistake
In a candid moment with reporters after the game, Campbell expressed his frustration and reluctance to revisit the incident. “I don’t even want to talk about it. I don’t. I’m sorry. It’s a real sore spot,” he admitted. The fifth-year head coach took full accountability, asserting that the players executed the play as instructed. “I told the team I take full responsibility for that. I do,” he emphasized.
The trick play involved intricate timing and precise execution, and Campbell acknowledged that he failed to provide clear instructions regarding its legality. “The players did exactly what we told them to do. (Jared) Goff did exactly what we told him to do. David (Montgomery) did, too. And I’ll take that. You’ve got to make it very clear on where you are. And I didn’t do that,” he said.
Goff Seeks Clarity on the Rule
Lions quarterback Jared Goff also weighed in on the situation, revealing his own confusion about what went wrong. “I’ve got to do a little research on what exactly went wrong. My hands were not under center, and I was set to begin the play,” Goff explained. He indicated that he was under the impression that the play was executed correctly, based on his understanding of the rules.
“I’ve never heard this, but they were saying that as close as I was to the center, that then declares me as a quarterback and then I can’t go in motion,” Goff noted. He added that this interpretation of the rule was unfamiliar to him and many of the coaching staff. “If that is the rule, then I guess we just need to do a little bit more research on that,” he said.
Looking at the Bigger Picture
Despite the setback, Goff was quick to point out that the trick-play penalty was not the deciding factor in the game. “It’s essentially an illegal formation that they are calling from the booth. I have never heard of that, but it’s not the difference in the game,” he remarked. Goff acknowledged that while the play would have been exciting to capitalize on, there were numerous other plays throughout the contest that ultimately defined the outcome.
“It was a cool play that would have been fun to get a score on, and it would have been nice to get a touchdown there, but I don’t think that by any means, it would’ve flipped the game. There were a ton of other plays that they made, and we didn’t,” he concluded.
As the Lions regroup after their loss, Campbell’s admission of responsibility and Goff’s search for clarity reflect the ongoing challenges teams face in executing complex plays under pressure. The focus now shifts to ensuring that such miscommunications are avoided in the future as the season progresses.
