NFL refs and Patrick Mahomes (Photos by Getty Images)
The NFL Referees Association has finally broken the silence on accusations that their officials “rig” games for the Kansas City Chiefs.
As most NFL fans know, the Chiefs have been involved in a plethora of controversial calls throughout the 2024 season. Patrick Mahomes and company have been on the beneficial side of those calls more often than not, such as the AFC Divisional Round and AFC Championship Games.
Disgruntled fans and even NFL legend Terrell Owens have accused the officials of fixing games for Kansas City. Finally, the NFL Referees Association has decided to address the accusations once and for all.
NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green called the accusations “insulting” in a scathing statement, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Green praised Commissioner Roger Goodell for calling the conspiracy theory “ridiculous” during his Super Bowl week press conference on Monday:
“It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team…
There are many things that fans can worry about over a 17-game season…But 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 properly.”
Well, there you have it. Someone in the NFLRA finally had enough of the conspiracy theorists and decided to say something about it.
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The League Should Do More To Help NFL Referees Association
It’s easy for fans and players to point the finger at the refs when they make a mistake, but it’s not their fault that the league has passed on several opportunities to improve officiating and replay review.
For example, what exactly is stopping them from making penalties like roughing the passer or grabbing the facemask reviewable? And when will they finally use advanced technology to their advantage by using an electronic system to spot the ball?
VIDEO: Hall Of Fame WR Terrell Owens Flat-Out Accuses NFL Refs Of “Fixing” Games For Kansas City Chiefs
Terrell Owens and Chiefs vs. Bills (Photos via Twitter and Getty Images)
You can add former NFL star wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens to the list of folks who believe the conspiracy theory that the referees are out to fix games for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Throughout the 2024 season, NFL referees have faced countless accusations of rigging games to help the Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champions have benefited from plenty of questionable calls this year, including the Divisional Round and AFC Championship Game vs. the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills, respectively.
If you’ve been on X/Twitter during Chiefs games this year, you’ve probably come across angry comments and accusations from fans about the league rigging games for Patrick Mahomes and company.
Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had to address it on Monday, telling reporters the theory is “ridiculous.”
During an appearance on the “It Is What It Is” podcast, Terrell Owens admitted that he’s buying the “refs are helping Kansas City” conspiracy theory:
“I played the game. I’m watching the game, and I’m looking at all these calls that’s benefitting the Kansas City Chiefs. Look at the game before against the Texans.Mahomes is smart…causing the flag. He’s getting the benefit of the…he didn’t even get hit, 15-yard flag. Will Anderson barely hit him, another that can stop the momentum of the game.
You can even go back to the last couple of Super Bowls, even when the Niners played the Super Bowl. Look at all the holding calls. If you watch that tape, bro, it was crazy. They were getting clotheslined. They were not calling it. It was blatant calls that were hits…it’s unreal. I’ve never thought I would say that games were rigged…bro, it is unreal at the amount of calls that are not called against the Kansas City Chiefs that are called against everybody else.”
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Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had to address it on Monday, telling reporters the theory is “ridiculous.”
The Texans-Chiefs game was highlighted by questionable roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness penalties drawn by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In the AFC title game, the officials curiously called Josh Allen short of a first down on a 4th-and-inches QB sneak, when it looked like he passed the marker.
So yes, the refs will very much be under the microscope for Super Bowl 59 on Sunday.
Terrell Owens Isn’t The Only Former NFL Star Who Believes This
Former NFL running backs Larry Johnson and Arian Foster have also claimed that the NFL is scripted/rigged. So of course, disgruntled fans are going to take their words and run with it as “evidence” that the league really is fixing games.
