NFL flags officials, suspending 2
after outbursts during a weekend marked by profane flare-ups
[October 07, 2026]
By ARNIE STAPLETON
NFL players have to show sportsmanship or they can draw flags and/or
fines and now officiating crews are on notice that they, too, must
display appropriate behavior in the heat of the moment.
The NFL flagged two officials Monday, suspending line judge Jeff
Seeman and referee Adrian Hill for their actions during a wild Week
4 marked by profane flare-ups that included Aaron Rodgers and Mike
McCarthy cursing at each other and Dre Greenlaw displaying the kind
of fiery spirit toward Sean Payton that the Broncos head coach
wished had shown up last season in Denver.
Seeman was banned two games for swearing at Trey McBride after
Arizona's star tight end argued for a pass interference call when he
was hit by a defender before the ball arrived. Hill received a
one-game suspension for unprofessional conduct for yelling at Eric
Wilson and pointing for him to get away after the Minnesota Vikings
linebacker tried to help him to his feet after a collision knocked
him over.
The NFL Referees Association said in a statement Tuesday that the
suspensions were excessive and inconsistent with past precedent and
it plans to challenge the severity.
“NFL officials have a responsibility to conduct themselves
professionally on the field, and the actions in these incidents fell
short of that standard," NFLRA executive director Scott Green said.
“Accountability matters, but that should not result in discipline
that is excessive or inconsistent with established precedent.”
Greenlaw confronts former coach
Greenlaw, who rejoined the Niners last offseason, forced a fumble
and collected a dozen tackles in San Francisco's 24-14 win over the
Broncos on Sunday.
After just about every one of his stops, he pointed and hollered at
Payton, assuredly still stinging over his departure from Denver in
which he said his agent had to inform him the Broncos were moving on
just one year into his three-year, $31.5 million deal.
As Payton was walking across the field to shake Kyle Shanahan’s hand
after the game, Greenlaw approached him and took one more verbal
shot at his old coach as fellow linebacker Fred Warner redirected
him toward the 49ers' tunnel.
Payton didn't engage with Greenlaw, who told the San Francisco
Chronicle, “I told him to get the (expletive) off the field. That’s
it: ’Get the (expletive) off the field.”
Asked if he had any issue with Greenlaw getting in his face Sunday,
Payton said, “No, and I said this to Kyle afterwards, I think the
world of him. I really love everything about him and he plays with
that emotion. So, it's all good.”
McCarthy expresses regret for use of profanity
Maybe it's all good in Pittsburgh, too.
McCarthy expressed regret for profanity he used toward Rodgers that
was caught on the Thursday night broadcast of Pittsburgh's 27-24
loss to Cleveland.
Midway through the first quarter, a flustered Rodgers was shown
looking at Pittsburgh's sideline and yelling, “What the (expletive)?
Call it!” The camera then cut to McCarthy, who muttered a profanity
in response.
“Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but
everybody’s competing on the field,” McCarthy said. “I think what’s
said on the field, the way I grew up in this game, usually stays on
the field. That’s not the case today. I understand that. But any
negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn’t use those
words.”
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Line judge Jeff Seeman (45) works during an NFL preseason football
game between the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars in
New Orleans, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)
Rodgers said the crowd noise made it difficult to
communicate at times, noting, “It was a good crowd. It was loud.”
The hot mic saw to it that Rodgers' message to McCarthy was loud and
clear and any amateur lip reader could also clearly decipher the
head coach's response to his quarterback who spent 13 seasons with
him in Green Bay.
Week 4 incidents stood out
Players yelling at the sidelines — even their own — is nothing new.
Neither are heated exchanges between players and officials.
But these four stood out, especially because they were caught on
camera and quickly raced across social media, not the kind of viral
moments the NFL prefers.
McBride knew Seeman's vulgarity was being broadcast — he pointed
toward the camera that caught the line judge's obscenities.
“Obviously, you hate to see it, for obvious reasons,” Arizona coach
Mike LaFleur said. “I do want to give the man a little bit of grace,
too. I know Jeff. He’s a good man. It’s unfortunate it happened. It
can’t happen, obviously, and I’ll leave it at that.”
The incident drew the ire of players union leader JC Tretter, a
retired offensive lineman who played eight seasons in the NFL: “This
kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable,”
Tretter, the NFL Players Association’s executive director, posted on
social media along with a video clip of the incident. “Players are
consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect
the NFL to hold officials to the same standard.”
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell lamented the official's reaction in
the Miami-Minnesota game where Wilson was only trying to help Hill
to his feet after he got knocked into the referee, who fell down.
“I just think it’s one of those situations in kind of a high-energy
moment there,” O’Connell said. “I think stuff like that can happen
sometimes, but I don’t have any major concerns, and I think Adrian’s
a really good official and does a really good job. I think that was
just kind of fast moment that happened, and we can put it behind us,
hopefully.”
The league flagged its own officials to make sure that happens.
___
With contributions from AP Pro Football Writers Rob Maaddi, Dave
Campbell and Josh Dubow and AP Sports Writer David Brandt.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
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