The Most Devastating Call in Super Bowl History—And It’s Not Because We Lost

By Erica Ewart

Are they actually passing the ball? Absolute disbelief and shock rushed through me as I watched Russell Wilson set up for a pass in an empty backfield. This is very very bad. An interception (and an incredible individual play) took place in the next few seconds as my mouth was left open and silenced by the stunning decision to not give the ball to arguably the best running back in the NFL, Marshawn Lynch. My mind quickly ran through every logical explanation I could grab onto in the attempt to soothe my stunned heart. A diehard 12, I felt completely numbed to what I just witnessed and was only able to access one question—why not Lynch?

In the past week I have searched for answers to that final play call and heard multitudes of arguments to explain what happened in the last sequence. What has shaken out in these debates are two different camps of thought. One is the football reasoning of defensive schemes, over-coaching, and clock management that resulted in the play call. The other, is dubbed as a “conspiracy theory”, that Pete Carroll, Darrell Bevel, and the NFL powers up top wanted Russell Wilson to be the hero of the game instead of Marshawn Lynch, hence the pass play. It feels like there is a choice to be made between the two debates, you’re either in one camp or the other.

But as we seek answers for what happened, what if we don’t dismiss either camp?

Both ways of making meaning of that last play are valuable ways of ‘knowing’. As a psychotherapist I spend every day in the realms of the conscious and unconscious processes of individual and societal feelings and behaviors. When I looked at the last play using this lens I no longer felt numb. I finally found where my sadness was located and the tears finally came.

To make sense of my tears I’ll take a couple steps back and look at the matchup in this Super Bowl. It could not have been a better set up for how the ending transpired. The New England Patriots (Patriots=Colonialism, yup) have been nothing short of a power house in the NFL. They were the program we ‘should’ all aspire to be, constantly receiving glowing reviews as the top ownership, top coach and top quarterback, the model and pinnacle of American success. Of course they have been plagued as a program with cheating scandals and for me they represented the ‘establishment’ (Wall street, anyone?). They were the privileged who had the audacity to ask for an apology after being investigated for allegedly breaking the rules (Yes, this is definitely Wall Street). The Patriots were my ‘bad guys’. I wanted them to topple unto a new system of the ‘good guys’ in the Seattle Seahawks.

In contrast to the Patriots, I was heading into this matchup beaming with pride for my Hawks. Two weeks prior they had helped me to again believe in perseverance, unity, belief, hope and the possibility that those characteristics could win out in the face of adversity—metaphorically, in the face of the establishment. They had spoken out, or not spoken, to the media communicating the truths taking place in the powerful, privileged and corrupt system of the NFL (oh yeah, the NFL is still considered a non-profit organization). The Seahawks were the courageously subversive anti-establishment. They represented hope that the powerful establishment could crumble unto a better system for all, and I couldn’t wait for that changing of the guard on Sunday.

On the the final play for the Seahawks that change was right there for the taking. And the anti-establishment passed.

We have all looked for an answer to that pass because lets be honest, every 12 is struggling to comprehend the explanation given to us. A pass play in the 3 downs they had left in that possession is understandable. But a slant pass in the middle of the field on 2nd and 1 is actually not that rational. You throw to the sides of the field where only your guy can get it—that’s rational. So I do not completely buy what I’m logically being sold.

However, there is value in listening to the ‘knowing’ of the first camp of thought as we consider what was consciously going on, the intent. I do believe that by using the rationale of football strategy, Pete Carroll and Darrell Bevell thought they were making a play call that would enhance their chances of winning. In that moment of defensive match-ups, high intensity and quick thinking, I do not buy into either one of them having a conscious thought “How can I make Russell a hero and take the power away from Lynch with this next play?”. The explanation of their play calling in that moment makes sense, but it also demonstrates illogical gaps of thinking. This is because logic alone is limited as a source of knowledge. ‘Logic’ lacks the nimbleness to delve into the human complexities of the unconscious where institutional oppressive power structures of privilege often lurk.

Institutional power structures are systems in society which function to perpetuate privilege at the expense of the oppressed. In the year 2015 these systems still function consciously and intentionally. However, these systems also function in our unconscious processes, and this has major influence over our conscious thoughts and behaviors.

Validating the concept of privileged power structures is hard because it’s painful. It’s also extremely important and necessary if we want to change as a society, or by using football terms, if we want to avoid throwing a slant pass on 2nd and 1 again when we have the amazing Marshawn Lynch on our team.

This brings me to the second camp of thought which is calling for a conspiracy, (the term conspiracy theory is often used to stigmatize thinking against the norm, norm being created by the power system). The ‘conspiracy theory’ is that the Seahawks wanted to make their popular and compliant golden boy, Russell Wilson, the hero and MVP of Super Bowl XLIX. Equally important, they wanted to keep the subversive Marshawn Lynch from claiming his rightful glory.

The week prior to the Super Bowl Marshawn Lynch stole the headlines with his bravado in pushing back against the media, and well before was known for pushing back against the authority of the NFL (he was also known for carrying the Seahawks on his back). This narrative was playing loudly for us all last week. We were salivating for the chance to see what would happen if Roger Goodell had to hand Lynch that MVP trophy. While on the other hand, Russell Wilson was a perfect fit for the face of the program. He knew how to say the ‘right’ thing, he minded his P’s and Q’s, and he complied with the system, a system that makes a lot of money off of using his subordination and charisma. So when I heard about the conspiracy theory regarding the last play call, let’s just say it didn’t ring untrue.

It’s hard to place this theory in the conscious decision-making moment that lead up to the failed pass. It doesn’t add up considering all of the factors. But when placed in the unconscious processes that would inform a decision in that instance, I can’t help but feel a tremendous amount of grief as I come to grips with this theory. In the last sequence of plays Lynch received a 1st down carry when urgency to score was still present and Lynch was the best option to carry them to a win. But in those seconds between the time Marshawn Lynch dropped at the one and Russell Wilson threw that ill-fated pass, there was space and time for the conscious decision making to be influenced (there was also time before that one play call, refer back to media week and also to the colonizing histories of the United States). To put the ball in Russell’s hands made strategic sense to the coaches, but it was also propped up by the unconscious investments of Russell becoming the face of the program instead of Marshawn. They may not have realized it in that moment, yet, hiding somewhere below was the narrative telling them they had “a play to waste”. They weren’t desperate anymore at the half yard line, thus, they could give Russell a chance for glory first and then use Lynch if needed. It seemed like a win-win to take that risk. Rationale was unable to catch this mistake because the risky idea didn’t come from a purely logical and grounded place. That play call actually mirrored the grandiose thinking of a power structure.

And this answer to what happened in the final play of Super Bowl XLIX, sadly, rings very true to me. The institutionalized power structure which influenced the last play call is the real devastation of that pass play.

I didn’t shed a tear over the fact that we lost a football game. The Patriots beat us fair and square. The tears that finally did roll down my cheeks were the tears that realized the ‘bad guys’ weren’t just the Patriots, they were us too. We betrayed ourselves, we betrayed our identity (and in many ways Lynch) which had gotten us there in the first place. This betrayal did not necessarily happen consciously or intentionally, but good intention does not give us permission to dismiss the impact of our actions. There needs to be reflection and accountability here, not just a ‘logical’ explanation to justify and cover up the emotions that we’re feeling.

I believe if the Seahawks stay true to themselves and to their system they will grow to be an even stronger group. They have already created an inspiring culture of love, unity, belief, individual empowerment, and positive mindfulness that I absolutely love about this team. But they will have to use the most important characteristic of their system in order to heal from this loss—honesty. The best way to transform ourselves in the face of the ‘establishment’ is to be honest about our part in it.

I still love my Seahawks. But they aren’t perfect, just like the rest of us. Today I am beginning to heal from the disappointment of my beloved Hawks propping up the privileged power structures of the NFL. I’m also looking at myself for what work I still have to do in my own privilege. Because as my Hawks so harshly taught me that game, the work of dismantling oppressive institutions starts at home. I had a major blind spot in believing ‘my’ Hawks were impervious to the impacts of the power systems, and my stance was my own systemic privilege at work. I was dead wrong on my stance. I will still do my best to call out ‘the Patriots’ when I do see injustices, but I have to point a finger at ‘my Hawks’ and myself and remember that the system is functioning in us, too.

**Love and appreciation to the wonderful Kimberly George and Jacquie Gallaway who lent their conversational minds and editing assistance, helping to bring this piece together.