It is tough to drill down on a list of the most disastrous calls we have seen from NFL officials during the Super Bowl over the years due to the subjective nature of the game and the, shall we say, varying points of view from fan bases, who tend to have different opinions of how “bad” a call is depending on which team it impacts positively or negatively.
That said, NFL referees have made quite a few mistakes over the years, ones that were so bad that they can’t be denied. Let’s take a look back and rank the worst officiating calls from worst to first.
16. Super Bowl 58: San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
While there were fireworks during the Big Game this year, the first touchdown of Super Bowl LVII wasn’t delivered until an incredible trick play was orchestrated by Kyle Shanahan and staff late in the first half.
However, there’s reason to believe that it shouldn’t have even counted. At least – that’s what former NFL quarterback and CBS analyst Boomer Esiason pointed out during the halftime coverage. Esiason pointed out that the 49ers center Jake Brendel should have been flagged for an illegal man downfield penalty on the play. Considering how close the game ended up being, the officials are lucky Kansas City held on because if this play cost
15. Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots
Although the Philly Special will forever go down as one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, especially to Eagles fans—as well as NFL fans who were tired of seeing New England win… There is serious reason to believe that it never should’ve been counted in the first place because the Eagles clearly lined up in an illegal formation!
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Mike Pereira later explained that that they had an ineligible number lined up at the end of the line, which should’ve rendered the play null.
14. Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys
This one dates back to 1979, when two of the NFL’s premier franchises showed down on the league’s biggest stage. This game, however, was not without controversy, as a key pass interference penalty on Dallas Cowboys’ defensive back Bennie Barnes after what many Cowboys fans believed to be an inadvertent collision with Steelers’ wide receiver Lynn Swann changed the course of the game and the trajectory of both franchises.
Much to the chagrin of Cowboys fans, a flag came flying from the middle of the field thrown by field judge Fred Swearingen despite the official closest to the play made no call.
13. Super Bowl LVII: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs
This one is particularly well known at this point, in part because of its recency, but also because of how controversial it was in nature.
This holding call on James Bradberry at the end of Super Bowl LVII really rubbed fans the wrong way because folks thought it was rather ticky tack for that point in the game since it essentially cost the Chiefs the game.
12. Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers were in a critical 4th-and-goal situation at the Ravens’ 5-yard line. Colin Kaepernick, who had led a spirited comeback effort, lofted a pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the right corner of the end zone. Crabtree found himself entangled with Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith and couldn’t really make a play on the ball.
The pass fell incomplete and immediately 49ers players, coaches, and fans clamored for a holding or pass interference call against Smith, believing that the contact had prevented Crabtree from having a fair chance at catching the ball.
No flag was ultimately thrown, ultimately ending the 49ers hopes of winning the Big Game.
11. Super Bowl LIII: Los Angeles Rams vs. New England Patriots
Super Bowl LIII was a tough one for the Los Angeles Rams (as you’ll see later on in this article…) not only did they struggle to get anything going offensively—every time they did, it seemed like the refs were swift to negate it with a penalty.
Or, at times worse, missing out on an obvious call—like this pass interference call on the one-yard-line.
10. Super Bowl LIV: San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LIV, while entertaining, was ripe with controversy. The penalty in question came late in the game when the stakes were extremely high and the officials called a pass-interference penalty on Tavarius Moore, setting the Chiefs up for a relatively easy game-sealing score.
Granted, there was contact on this play, but it looked like Kelce initiated a lot of it, as Moore was trying to make a play on the ball.
9. Super Bowl LIV: San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs fans may not like that this one is included, but let’s face it—there was a very legitimate case to make against the call that took place between their first Super Bowl showdown with the 49ers. The penalty in question came late in the first half against the 49ers tight end, George Kittle.
The 49ers had a great opportunity to take the lead when Jimmy Garoppolo connected on a 42-yard pass to All-Pro tight end George Kittle that would have put the 49ers at the Chiefs’ 13-yard line with six seconds to play. The officials, however, called a push off and negated what would’ve been a huge play going into the intermission.
8. Super Bowl LVII: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs
While the showdown between the Eagles and the Chiefs last year was mighty entertaining, it wasn’t without its own refereeing miffs. The James Bradberry call at the end of the game got most of the attention, but this non-catch call on a great effort by Dallas Goedert was pretty terrible in its own right.
Hard to argue definitively that this ball was bobbled if you ask me.
Contest it as they may, the Cowboys efforts to argue the decision were all for not and the penalty was upheld—as it often is. The call gave the Steelers a first down deep in Cowboys territory, leading to a Pittsburgh touchdown. This penalty was heavily scrutinized because many felt the contact was incidental, and the call significantly impacted the game’s momentum, helping Pittsburgh to seal the victory 35-31.
7. Super Bowl LIII: Los Angeles Rams vs. New England Patriots
While Super Bowl LIII between the Rams and Patriots wasn’t exactly the most exciting in terms of the action on the field, it was still a very close game—and came with some extremely questionable calls from the officials.
Perhaps the most egregious was the holding call against Rams lineman, John Sullivan, during a tied game in the fourth quarter.
6. Super Bowl LI: Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots
The play in question was actually a series of plays—defensive holdings that were continually called against the Falcons during the beginning of the Patriots’ furious comeback effort.
Brady was doing his thing, leading New England down the field just before the half, desperate to try and get some points on the board, but he was aided by flag after flag.
Two were called on cornerback Brian Poole and one on cornerback Robert Alford. While the penalties were somewhat justifiable when watched back on slow-mo replay, the timing and multitude was suspicious and infuriating to non-Patriots fans everywhere.
5. Super Bowl XL: Seattle Seahawks vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
There was no shortage of suspect calls in this game, spoiler alert, it is not going to be the only time you see it on this list.
This holding call made on Jason Locklear, however, was criminal and nullified a completion to the two-yard-line and what would’ve otherwise been a great scoring opportunity for Seattle.
4. Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams
New England’s defense was permitted to play extremely aggressively, particularly in the secondary, where they leaned on these “grey-area” tactics to slow down the high-flying Rams passing attack and on the other side of the fence, Rams players were policed very tightly. Take, for example, the holding penalty called against them deep in their own territory midway through the fourth quarter when they were trying to mount a comeback.
Obviously, there was contact, but that is a pretty ridiculous call to make at that point in the game.
3. Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Looking back, there were few more controversial Super Bowls ever than the Steelers vs. Cardinals rendition in Super Bowl XLIII. The conflict hit its fever pitch in the form of a critical holding call against the Steelers during a safety that was called at a critical juncture of the game
Yes, you can see the slight pull by the Steeler, but it was mostly the momentum of the pass rusher, not to mention that the ball was already out of Roethlisberger’s hands. This one was especially painful because of the momentum swing from a huge completion to safety! Luckily for the NFL Pittsburgh ended up coming out on top—otherwise this may have never been let go of.
2. Super Bowl XVII: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins
This one dates back to 1983 in a match-up between the Miami Dolphins and the then-Washington Redskins. The game is best remembered for John Riggins’ 43-yard touchdown run on 4th and 1, but there were also controversies regarding the officiating, particularly on a key would-be fumble that the officials ruled in favor of Washington on.
It is a little tough to tell from the old camera angle, but you can see that the ball comes out before the runner is all the way down.
1. Super Bowl XL: Seattle Seahawks vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Look away Steelers fans because you are not going to like where this commentary on Super Bowl XL is going.
Many fans and analysts consider the officiating in this game to be among the most controversial in Super Bowl history. Several calls went against the Seahawks in this one, so much so that people started to speculate that the league was favoring Pittsburgh intentionally… And this was before the infamous “NFL Rigged” movement started online!
There was an insanely questionable offensive pass interference call on Darrell Jackson’s touchdown in the first quarter of the game that set the tone for the evening, during which the referee seemed to directly respond to the defensive backs complaints.
Didn’t exactly appear like an unbiased response.
