GLENDALE, Ariz. — Nobody ever wants to see a championship come down to an officiating decision, especially if the call is missed. And during Sunday’s Super Bowl 57, many fans thought exactly that had happened — a missed call to help decide a championship.
James Bradberry would disagree.
The Eagles cornerback was called for a holding penalty late in the fourth quarter, which gave the Chiefs a first down and ultimately led to them kicking the game-winning field goal. At the time, it seemed like an awfully weak call with such major implications. But after the game, Bradberry wasn’t going to join the chorus of people complaining about officiating.
Instead, he said the refs made the right call.
HUGE HOLDING CALL pic.twitter.com/rvWkQmG5yV
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliTSP) February 13, 2023
James Bradberry takes accountability for his controversial penalty. “It was a holding. I tugged on the jersey.” pic.twitter.com/YqT7wsAzMY
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) February 13, 2023
Speaking to reporters after the game, Bradberry offered some stunning honesty and took responsibility for the controversial penalty. He said that he grabbed JuJu Smith-Schuster’s jersey. “It was holding,” he said.
Obviously, that play will replay in Bradberry’s head for a long time. But at the same time, it takes special accountability to admit he held Smith-Schuster when deflecting blame would have been far easier.
Fans respected how Bradberry handled the aftermath of that penalty.