Following Norris’ departure via ambulance, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and Lions head coach Dan Campbell came to the decision that play would not continue. Both teams sent players out onto the field and snapped the ball, but then all 22 players stood together at the 50-yard line as the clock ran down.
Asked about the decision to let the clock run without play action, Morris said it was made out of respect for Norris and his family, as well as the Lions organization.
“It was that simple,” Morris said.
Campbell: “Raheem Morris is a class act. He’s the ultimate class act. We agreed that it just didn’t feel right to finish that game.”
Closer to the 10-minute mark, players on the field circled together hand-in-hand and prayed for Norris as the clock continued to tick. With 6:19 on the clock, head referee Shawn Hochuli announced that the league office in New York confirmed play would be suspended.
“I don’t have much to say,” Morris said after the game was officially called, “but just thoughts and prayers to Morice Norris and his family and everybody involved, including my team, the Lions and Dan’s team.”