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Quarterback Jared Goff (left) of the Detroit Lions speaks with head coach Dan Campbell (right) on the sideline during an NFL game in 2025.
A viral video showing an official making a suspicious motion just before the Detroit Lions committed a false start in their loss to the Minnesota Vikings has sparked conspiracy theories — but has a logical explanation.
Video emerged from the Christmas Day game between the teams that showed a league official making what appeared to be the false start sign, just seconds before the Lions were flagged for that penalty. That prompted some fans to suggest that the game was rigged or that the Lions were following orders from the league.
One NFL analyst offered the true explanation, which is much less nefarious than what some fans suggested.
Video Just a Case of Bad Timing
Video of the official’s motion spread on social media in the hours after Thursday’s game, which saw the Lions eliminated from playoff contention with a 23-10 loss. Some suggested
Reporter Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports explained that the official seen making that motion is actually a replay official who was conveying to the on-field officials that play would resume and the previous play would not be reviewed.
Payton added that other officials can be seen making the same motion at previous Lions games.
“He is not making a false start signal that says to the players on the field that the NFL wants them to do a false start,” Payton wrote. “He is signaling to the officials that the game can continue on and that the previous play will not be reviewed, and a TV timeout won’t be taken. If you watch the Lions on Week 18 against the Bears, you will see a guy in teal do this multiple times per game.”
Payton also raised a more obvious question — what would the NFL have to gain by ordering the Lions to commit a false start penalty. The real explanation is that it was just a case of bad timing that the official happened to be caught on the broadcast making the signal just before the Lions committed a false start.
Dan Campbell Vows to Make Changes After Missing Playoffs
The loss to the Vikings ended Detroit’s hopes of sneaking back into the playoffs. After a promising start to the season, the Lions have gone 4-7 since October. The team had a streak of three years without losing back-to-back games, but the loss to Minnesota was their third in a row.
After Thursday’s game, head coach Dan Campbell said he would be doing a deep evaluation of the team to see what needed to change.
“I’m gonna be looking at a lot of things, because I do not like being home for the playoffs, and I know our guys don’t either,” Campbell told reporters after the game.
Campbell added that he would also look at what he needed to change, saying he feels like he let the players down.
“Whenever you lose, it takes a village; everybody’s involved. Including myself, so I’m always gonna look at myself first,” Campbell said. “I’m always gonna wish I’d given Goff more, those players more.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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