PFWA Pool Reporter Nolan Bianchi Interview with NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions
Monday, October 20, 2025
Question: On the fourth quarter completion to Cade Otton, did Lions coach Dan Campbell specify what he was challenging when the challenge flag was initially thrown?
Mark Butterworth: “Yes, Coach Campbell was challenging the line to gain.”
Question: Why was the spot not looked at during the initial replay review?
Butterworth: “We did look at the spot. We were trying to mirror angles together. Later in the process we received an enhanced view from broadcast that showed that when the knee was down, the ball was short of the line to gain. We were having issues with the referee’s O2O (official-to-official communication system), which is why he was brought back to the monitor. We did not show him anything on the screen at that point, it was simply to communicate to clean up the ruling on the field.”
Question: So, it was a broadcast camera that prompted the second replay?
Butterworth: “Yes, it was a broadcast camera. An enhanced view on the broadcast camera.”
Question: What is the protocol for overturning an aspect of a play that a team did not specifically challenge?
Butterworth: “So when a team challenges or the replay official stops the game, by rule all reviewable aspects of the play are under review.”
