Jon Gruden has a pointed criticism of the NFL's pass interference rules, and he's not alone in his concerns. During a recent appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Gruden explained that he believes the NFL's approach to pass interference has become too punitive and inconsistent.
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In his eyes, the penalty should mirror that of college football, where pass interference results in a 15-yard penalty rather than the current NFL practice of awarding a spot foul.
Gruden argues that the NFL's more severe punishment for pass interference can drastically impact the game. A 60-yard penalty for a quarterback's underthrown deep ball, he points out, is unfair.
"Some of these pass interference calls are impacting the game, just one play there," Gruden said. He added that the inconsistency in how different crews call pass interference only adds to the confusion. For Gruden, it's a matter of ensuring fairness: A defensive back shouldn't be penalized for a play that has little chance of succeeding.
Jon Gruden would make DPI in the NFL 15 yards because of the impact it has on the game
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— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) December 20, 2024
What stands out in Gruden's comments is his belief that the flag should only be thrown when the interference is "obvious." He feels that many of the penalties called today are marginal or subjective, which results in some games being shaped by questionable calls.
As an offensive coach and former Super Bowl champion, Gruden's perspective holds weight, especially considering his vested interest in improving the flow of the game while maintaining fairness for both sides.
Gruden's frustration isn't unique. Several other NFL veterans have voiced similar concerns, suggesting that the current state of pass interference calls might be favoring offenses too much, to the detriment of the overall game.
It's clear that changes could be on the horizon, but whether the league will take Gruden's suggestion to heart remains to be seen.
