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NFL officials have been criticized for much of the season for what some perceive to be favoritism of the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s officials during his annual Super Bowl press conference on Monday, calling it “a ridiculous theory.”
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Goodell’s sentiments were echoed Tuesday in a statement released by the NFL Referees Association’s executive director Scott Green, who called the commissioner’s assessment “spot on.”
“It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team,” the statement, which you can see in full here, read.
“That’s a ridiculous theory — for anyone who might take it seriously. But at the end of the day, it’s something we always have to continue to work on: How do we make our officiating better?”
– Roger Goodell when asked about public perception that referees are favoring the Chiefs pic.twitter.com/uA2YX7FE7s
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 3, 2025
Claims from fans that the referees favor the Chiefs were amplified during this year’s playoff run, with at least one opponent seemingly joining in on the critique.
Following Kansas City’s AFC divisional round win over the Houston Texans, several Houston players openly suggested the Chiefs may have benefited from calls during the matchup.
“We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game,” Texans defensive end Will Anderson said during his postgame interview. The NFL later fined Anderson $25,000 for the comment.
Anderson made those remarks when asked about two questionable penalties levied against Houston that benefitted Kansas City. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes later pushed back on that notion, telling Kansas City’s 96.5 The Fan that those calls didn’t determine the game.
“Obviously, there was a call here and there that people didn’t agree with, but at the same time, I think there were a lot of other plays that decided the outcome of that football game,” he said.
The Chiefs found themselves on the better side of another questionable call in the AFC Championship after officials ruled that Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had failed to earn a first down on a fourth-and-1 rushing attempt. The play was reviewed and the ruling was upheld, resulting in a turnover on downs. The Chiefs then went on a five-play, 59-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown run by Mahomes to retake the lead.
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To many viewers who posted on social media, as well as Bills head coach Sean McDermott, it appeared that Allen had picked up the yard needed for the first down.
“That’s a possession,” McDermott said following the 32-29 loss. “We’re up one point, I believe, at the time, a chance to go up maybe multiple scores at that point. It’s a big call. It’s absolutely a big call.”
Both Green and Goodell said that officials are working to ensure they make the correct calls.
“You can rest assured that on every single down, NFL officials, both on the field and in the replay booth, are doing everything humanly possible to officiate every play correctly,” Green said.
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(Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
