The Seattle Seahawks are headed to the Super Bowl, but a late personal foul on former Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen nearly helped the Los Angeles Rams punch their ticket to San Francisco. The Rams scored a touchdown on the next play following the personal foul on what would have been fourth down.
Woolen has received a great deal of criticism, and certainly deserves some blame for his actions. The defender has since posted an apology on social media.
Yet, there are also a growing number of fans and media members who believe the personal foul call was unwarranted, especially given the potential to shift outcome of the game. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons believes there is a double standard that exists within the NFL on taunting calls, pointing to the team celebrations after turnovers.
“I don’t know who it’s for,” Simmons questioned regarding the taunting call during a January 25, 2026, podcast episode. “I don’t know if they’re trying to teach sportsmanship to younger people, they felt like something was going out of line.
“Here’s where it falls apart for them. It’s the same sport with the same rule that after a turnover or a safety or whatever, all of the defenders can run into the other end zone and (expletive) do snow angels and stuff,” Simmons added.
“So it’s like, that’s not taunting but Woolen getting excited that he just made a great stop, and he is in front of the bench and he yells at a couple people. Like I just don’t understand why do you have these two different outcomes for things that you’re just governing completely different.”
NFL Fans Are Confused by the Personal Foul Call on Seahawks CB Riq Woolen vs. Rams
While the Rams converted a touchdown instead of what would have likely been a fourth-down punt, ultimately the Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl. The call still left fans puzzled about the decision to throw the flag.
“We are really calling this a personal foul??” one person questioned on X. “Seahawks are getting these soft calls for what?? BS.”
“Call it every time or not at all,” another wondered. “Pick one. Not when you feel like it.”
“I blame the NFL. Such a soft rule,” one person added.
Seahawks CB Riq Woolen on Personal Foul Call: ‘Sometimes You Black Out’
Even if the call was questionable, Woolen would be wise to use more restraint in the future. The cornerback took to X to offer an apology for the decision.
“@NFL @Seahawks no more taunting penalties,” Woolen said in a series of January 26, messages on X. “No cap high intense game and when you in the zone and ballin with your bros sometimes you black out 😂.”
Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald on Riq Woolen’s Penalty vs. Rams: ‘That’s Not the Time to Point (the Finger)’
After advancing to the Super Bowl, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald opted to focus more on the team’s reaction than Woolen’s decision. Macdonald urged his teammates to encourage Woolen in these moments.
“He just made an emotional decision and we got to pick him up,” Macdonald said of Woolen, per NFL.com. “That’s not the time to point (the finger), get all upset. You’ve got to go play the next play and score and go rebound back and go back.
“Riq came back and played well the rest of the game. So I mean, it literally is like ’12 As One’. Just keep picking each other up.”
NFL Under Fire After Rams-Seahawks Game Ahead of Super Bowl