Green Bay, Wisconsin – The fallout from the Green Bay Packers’ stunning 31–27 Wild Card playoff loss to the Chicago Bears continues to intensify, and now one of the most authoritative voices in NFL officiating history has stepped directly into the spotlight. Former NFL referee Ed Hochuli has publicly criticized the officiating in the game’s decisive moments, claiming Green Bay was denied a fair chance to close out a playoff victory.
The Packers appeared in full control after building a 21–3 halftime lead at Soldier Field, only to watch momentum swing dramatically in the fourth quarter. While missed kicks and late-game execution have dominated early narratives, Hochuli focused squarely on officiating decisions that he believes altered the competitive balance of the game.
Acc
AWFUL MISSED CALL…
The refs just missed a clear roughing the passer and helmet-to-helmet hit by the #Bears on #Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
😳😳😳
Love is coming off a concussion. This is an unacceptable penalty to miss. pic.twitter.com/frbUaSYP5W
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 11, 2026
ording to Hochuli, one sequence in particular stood out. On a critical second-half play, Packers quarterback Jordan Love absorbed what Hochuli described as “unnecessary high-force contact” that, in similar situations across the league, has routinely resulted in a roughing-the-passer penalty. No flag was thrown. The drive stalled shortly thereafter, shifting both field position and momentum.
“I have to speak up because if we stay silent now, it sends the message that these rigged calls are acceptable,” Hochuli said during a televised segment. “What happened to the Packers was unfair, and if the league doesn’t fix this, it’ll happen again to another team on a bigger stage.”
Hochuli, who officiated more than 500 NFL games and multiple Super Bowls, emphasized that the issue was not about favoritism toward one team, but about consistency. He noted that comparable hits during the 2025 regular season were penalized far more often, especially in games involving quarterback safety.
Reaction was immediate. Packers fans flooded social media with clips, freeze-frames, and side-by-side comparisons of similar plays that drew flags earlier in the season. Many echoed Hochuli’s sentiment, arguing that Green Bay was held to a different standard during the most critical moments of the postseason.
National analysts also weighed in. Several former officials appearing on ESPN and NFL Network acknowledged that, at minimum, the play should have triggered a discussion between referees on the field. “In playoff football, when a call directly impacts win probability, you cannot afford ambiguity,” one analyst said.
The NFL has not issued an official response to Hochuli’s comments. However, league insiders suggest the scrutiny could renew internal conversations about referee accountability, expanded replay review, and clearer enforcement standards in postseason games.
The scoreboard shows the Chicago Bears advancing. But for the Green Bay Packers, the season’s ending has shifted beyond missed opportunities on the field.
As Hochuli bluntly concluded: you can accept defeat. What’s harder to accept is losing when the rules themselves fail to protect the integrity of the game.
