Frustration Over Pass Interference Calls Voiced by Tony Dungy

Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy has expressed his annoyance with the inconsistent pass interference calls made by NFL officials during the Thanksgiving games this year.

As has been the case for much of the 2025 season, confusion surrounded each of the three matchups. Dungy took to social media to share that this inconsistency makes it seem as though officials are unclear about the rules surrounding pass interference.

“Watching NFL football all day, I’ve concluded that our officials don’t know what pass interference is,” he wrote. “We tried to make it reviewable a couple of years ago, but that didn’t happen. These are huge penalties, and they aren’t being called consistently.”

When someone responded on X, labeling his comments as a “cheap seat complaint,” Dungy clarified his stance. “I had a fun day watching football, but I really think the calls for pass interference are quite erratic, sometimes resulting in a penalty that could be as much as 40 yards. It’s not just a complaint from a cheap seat; it’s a reality based on watching three games where the defensive backs and wide receivers made contact on 40 to 50 passes. I believe anyone who watched would agree.”

The discussion around pass interference has sparked considerable debate on social media, with commentators like Tony Romo and Cris Collinsworth also weighing in on the perceived inconsistencies this season. This contentious topic even reached the broadcast booth during games.

Former coach Jon Gruden remarked on this issue last December, suggesting the league should adopt the college football rules when it comes to pass interference. “Honestly, I’d like to see us make that a collegiate rule because some of these calls significantly affect the game,” he noted in an interview.

Gruden pointed out the subjective nature of these calls, arguing that flags should only be thrown in clear-cut situations.