bv. Steelers Legend Terry Bradshaw Blasts Referee Crew After Controversial Hit: “This Isn’t a Mistake — It’s Blatant Favoritism!”
Anger is boiling across Steelers Nation after Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw — the iconic quarterback who led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl titles — publicly slammed Tra Mondale’s officiating crew for ignoring a dangerous, illegal hit by Indianapolis Colts players during Sunday’s matchup.
The controversial moment came in the third quarter, when No. 99 Derrick Harmon, one of the Steelers’ defensive anchors known for his run-stopping power and ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks, was hit brutally and simultaneously by Colts linemen No. 56 Quenton Nelson and No. 60 Will Fries after the whistle. The late hit left Harmon with a minor knee injury, limiting his movement and preventing him from playing at full strength for the rest of the game.
Losing Harmon — the core of their run defense — threw Pittsburgh’s defensive rhythm off, allowing the Colts to briefly gain momentum. Yet what truly enraged fans was the reaction — or lack thereof.
No flag. No penalty. Not even a warning. Slow-motion replay clearly showed the late and deliberate nature of the hit, but the officials stood silent.
Speaking on FOX Sports, Bradshaw didn’t hold back his frustration:
“I’ve watched that play at least ten times. It was a late hit, plain and simple — reckless and dangerous. When a referee sees something that obvious and stays silent, you can’t call it a mistake anymore. That’s favoritism.”
The former quarterback emphasized that this isn’t about a single missed call — it’s about accountability and player safety.
“A Steelers player got hurt because the officials failed to do their job. If the NFL truly cares about fairness and integrity, it can’t keep ignoring things like this. Someone has to answer for it.”
According to sources inside the organization, the Steelers plan to file a formal complaint to the NFL, requesting a full review of the game footage and referee report from Tra Mondale’s crew. Team owner Art Rooney II is reportedly “deeply disappointed” and expects a clear response from the league office.
Despite the controversy, the Steelers ultimately prevailed, grinding out a hard-fought victory that embodied the team’s trademark toughness. Even in the face of questionable officiating,Mike Tomlin’s squad stood firm — proving once again that while the Steelers can be challenged, they can never be broken.
