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It was a call that changed everything. For James Bradberry and for the Eagles.
And for the Super Bowl, period.
Super Bowl 2023 ended in debate, thanks to a pivotal and controversial holding call on Bradberry. The dubious penalty on the veteran Eagles cornerback unquestionably helped impact the outcome.
With 1:54 left in the fourth quarter and the score tied at 35, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs faced a 3rd-and-8 at the Eagles’ 15-yard line. Mahomes was pressured and lofted a pass into the back left corner of the end zone, attempting to connect with WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was covered by a trailing Bradberry. The pass was overthrown, falling incomplete, which – barring a flag – would have meant the Chiefs would have had to attempt a 32-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining.
However, referee Carl Cheffers’ crew determined that Bradberry had held Smith-Schuster before Mahomes’ pass was thrown. A defensive holding penalty was called – only a 5-yard infraction but much more importantly, an automatic Kansas City first down.
