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Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught on hot mic after costly penalty vs. Cardinals: 'That's some bulls***t'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz09/26/25NickSchultz_7
Jaxon Smith-Njigba seahawks
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

In the fourth quarter of Thursday’s primetime matchup, the Seattle Seahawks looked like they scored a touchdown. However, Jaxon Smith-Njigba got called for a hold – and his reaction was caught on a hot mic by the referee.

The call negated a Zach Charbonnet touchdown, and Seattle ended up having to settle for a field goal to make it a 20-6 lead. But as Alex Kemp went to make the call, Smith-Njigba didn’t hide his displeasure, and the microphone picked it up.

“That’s some bulls***t,” Smith-Njigba said.

Kemp heard it, too. He gave the former Ohio State star a stern look as he walked past, which gave the Prime Video broadcast team of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit a laugh.

“Good call by Alex Kemp,” Michaels said. “It’s one thing if you say something and there’s an open mic. But if the mic’s not open, you get away with it. … Just a misdemeanor this time.”

“He gave him a look. … My kids make fun of me – I have four sons. When they were younger, I used to give them this look right here,” Herbstreit said.

Smith-Njigba got off to a bit of a slow start in Thursday’s game, failing to record a catch in the first half. Out of the break, though, he caught four receptions for 79 yards – including a 22-yarder in the final minute to help get the Seahawks into field goal range after the Cardinals tied the game. Jason Myers then drilled the walk-off, 52-yard field goal to give Seattle a thrilling 23-20 victory.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is having a monster start to the 2025 season as he emerges as Seattle’s No. 1 option. Through three games entering Thursday Night Football, he was second in the NFL with 323 receiving yards – 10 behind Puka Nacua for the league leader. It comes after a breakout second season in the league when he had 100 catches for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.

The expectation was Smith-Njigba would become the focal point of the Seattle offense after the franchise traded DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That has been the case so far, even after the Seahawks brought in Cooper Kupp via free agency and selected Tory Horton in this year’s NFL Draft. The two-headed monster of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet at running back are also crucial in Klint Kubiak’s scheme.