It is common knowledge to most football fans that a receiver needs two feet down for a completed catch to be ruled. But during the Week 8 Monday Night Football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants, George Pickens put that rule to the test.
Pickens was able to get two feet down on a nine-yard pass attempt on Russell Wilson in the second quarter, which was initially ruled a touchdown. The only problem was that Pickens actually got the same foot down twice… His left foot hung in the air for quite some time but ultimately never got down to make it a completed catch.
The touchdown ruling would be overturned, resulting in the Steelers having to settle for a field goal.
George Pickens only got one foot down and the Steelers had to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown. 🏈 #NFL #MNF pic.twitter.com/s0HgybTfMN
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 29, 2024
By the letter of the law, the reversed touchdown is the correct call. But several media members seemingly didn’t know that the same foot landing twice didn’t constitute a completed catch.
At halftime, the Monday Night Countdown crew was seemingly perplexed by the ruling, asking what constituted a catch if this didn’t for Pickens.
“Over 400 yards of offense, no touchdowns that counted,” said Scott Van Pelt of the first half. It’s a 9-9 game. Hand up, I thought two feet meant it could be any two feet. Did you learn something tonight?
“I feel like every once and a while there is a catch that makes everybody in the world to reevaluate what a catch is,” replied Jason Kelce. “The Dez Bryant playoff one. This George Pickens one is it. If you get one foot down and a hand… One foot down and an elbow… But if you get the same foot down twice. I don’t know, I think everybody would say looking at that, that it looks like a catch. It might not be technically. By this logic, you could catch the ball and hop on one leg for 15 steps and it’s not a catch?”
“Obviously, you have to start looking at it as both feet down in bounds,” added Ryan Clark. “Because it’s not two feet.”
“I feel like every once and a while there is a catch that makes everyone reevaluate what a catch is. This George Pickens one is it.” – Jason Kelce on George Pickens’ overturned touchdown catch pic.twitter.com/CKyqwnH5lN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 29, 2024
Other confused sports media members took to social media to offer their reaction to the reversed catch.
Let’s make a rule change. If you get two of the same foot down on a TD catch, it’s a touchdown. What else does a receiver have to do. The space covered to make that catch was unreal. Pickens’ right foot hitting TWICE!
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) October 29, 2024
Is two right foots a catch? That’s still two steps right? That feels like it should be a catch
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) October 29, 2024
Can’t remember the last time I saw a single foot double toe tap catch but it feels appropriate that it was George Pickens
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) October 29, 2024