By Moses Joshua 
The former NFL coach reignites outrage in Detroit by calling one pivotal penalty “atrocious” and questioning how much it cost the Lions.
If Detroit Lions fans were hoping the chaos surrounding Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers would quietly fade into the background, Rex Ryan made sure that wasn’t happening.
Instead, he ripped the conversation wide open.
Appearing Monday morning on ESPN’s Get Up, Ryan delivered a fiery, unapologetic breakdown of the controversial offensive pass interference calls that wiped two Lions touchdowns off the board late in regulation. And while he conceded that officials may have gotten the final call right, he showed zero restraint when addressing the earlier flag that erased a potential game-changing score.
“Deadass Wrong”: Ryan Sounds Off on the Key Call
Ryan didn’t dance around his point. He went straight at it.
“They got the last one right, but they certainly got the previous one deadass wrong,” Ryan said. “The defensive guy on the St. Brown touchdown, he’s the guy that initiated the contact right here on TeSlaa. He initiated the contact. This is an awful call. And unfortunately, it cost the Lions a win here, and probably a playoff spot.”
The bluntness alone grabbed attention. The fact Ryan delivered it while wearing a Lions Christmas sweater only poured more fuel on an already raging fire.
Within minutes, the clip was everywhere — and so was the outrage.
The Call Everyone’s Arguing About — And the One Ryan Says Matters More
Most of the immediate backlash Sunday night focused on the final-play chaos involving Amon-Ra St. Brown. It was dramatic, emotional, and confusing, making it an easy lightning rod for frustration.
But Ryan zeroed in on what he believes actually altered the game’s trajectory: the offensive pass interference call on rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa earlier in the drive.
That penalty wiped out a Lions touchdown before desperation mode ever set in. Instead of Detroit celebrating, the offense was forced to keep pushing, setting the stage for the frantic and controversial finish that followed.
TeSlaa, who had one of the stronger performances of his young career, went from potential hero to footnote — all because of a yellow flag.
Why “Atrocious” Wasn’t an Accident
Ryan later doubled down, calling the TeSlaa penalty “atrocious” and emphasizing a critical detail: who initiated the contact.
In his view, the defender made first contact, not the receiver. That distinction matters because offensive pass interference is meant to penalize receivers who create separation illegally, not those who absorb contact from defenders.
Ryan’s argument was simple and damning: if that flag never comes out, Detroit likely never needs a miracle on the final play.
A Loud Voice Echoing a Familiar Feeling in Detroit
Rex Ryan has never been subtle. Critics will say he’s chasing attention or relevance. But this time, his words resonated because they mirrored what Lions fans were already thinking.
Yes, Detroit had chances earlier in the game. Yes, execution matters.
But when two touchdowns disappear due to highly questionable flags, it’s impossible to separate officiating from outcome.
Ryan didn’t just reopen the debate — he reignited it.
And with the Lions’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the frustration surrounding that ending isn’t fading anytime soon.