Gene Steratore made his reputation as one of the NFL’s most recognizable and respected referees in the 2000s and 2010s. While he was able to parlay that respect into a role as CBS Sports’ rules analyst, he knows as well as anyone the value of admitting when you’ve got it wrong.
At 1:54 remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos, Packers quarterback Jordan Love connected with wide receiver Romeo Doubs in the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown. Doubs made the catch after wresting the ball from Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, something that Steratore said at the time was incorrect. He believed that Surtain had intercepted the ball and earned possession.
“IMO in #GBvsDEN, the DB fulfilled the process of the catch before the WR did. After the defender possessed the ball, both of his feet and then his knee were down in-bounds prior to the WR’s,” wrote Steratore on X. “This would make this play an interception.”
IMO in #GBvsDEN, the DB fulfilled the process of the catch before the WR did. After the defender possessed the ball, both of his feet and then his knee were down in-bounds prior to the WR's.
This would make this play an interception.https://t.co/Jp8XuPZtdL
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) October 22, 2023
However, on Tuesday, the former NFL reflected on the matter and admitted that he misjudged the play and was incorrect.
“No matter what you do, owning up and taking accountability is how you get better. My interpretation of the play in #GBvsDEN was incorrect. I overthought it and just missed it. As a ref (whether grade school or pro), you learn the most from the <5% of calls that you miss,” he wrote.
No matter what you do, owning up and taking accountability is how you get better. My interpretation of the play in #GBvsDEN was incorrect. I overthought it and just missed it.
As a ref (whether grade school or pro), you learn the most from the <5% of calls that you miss. https://t.co/V3exK1hYyL
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) October 24, 2023
Fair play, Gene. Not every sports media member would have made such an admission. Plus, being the rules analyst comes with the added pressure of being accountable in a way that doesn’t apply to the Stephen A. Smiths and Pat McAfees to the world.
That touchdown did give the Packers a boost in their comeback efforts, though they ultimately fell short and lost 19-17.
