Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed frustration during a post-game press conference over what he described as a “blatantly missed call” by officials during Sunday’s game. The incident in question occurred during the third quarter when Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a vicious tackle from an opposing defender. Tomlin claimed the hit, which appeared to target Pickett’s head and neck area, was not only dangerous but should have warranted a penalty.
“It was a brutal hit—almost knocked him out,” Tomlin said. “I expect better officiating at this level. Protecting quarterbacks has been a major point of emphasis, but clearly, that wasn’t applied here.”
The hit left Pickett shaken, and while he was cleared to return after a brief evaluation, the moment raised concerns about player safety and consistency in officiating. Fans and analysts took to social media to debate the play, with many agreeing it was a missed opportunity to enforce the NFL’s rules on roughing the passer.
When asked if he planned to file a complaint with the league, Tomlin responded, “We’ll address it through the proper channels, but my focus is on getting our guys ready for next week.”
The Steelers ultimately lost a close game, and this controversial non-call is sure to spark further discussions about player safety and officiating standards in the NFL.
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