Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba hot-mic moment draws glare from NFL ref during 23-20 win over Cardinals
Receiver's profanity was captured on referee microphone as Seattle held off Arizona; Kemp did not throw a flag, while Al Michaels praised the official's restraint.
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 23-20 on Thursday night at State Farm Stadium after a holding penalty wiped out a potential rushing touchdown by Zach Charbonnet. On a run from just inside the 10-yard line, Jaxon Smith-Njigba grabbed a defender and drew a holding flag that erased the score and left Seattle with a field goal to extend its lead. The sequence contributed to a 20-6 margin for the Seahawks in the fourth quarter and set the stage for a tense finish in Glendale.
Moments later, the moment became a talking point on the broadcast as Smith-Njigba can be heard on the stadium mic directing a profanity toward the officials while head referee Alex Kemp announced the penalty. The exchange drew attention from fans and analysts, with the officiating mic providing an unusually transparent window into on-field emotions. Amazon Prime broadcaster Al Michaels praised Kemp for not flagging Smith-Njigba, saying there’s a difference between comments made with an open mic and remarks that aren’t live to the crowd.
Smith-Njigba finished with four catches for 79 yards in the win, including a catch on Seattle’s final possession that helped set up Jason Myers’ game-winning field goal. The 23-year-old wide receiver has emerged as one of the most productive players in the NFL through four games, posting 26 receptions for 402 yards and a touchdown.
The Seahawks improved to 3-1 on the season and will look to keep their hot start going when they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. Tampa Bay, also off to a strong start at 3-0, provides another major test for Seattle’s offense and a potential early-season measuring stick for the NFC West contenders.
Seattle’s victory was sealed by a resilient late drive and a defense that tightened after the controversial sequence, underscoring the team’s ability to close out close games. The ongoing drama surrounding Smith-Njigba’s mic moment has already become a talking point for analysts and fans alike, though the Seahawks remain focused on a balanced attack that has carried them to a promising start.