Sophia Yeskulsky | Sports Editor & Charlotte Yeskulsky | Head Editor
September 6, 2024
What started as a seemingly harmless favor quickly spiraled into a full-blown scandal—this is the story of Connor Stalions and his sign-stealing controversy. Released on August 27, the Netflix documentary Untold: Sign Stealer delves deep into the saga, exploring both sides of the story in gripping detail.
Back in October of 2023, the NCAA investigated the University of Michigan football program for allegedly scouting future opponents in person, which essentially meant stealing football signals. The man behind all of this was 2017 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Connor Stalions.
After becoming a volunteer assistant to the linebacker’s coach at Michigan, Stalions quickly tried to continue what he had learned at his time in the Navy football program, sign-stealing. Through his dedication, Stalions became extraordinary at deciphering other teams’ signs, resulting in him eventually becoming an actual staff member.
The beginning of the movie is told from Connor’s point of view and he talks about his journey to earning this role at Michigan and his inspiration for it all; his parents. Connor always proclaimed himself to be a “Michigan Man” as his parents were die-hard fans before he was even born –this love for the program would later cost him. Hearing about the controversy for the past few months and reading the constant articles, the documentary seemed to almost glorify Connors and take the side that he was innocent. His friends and family talked about him as the most honest and hard-working man who unjustly lost his job due to false accusations.
The second half of the movie took a completely opposite turn. Instead of interviewing just Stalions, the focus shifted to an interview with his lawyers, Dave Portnoy (a die-hard Michigan fan), NCAA lawyers, and another sign stealer who remained anonymous. These multiple sources gave a severely different account as the story unfolded.
Stalions was accused of buying tickets to more than thirty games—both current and upcoming—that included Michigan opponents. During those games, a smartphone was used to take pictures and videos of opposing coaches and their signals. It’s important to note that all of these tickets were for seats that were on the 50-yard line, about two rows up. While he claimed that he was buying these single-seat tickets for his mother and friends, how likely is that story? Considering the price of these tickets and the fact that he gave out around 30 of them, it would likely be costing him more than his entire salary. What person buys a ticket for their Michigan-supporting mom and makes her go by herself to a football game where Michigan wasn’t even playing? All of these unanswered questions led the NCAA to question his honesty.
The tipping point of the documentary was when Stalions was shown a picture of himself on the sideline of Central Michigan dressed in CMU gear head to toe. When the interviewer asked him if that was him on the sideline at the Central Michigan vs Michigan State game, he claimed “I don’t recall attending a specific game.” The very broad answer, one that completely ignored the question at hand, was followed up by Dave Portnoy. Portnoy explained, “Well, I know the answer to that because he told me. Yeah, that was Connor on the sidelines. That was Connor on the sidelines.”
In the final parts of the documentary, former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh claimed that he had no knowledge of Connor Stalions’ sign-stealing activities. This raises a critical question: How could Stalions, a paid and prominent staff member, operate without the head coach’s awareness? And what about the thousands of dollars spent on flights, hotels, and game tickets?
San Clemente High School senior Drake Laszewski agreed adding, “I think Connor Stalions definitely helped Michigan win some of their games and get them to the national championship game.” The documentary leaves these questions hanging, casting doubt on the extent of Harbaugh’s involvement and oversight.
Ultimately, Untold: Sign Stealer reveals how a seemingly small act—sign-stealing—can unravel into a scandal that shakes an entire program. The documentary leaves viewers grappling with the blurred lines between competitive strategy and unethical behavior. While Connor Stalions may be the central figure in this controversy, the film underscores a broader issue within college football—where the hunger to win can sometimes push individuals and programs to questionable tactics. After talking with Brianna Diaz, daughter of Jason Diaz who is a coach for the Triton football team, she felt that “for better or for worse he [Stalions] brought awareness to a whole new aspect of the game.” In the end, Stalions is portrayed as both a dedicated ‘Michigan Man’ and a flawed individual who got caught up in a high-stakes game. Whether you view him as a scapegoat or a cunning rule-breaker, the documentary makes one thing clear: in the world of college football, the line between fair and foul play is thin, and Connor Stalions crossed it.
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