Connor Stalions was a once-obscure member of the Michigan Wolverines’ coaching staff. That stopped being the case following the 2023 University of Michigan football sign-stealing scandal when Stalions suddenly became a more familiar and controversial figure. This year, he decided to tell his side of the story in a Netflix documentary.
Untold: Sign Stealer, currently available to stream on the platform, puts the former Michigan coach in the hot seat by delving into the allegations he was involved in a sign-stealing operation. The documentary includes Stalions’ first-hand retelling of events, exclusive footage, and interviews with people in his orbit.
The Sign-Stealing Scandal, Explained
Sign-stealing in football refers to the practice of deciphering the signals used by opposing teams to call plays in order to gain an advantage on the field. While the practice isn’t illegal, the controversy involving Connor Stalions stems from allegations that he orchestrated an elaborate system to decode and intercept these signals during live games.
Stalions was a member of the Michigan Wolverines staff during a time when they seemed unbeatable. Then, in October 2023, the NCAA publicly announced an investigation into the Michigan football program, which ended up being widely known as the sign-stealing scandal. Stalions was investigated for having a network of scouts who would attend rival teams’ games, record their hand signals, and relay this information back to his team.
Sign-stealing itself isn’t banned by NCAA rules, but the use of technology or outside individuals for this purpose veers into unethical territory. Stalions eventually resigned from his position with the Wolverines. However, based on the Netflix documentary, it’s clear he believes he took the fall for the greater good, and the NCAA investigation resembles some sort of witch hunt.
Connor Stalions Tells His Side of the Story
With Untold: Sign Stealer, football fans can tune in to see Connor Stalions’ recount of how the affair went down from his perspective. In short, he considers that the situation is blown out of proportion and denies giving the Wolverines an unfair advantage. Moreover, Connor Stalions argues that the allegations against him are overzealous and suggest he might be a target because his sign-deciphering tactics were more successful. According to him, the media sensationalized the story for dramatic effect.
Untold: Sign Stealer features interviews with Stalions’ entourage and industry insiders. It also offers footage from an interview Connor Stalions sat for with the NCAA, which wasn’t made public prior to the Netflix documentary. Finally, it shows how football enthusiasts flooded social media with memes, conspiracy theories, discoveries, and accusations.
Final Thoughts
Some football fans see Connor Stalions as a mastermind who exploited a loophole, while others consider him a rule-breaker who gives the sport a bad name. Regardless of where you stand, his documentary is an engaging watch. The Michigan Wolverines continued to thrive following Stalions’ departure and went on to win the championship. Untold: Sign Stealer likely won’t settle the arguments around whether the team’s victory should have an asterisk next to it, but it does shed light on Stalions’ side of the story. If you want to learn more about the scandal itself, this is a good place to start.
Besides Sign Stealer, the Netflix anthology documentary series Untold has plenty of stories to tell. Volume 4, which debuted back in August, also has episodes covering the 2009 murder of Steve “Air” McNair and the life of US soccer icon Hope Solo. Meanwhile, previous seasons tackle Caitlyn Jenner’s life and Olympic career, Manti Te’o’s online relationship with a girl that didn’t exist, and Jake Paul’s pivot from YouTube to boxing, among other intriguing topics. If you’re looking for a documentary series that will keep you glued to the screen, you can’t go wrong with this one.
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