
Philadelphia, PA – October 8, 2025
Referee Adrian Hill has publicly apologized to the Philadelphia Eagles following the controversial ending of their Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos — a finish that has sparked national outrage and led to the suspension of Hill’s entire officiating crew.
Hill acknowledged the officiating crew’s mistakes, especially the non-call on tight end Dallas Goedert in the game’s final seconds. Goedert was visibly pulled down by Denver cornerback Quinton Skinner near the goal line, yet no pass interference flag was thrown — a decision that cost Philadelphia a final scoring opportunity.
“That was a critical miss,” Hill admitted. “Goedert deserved that call, and as the lead official, I take full responsibility. There was no bias, no corruption — just human error under pressure.”
The veteran referee also denied any form of intentional wrongdoing and emphasized his long-standing commitment to fair play. “I’ve worked too many games over too many years to ever let integrity be questioned,”
he said.
According to league sources, Hill has sent a formal letter of apology to both the Eagles organization and the NFL office. In it, he asked for understanding and urged the Eagles to
withdraw their formal complaint, which could help prevent a permanent suspension.
Hill wrote, “Philadelphia deserved better in that moment. I’ve always respected how hard that team plays and how much that city loves football. I can only ask for forgiveness, not excuses.”
NFL Senior VP of Officiating Walt Anderson confirmed the league has received Hill’s appeal but stated that the suspension remains in effect pending a full review of the officiating report.
While many fans welcomed Hill’s honesty, others remain skeptical, calling for sweeping reforms in officiating accountability. For the Eagles, the apology might bring some closure — but not back the victory they believe was stolen.