Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson did not hide his feelings Sunday after his critical touchdown catch was wiped out by NFL replay review.
Hockenson went airborne to catch a dart from Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz in the end zone that would have gotten Minnesota to within two points in the closing minutes of the Week 7 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The diving catch had fans inside U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., going crazy after the play was initially ruled a touchdown.
T.J. Hockenson was not happy with his diving touchdown in the fourth quarter getting overturned by the replay center in New York.
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 19, 2025
"Hands are underneath the ball," he said. "It's ridiculous." pic.twitter.com/9ncvMvu537
But their excitement didn’t last long, as the NFL replay review center in New York later overturned the ruling made by officials inside the stadium. It was changed to an incomplete pass. The Vikings had to settle for a field goal to cut the deficit to 28-22, which ended up being the final score in the Eagles’ win.
Hockenson was seething as he spoke to reporters after the game. He was adamant that they had gotten the call wrong.
“There was nothing to overturn it,” Hockenson said. “I mean, I was out there. I felt it. Hands under the ball. Snag it. I don’t understand. I don’t basically understand the catch rule at this point. … They’ve got to figure it out. New York can’t call in and say that it’s not a catch when every other ref out there says it is. I mean. that’s all it is to it. … It’s just crazy. I had it. I think it’s ridiculous.”
Hockenson also shared that two of the in-game officials had told him they still believed it should have been ruled the catch. But their opinions were moot once New York was tasked to review the play, as all scoring replays are subject for review.
With the play initially being ruled a catch, the replay center needed clear and conclusive evidence to overturn the ruling. NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth explained that the crew in New York “used broadcast-enhanced shots” to determine that Hockenson had lost control of the ball. Their angles showed that the ball hit the ground once the tight end landed, and that he only regained control after landing on the grass.
Hockenson added that the controversial call was by no means the only reason the Vikings lost the game. He also pointed to his team going 1/6 in the red zone and committing two turnovers.
