Connor Stalions Set to Discuss Michigan Sign-Stealing Scandal on Netflix
Connor Stalions, the former Michigan football staffer linked to the alleged sign-stealing controversy that rocked college football last year, is set to break his silence in a new Netflix documentary titled “Sign Stealer,” scheduled to premiere on August 27, as announced by the streaming platform on Monday.
The documentary, part of Netflix’s “Untold” series, will delve into Stalions’ perspective on Michigan’s purported sign-stealing operation that thrust him into the spotlight as a controversial figure. This installment joins other documentaries in the series, such as investigations into the untold stories behind the murder of Steve McNair and Hope Solo’s tumultuous relationship with U.S. Soccer.
Stalions gained notoriety in October when Michigan football came under fire for allegedly engaging in illicit advanced scouting practices. The former staffer was accused of orchestrating a scheme where individuals affiliated with the team attended games of future Michigan opponents over several seasons, recording the opponents’ sidelines in an effort to decode play signals transmitted to players during the games.
Critics argue that the Wolverines leveraged these actions to their advantage, evidenced by their impressive 40-3 record since 2021, clinching three consecutive Big Ten titles and a College Football Playoff national championship. Presently, the Michigan football program is under scrutiny by the NCAA for potential rule violations stemming from the scandal.
The fallout from the scandal led to unprecedented actions within the Big Ten conference, which intervened mid-investigation to declare that Michigan had breached the conference’s sportsmanship policy. Consequently, the head coach, Jim Harbaugh, was suspended for three games.
Following his suspension by the university, Stalions, who was a modestly paid staffer, chose to resign from his position. In the aftermath, he was sighted at prominent Michigan games, including the Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl victory against Alabama.
Despite the uproar surrounding the scandal, Stalions refrained from public interviews, opting instead to release a statement through legal representation in November. The statement sought to exonerate Harbaugh and the coaching staff from any complicity in the alleged misconduct, asserting that to Stalions’ knowledge, no one within the coaching ranks had sanctioned rule violations.
Harbaugh has consistently denied any involvement or awareness of the sign-stealing operation. Notably, Chris Partridge, an assistant coach who rejoined the Michigan staff in 2023, was dismissed abruptly in November in connection to the ongoing investigation.
