More than ten years after one of the most controversial plays in NFL history, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is still refusing to back down. He is still bothered by what happened during the 2014 playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. 

With under five minutes left, wide receiver Dez Bryant made an amazing leap to catch a deep pass. However, referees used replay review to overturn it, destroying the Cowboys' chances of reaching the Super Bowl.

“If I heard the official say it once, I literally heard him say it a thousand times. It was, ‘Time enough to make a football move.’" Garrett added on the Dan Patrick Show. “And then they'd be very clear with you. They say they don't even have to make a football move; they just need time enough to make a football move.”

Jason Garrett, on the Dan Patrick Show, explained that officials always told him a player just needs enough time to make a "football move" for a catch to be valid. By that standard, Garrett remains completely confused by the decision. 

With Sam Shields (#37) draped over him, Dez Bryant stretched out to haul in Tony Romo's fourth-quarter pass in the 2014 season NFC Divisional Round at Lambeau Field.

Bryant appeared to complete the catch and reached toward the goal line, but the ball briefly shifted after hitting the turf before he secured it with both hands. The officials would later decide that he did not maintain possession.

Garrett pointed out that Bryant caught the ball, switched it to his other hand, took three steps, and lunged forward.

To him, Bryant made plenty of football moves before the ball hit the turf. Following this, he made his feelings about the situation crystal clear.

"Officials to this day deny it,” Garrett noted, “but I’ll go to my grave saying it was a catch." 

Looking back, Garrett’s biggest regret is not actually the loss itself, but how he acted right after the game. He held a disciplined press conference where he refused to make excuses.

He regrets not publicly defending his players and celebrating the absolute physical brilliance of Tony Romo's throw and Bryant's historic, beautiful effort. 

NFL explains why Dez Bryant’s catch wasn’t a catch

In the final minutes of Dallas's heartbreaking 26-21 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, Dez Bryant’s spectacular fourth-down catch was controversially overturned.

Bryant’s 31-yard reception initially set the Cowboys up at the 1-yard line, but referee Gene Steratore reversed the call after video review.

The NFL's controversial final decision hinged strictly on the going-to-the-ground rule. Because Bryant was falling during the catch, he had to maintain control throughout his contact with the turf.

Slow-motion replays showed the football hitting the turf and coming loose as Bryant hit the ground.

"He must complete that entire process with the football," Steratore explained. "Although he repossesses it, it does contact the ground when he reaches, so the repossession is irrelevant."

Bryant strongly argued he made a legal football move, according to reports of The Seattle Times from 2015.

“One, two, reach. Bam, that’s possession.”  Bryant said.

Coach Jason Garrett agreed, calling the reach a signature play. However, Packers cornerback Sam Shields expressed relief, calling the ruling a good, correct call. 

Ultimately, the strict letter of the rulebook prevailed, cementing the legendary and highly controversial “Dez caught it” moment forever in NFL playoff history.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote