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NFL makes decision on officials in McBride, Wilson incidents

NFL line judge Jeff Seeman. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

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NFL makes decision on officials in Trey McBride, Eric Wilson incidents

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Oct 6, 2026 8:00 AM ET

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The NFL finished its review of two Sunday incidents between officials and players on Monday, less than 24 hours after the NFL Players Association demanded the league hold officials to the same standard as players.

Line judge Jeff Seeman was suspended for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one, each for unprofessional conduct toward a player, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Ramon George, the NFL's vice president of officiating, issued both suspensions.

Seeman, a league official since 2002, drew his penalty for an exchange late in the New York Giants' 36-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals. After no flag came on Giants cornerback Dru Phillips for contact with tight end Trey McBride, McBride argued the no-call. A sideline camera then showed Seeman appearing to shout "F--- you" at him twice, and McBride pointed at the camera afterward.

CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala said the harshest thing she heard from McBride was "You're ruining the game."

I was standing right there. What’s wild is that it all started with Trey McBride saying “please” when pleading his case for a PI flag. He was heated for sure, but I never heard a curse from him. The harshest he got was, “You’re ruining the game.”
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) October 5, 2026

Hill's came in the Vikings' 15-10 win over the Dolphins. On a play blown dead for a neutral zone infraction, Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson was shoved into Hill, knocking him to the turf. Wilson reached down to help him up, and Hill got up yelling and pointing for Wilson to move away. Wilson pointed at Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II as the player who caused the contact, and a second official stepped between them.

NFL referee Adrian Hill had a strong reaction when Vikings LB Eric Wilson offered to help him up after their inadvertent collision. ( FOX) https://t.co/azDgsIZESY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 5, 2026

The NFL confirmed today that line judge Jeff Seeman has been suspended for two games and referee Adrian Hill has been suspended for one game, each for an instance of unprofessional conduct toward a player in Sunday’s Arizona-New York Giants (Seeman) and Miami-Minnesota games (Hill). The suspensions were issued by NFL Vice President of Officiating Ramon George.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 5, 2026

Why did Jeff Seeman get twice as long as Adrian Hill?

The league's statement described both cases as unprofessional conduct without explaining the difference in length. The heavier penalty went to the official whose words were caught on camera.

On the same Sunday, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the spot after reportedly telling a down judge it was "a f---ing terrible call."

Pool report with referee Bill Vinovich on what led to Mike Vrabel’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. https://t.co/SmakmMoVJv
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 4, 2026

NFLPA executive director JC Tretter pointed to the gap on Sunday night. "Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard," he wrote on X.

This kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable. Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard. https://t.co/vawHA8Jrlt
— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) October 4, 2026

George joined the league's officiating leadership in 2024. He removed three officials after the 2024 season in what was described as an accountability push.

Olamilekan Ajayi

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