The NFL is reviewing an incident from Sunday that put line judge Jeff Seeman in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
During the Cardinals’ 36-24 loss to the Giants, cameras caught Seeman in a heated exchange with Arizona tight end Trey McBride late in the second half. The interaction came after officials chose not to throw a flag on contact against McBride on a third-down pass.
McBride showed his frustration, and Seeman appeared to answer with profanity that lip readers and viewers quickly picked up on. McBride then pointed toward a nearby camera, seeming to indicate the exchange had been recorded.
The response from the NFL Players Association came fast. Executive director JC Tretter called the official’s behavior unacceptable and pushed for the same standard that players face when the roles are reversed.
“This kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable. Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed.
We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard.”
An NFL spokesperson confirmed the league is looking into the matter. The NFL Referees Association has not yet publicly responded.
The clip spread quickly on social media, with attention focused on the two-word message directed at McBride. Broadcast footage and fan videos both showed the exchange that has now led to a formal review.
McBride finished with seven catches for 31 yards on 12 targets. The loss dropped Arizona to 1-3, while New York moved to 3-1. The non-call that sparked the confrontation came on a third-and-2 play involving contact from Giants defender Dru Phillips.
Officials usually don’t become the story for what they say to a player. This one did, and now the league has to decide what comes next. League discipline in past cases involving officials has varied, and the outcome here remains unclear as the investigation continues.
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