PFWA Pool Reporter Brady Henderson Interview with Referee Shawn Smith
Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks
Monday, November 2, 2026
Question: On the hit on Tory Horton on the third play of the game, why wasn’t an illegal hit called on that play? What made that hit legal (Seattle 3rd-and-5, Seattle 37, 14:13, first quarter)?
Smith: There was no forcible contact to the head and neck area of the receiver. That’s what we ruled on the field.
Question: Is that play reviewable?
Smith: No, it is not reviewable because we did not call it on the field. If we called it, then they could review it, but we didn’t call it, so we can’t review it.
Question: On the Sam Darnold run where he was hit while scrambling, what did you see there (Seattle 3rd-and-8, Seattle 31, 4:20, first quarter)?
Smith: He was scrambling and became a runner. We didn’t see any contact to his head and neck area when he hit the ground. Once he gave himself up, we didn’t see that on the field.
Question: Is the defender allowed to hit him while he is sliding, even if he doesn’t hit him in the head or neck area?
Smith: The defender committed and he made contact. So, the runner becomes defenseless once he starts to slide and he can’t be hit in the head or neck area.
Question: Are you saying that he slid late?
Smith: No, I did not say that.
Question: When a quarterback is sliding, isn’t he typically protected?
Smith: He is protected from getting hit in the head or neck area, or getting hit late.
Question: On the offensive pass interference on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, what made that rise to the level of offensive pass interference (Seattle 2nd-and-8, Chicago 11, 0:14, third quarter)?
Smith: We had the receiver with a full extension in the chest of the defender. His elbow locked, and that’s kind of what we look for, that we get a full extension.