Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Connor Stalions Breaks Silence on Netflix, Denies NCAA Allegations in "Sign Stealer"
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 30 mins ago on
August 27, 2024

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, front left, watches against Rutgers as analytics assistant Connor Stalions, right, looks on during an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept. 23, 2023. (AP/Paul Sancya)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

ANN ARBOR — Connor Stalions broke his silence on Netflix.

The former Michigan football staffer, who resigned amid a scandal last season, was heard publicly for the first time in “Sign Stealer” on Tuesday — two days after the school received a notice of allegations from the NCAA about his operation.

“If I’m a bad guy, then everyone in football is a bad guy,” Stalions said on the latest release of “UNTOLD” on the streaming service.

NCAA Rules and Stalions’ Claims

NCAA rules do not prohibit stealing signs, a role Stalions appeared to have on former coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the Wolverines, but the governing body does ban advance scouting.

“I did not obtain signals through in-person scouting,” Stalions told NCAA investigators during a virtual meeting that was recorded and incorporated into the film.

When investigators asked Stalions if he attended the Central Michigan-Michigan State game on Sept. 1, 2023, he said he didn’t recall.

At another point in the documentary, Stalions was shown alongside an image of a man wearing Central Michigan gear and sunglasses during a night game against the Spartans ahead of their game against Michigan.

“I don’t even think this guy looks like me,” he said with a smirk.

Ticket Purchases and Video Recordings

Records from other Big Ten schools show Stalions bought tickets to numerous games involving future opponents and the NCAA alleges he sent those people to digitally record teams when they signaled plays.

Stalions, though, insisted some of those tickets landed in the hands of people who sent him unsolicited video clips from games and refused to budge when asked about it by NCAA investigators.

“I don’t ever recall directing someone to go to a game,” he said, adding he sold some tickets and transferred others to friends.

Stalions told the NCAA that he didn’t need videos of signs sent to them because he had already memorized them.

In the documentary, Stalions shared details about how he deciphered signs from opposing teams by creating a database with thousands of images of him performing thousands of signals.

Stalions’ Background and Role at Michigan

Before Stalions graduated from the Naval Academy in 2017, he was a volunteer student coach for Ken Niumatalolo and said in the documentary that stealing signs was the role he performed at Navy.

He was a volunteer for Michigan’s football program for years, including when he was stationed in San Diego and slept in his car while renting his house, until Harbaugh hired him 2022.

The retired captain in the Marine Corps was an analytics assistant for the Wolverines when he was suspended in October 2023, a day after the school disclosed it was under NCAA investigation. Stalions later resigned.

“I kind of went in hiding,” he said. “They dragged my name in the mud.”

NCAA investigators were asked by Stalions’ attorney if his personal data, which was obtained by a third party, was taken without consent and they said they were unable to share that information.

The NCAA investigation into impermissible in-person scouting and sign stealing by Michigan hung over the second half of the team’s unbeaten season last year.

Stalions attended last season’s win over Ohio State, where former linebacker Michael Barrett confirmed in the documentary he saw him at Michigan Stadium.

On the first day director Micah Brown joined Stalions for the documentary, he used his cellphone to record videos of Stalions crying in the stands as confetti fell in Houston during the Wolverines’ national championship celebration after beating Washington in Houston.

Harbaugh Denies Any Knowledge of Impermissible Scouting

Harbaugh, now coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, has denied any knowledge of impermissible scouting while he was with the program.

Stalions showed a game ball he was given by the program, he said for deciphering signals, after a win over Iowa in 2022.

“Don’t get the big head, Connor,” Stalions recalled Harbaugh telling him.

The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the 2023 regular season to punish Michigan for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy after its investigation of the sign-stealing scheme.

No. 9 Michigan begins the defense of its national championship Saturday night at home against Fresno State.

Stalions was not paid to appear in the documentary but was compensated for footage he provided, according to to SpringHill, the entertainment company that produced the film and is owned by LeBron James and Maverick Carter.

“They wanted to do this and they got access to Connor,” Brown said. “No matter how people view Connor in this film, he should have a career in football and hope he is given that choice.”

Stalions is currently a volunteer coach at Detroit Mumford High School, serving as the football team’s defensive coordinator.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Rams Linebacker Ernest Jones Doesn’t Practice After Being Given Permission to Seek Trade

DON'T MISS

Connor Stalions Breaks Silence on Netflix, Denies NCAA Allegations in “Sign Stealer”

DON'T MISS

Does American Tennis Have a Pickleball Problem?

DON'T MISS

US Consumer Confidence Rises in August as Americans’ Optimism About Future Improves

DON'T MISS

Zuckerberg Alleges Biden Officials Pressured Facebook to Censor COVID-19 Content

DON'T MISS

Coco Gauff Begins Her US Open Title Defense With an Easy Win After a Two-Match Losing Streak

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Says It Has Rescued Another Hostage Abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7 Attack

DON'T MISS

Which 2024 California Bills Will Gov. Newsom Sign Into Law?

DON'T MISS

It’s Official, the Census Says: Gay Male Couples Like San Francisco. Lesbians Like the Berkshires

DON'T MISS

Ukraine Claims Control of 500 Square Miles in Kursk, Captures 594 Russian Troops

UP NEXT

Connor Stalions Breaks Silence on Netflix, Denies NCAA Allegations in “Sign Stealer”

UP NEXT

Does American Tennis Have a Pickleball Problem?

UP NEXT

US Consumer Confidence Rises in August as Americans’ Optimism About Future Improves

UP NEXT

Zuckerberg Alleges Biden Officials Pressured Facebook to Censor COVID-19 Content

UP NEXT

Coco Gauff Begins Her US Open Title Defense With an Easy Win After a Two-Match Losing Streak

UP NEXT

Israeli Military Says It Has Rescued Another Hostage Abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7 Attack

UP NEXT

Which 2024 California Bills Will Gov. Newsom Sign Into Law?

UP NEXT

It’s Official, the Census Says: Gay Male Couples Like San Francisco. Lesbians Like the Berkshires

UP NEXT

Ukraine Claims Control of 500 Square Miles in Kursk, Captures 594 Russian Troops

UP NEXT

Harris Launches Ad Highlighting Plans to Build 3 Million Homes, Reduce Inflation

US Consumer Confidence Rises in August as Americans’ Optimism About Future Improves

38 mins ago

Zuckerberg Alleges Biden Officials Pressured Facebook to Censor COVID-19 Content

43 mins ago

Coco Gauff Begins Her US Open Title Defense With an Easy Win After a Two-Match Losing Streak

48 mins ago

Israeli Military Says It Has Rescued Another Hostage Abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7 Attack

49 mins ago

Which 2024 California Bills Will Gov. Newsom Sign Into Law?

54 mins ago

It’s Official, the Census Says: Gay Male Couples Like San Francisco. Lesbians Like the Berkshires

54 mins ago

Ukraine Claims Control of 500 Square Miles in Kursk, Captures 594 Russian Troops

1 hour ago

Harris Launches Ad Highlighting Plans to Build 3 Million Homes, Reduce Inflation

1 hour ago

The New COVID Vaccine Is Out. Why You Might Not Want to Rush to Get It.

4 hours ago

Receiver CeeDee Lamb Agrees to 4-Year, $136M Deal With Cowboys, AP Sources Say

16 hours ago

Rams Linebacker Ernest Jones Doesn’t Practice After Being Given Permission to Seek Trade

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones did not practice Monday after being given permission to seek a trade. Jones took to s...

47 seconds ago

47 seconds ago

Rams Linebacker Ernest Jones Doesn’t Practice After Being Given Permission to Seek Trade

30 mins ago

Connor Stalions Breaks Silence on Netflix, Denies NCAA Allegations in “Sign Stealer”

36 mins ago

Does American Tennis Have a Pickleball Problem?

38 mins ago

US Consumer Confidence Rises in August as Americans’ Optimism About Future Improves

Photo of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg
43 mins ago

Zuckerberg Alleges Biden Officials Pressured Facebook to Censor COVID-19 Content

48 mins ago

Coco Gauff Begins Her US Open Title Defense With an Easy Win After a Two-Match Losing Streak

49 mins ago

Israeli Military Says It Has Rescued Another Hostage Abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7 Attack

54 mins ago

Which 2024 California Bills Will Gov. Newsom Sign Into Law?

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend