Legendary Referee Ed Hochuli Calls for NFL to Reexamine Ron Torbert. After “Phantom Whistle” Controversy in Buccaneers-Saints Game

October 28, 2025 | New Orleans, LA

In what has become one of the most controversial calls of the season, legendary referee Ed Hochuli has called for the NFL to investigate the actions of referee Ron Torbert during the Buccaneers-Saints Week 8 matchup. Hochuli, who officiated in the NFL for over 20 years and is widely regarded as one of the most respected referees in league history, expressed his disbelief over a decision made during the second quarter of the game that saw a key fumble return touchdown by the Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield Jr. nullified by what has been described as a “phantom whistle.”

With just 1:44 remaining in the second quarter, the game was still very much in the balance, with the Buccaneers leading the Saints 7-3. A pivotal play occurred when Antoine Winfield Jr. scooped up a loose ball and ran it back for what appeared to be a game-changing touchdown. However, the touchdown was immediately called back after the officials blew the whistle, claiming that the play was dead.

FOX replayed the Antoine Winfield Jr. scoop-and-score that officials took off the board because it was blown dead by a whistle.

No whistle is ever blown. pic.twitter.com/Cwr0zNSW2m

— Josh Hill (@jdavhill) October 26, 2025

But according to numerous replays and several in-depth reviews from experts, no whistle was heard at all — until after Winfield had already crossed the goal line. The controversy grew when Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles later described the whistle as “erroneous” and pointed out that the officials had no explanation for the blown call.

"As soon as he hit him, he stripped him. I got no answers for that," Bowles said. "We need some answers. We’ll be discussing that with the league."

Ed Hochuli, who has long been retired but remains an influential voice in NFL officiating, didn’t hold back when discussing the incident. In a shocking statement made to the media following the game, Hochuli said: “I’ve officiated many games, but I’ve never seen a call like this. When you blow a whistle before the play is over and then fail to acknowledge it properly, that’s a problem. I’ve gone back and watched the tape multiple times, and there was no whistle before Winfield crossed the goal line. What happened here is unacceptable, and it’s crucial that the NFL takes a deeper look at Ron Torbert’s performance in this game.”

“If this was a simple mistake, that’s one thing. But there is a bigger question to ask — how many other critical decisions have been made based on similar errors? This kind of inconsistency could impact the integrity of the game, and the league needs to be sure these kinds of calls are addressed. We can’t have situations where the outcome of games is decided by something that’s beyond the players’ control.”

While Hochuli’s comments have focused on the specific incident with the phantom whistle, the former referee also raised concerns about other decisions during the game that could point to possible bias or inconsistent officiating. Hochuli cited instances where the Saints were not penalized for several close hits on Baker Mayfield, while Tampa Bay was flagged for minor infractions that didn’t appear to be egregious.

“I’m not one to throw accusations, but there’s a feeling here that the officials were reluctant to call anything against the Saints. It’s strange to see that disparity, especially in such a high-stakes game. And when you throw in a major call like the phantom whistle, it makes you wonder about the overall consistency of the officiating crew.”

While there’s no direct evidence to suggest bias, the controversy surrounding Torbert’s crew has sparked intense debate among Saints fans, media, and analysts, who are calling for a deeper investigation into the calls made throughout the game.

Todd Bowles said they were told it was an “erroneous whistle,” adding, “As soon as he hit him, he stripped him. I got no answers for that.” He said of Antoine Winfield Jr: “He had a hell of a day. I’m still pissed off over some of it…We gotta do something. We’ll discuss that… pic.twitter.com/OGdEJI5RmO

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) October 26, 2025

As the fallout from the Buccaneers-Saints game continues, the NFL is under increasing pressure to examine not only the controversial phantom whistle but also the performance of Ron Torbert and his officiating crew throughout the game. Hochuli, while careful to remain impartial, made it clear that the NFL must take action to restore confidence in the league’s officiating system.

“Fans deserve better than this. Players deserve better than this. And most importantly, the game deserves better than this,” Hochuli concluded. “It’s time for the NFL to address this — for the sake of the integrity of the game.”

Whether the NFL will take any action remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this controversial call has ignited a firestorm of debate, and the Saints are demanding answers.