NFL suspends two referees after on-field incidents with players

NFLNFLAdd TopicNFL suspends two referees after on-field incidents with players Chris BumbacaUSA TODAYUpdated Oct. 5, 2026, 6:20 p.m. ETHear this storyThe NFL suspended both officials involved in incidents with players during Week 4 action on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Line judge Jeff Seeman has been suspended for two games after cameras appeared to show him shouting profanities at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. Referee Adrian Hill has been given a one-game ban for his interaction with Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson, who accidentally collided with Hill and tried to help him off the ground.

NFL vice president of officiating Ramon George issued the suspensions “for an instance of unprofessional conduct toward a player,” the leauge said.

NFL Players’ Association executive director JC Tretter wrote on social media that the behavior displayed by Seeman was “unprofessional.” The league responded by saying it was looking into the matter and came to the decision within 24 hours.

USA TODAY Sports reached out to the NFLPA for comment.

Seeman has been a line judge since 2002. Hill has been with the league since 2010 and served as a line judge and field judge before being promoted to referee before the 2019 season.

The incident between Seeman and McBride occurred with 4:53 remaining and the Cardinals trailing the New York Giants 27-24 after McBride had been pleading for a pass interference call.

On a play that was blown dead, Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II shoved Wilson into Hill, who did not take kindly to the mistake. Hill ordered Wilson away after getting in his face, although Wilson appeared to have no malintent.

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