Mike Tomlin Says NFL Admitted Refs Got Call Wrong on Steelers Minkah Fitzpatrick

PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin did not like the personal foul penalty levied against Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick during the team’s 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

He said that he spoke to the NFL office on Monday, and was told “they didn’t like that call, as well.”

But Tomlin pointed out that the Steelers had plenty of other chances to win the game, and that his players have to be ready to deal with adversity in whatever form it comes to them.

“You’re gonna get wronged from time to time, just like the opponent is gonna make a play from time to time,” Tomlin said. “It’s how we respond to it. We still had a lot of opportunity to win that game after that call.”

Fitzpatrick and safety DeShon Elliott both strongly disagreed with the call after the game.

“I thought we were playing football,” Fitzpatrick said. ” I don’t know what we’re playing at this point. It’s a very different game than what I playing and what I grew up loving. Can’t hit nobody hard. Can’t be violent. So, I don’t know what to say anymore.”

Tomlin doesn’t want to make one bad call an excuse for his team’s loss.

“We’d better be mentally tough and we’d better move onto the next snap and understand that at times, that’s a part of the game,” Tomlin said. “The officials aren’t perfect. None of us are. We make mistakes in-game that we have to overcome. If they make a mistake in-game, you’d better be prepared to overcome that, as well. That’s what you learn as an individual and as a collective when instances such as that occur.”

Per NFLPenalties.com, Steelers have been penalized 28 times for 206 yards in four games.That’s tied for the 11th-most penalties. Fourteen of their penalties have been pre-snap fouls.

RELATED: Steelers Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick Rips Penalty Call: ‘I Thought We Were Playing Football’

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick before a game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 30, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now