Retired NFL Referee Believes D.J. Moore Was Wrongfully Penalized For Taking His Helmet Off

D.J. Moore hauled in what he believed was the game-winning touchdown catch against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and celebrated by taking his helmet off and screwing at the Falcons crowd. Unfortunately, Moore was penalized for excessive celebration.

Moore’s penalty pushed the extra point attempt further back 15 yards after his touchdown. Then, kicker Eddy Piñeiro missed the 48-yard attempt, causing the game to go into overtime.

The Panthers eventually lost 37–34.

NBC rules analyst and longtime referee Terry McAulay, who worked in the NFL from 1998 through 2017, thinks it was a bad call. McAulay told NBC’s Tony Dungy that the penalty should not have been called on the receiver because he was off the field when he removed his helmet:

Our NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay says according to the written rule this should not have been called a penalty because Moore was not on the field when he took off his helmet. https://t.co/MgxvckwDlv

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) October 31, 2022

We’ll see if the NFL addresses this potential blunder.