The NFL reviewing referee interaction surfaced Sunday as the league said it is looking into a sideline exchange between an official and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.
During the Cardinals’ loss to the New York Giants, a fourth-quarter broadcast shot captured line judge Jeff Seeman appearing to direct profanity at McBride as the tight end exited the field, according to video of the sequence.
An NFL spokesman said the league is reviewing the incident.
JC Tretter, executive director of the NFL Players Association, wrote on X that “this kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable,” adding that players are held accountable in similar situations and that the union expects the league to hold officials to the same standard.
Seeman has served as an NFL official since 2002.
An NFL spokesperson did not respond to a question about whether the league has rules that specifically govern officials’ conduct toward players. Under existing league rules, unsportsmanlike conduct includes the use of abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures toward opponents, teammates, officials, or league representatives.
NFL reviewing referee interaction under league standards
The league review will consider the on-field context and any applicable conduct policies, according to the spokesman. No timeline for a determination was provided.