The head of the union representing NFL referees has called allegations that officiating crews favor the Kansas City Chiefs or any other team “absurd and offensive.”
Scott Green, executive director of the NFL Referees Association, came out Tuesday to thank Commissioner Roger Goodell for his dismissal of conspiracy theories circulating on social media about alleged favoritism toward the Chiefs.
“Commissioner Goodell’s comments that it is ‘ridiculous’ to assume that NFL officials are not doing their best to call every play are accurate,” Green said. “Officiating crews do not work with the same team more than twice in a regular season. It is absurd to believe that the 17 officiating crews with 138 officials would be colluding to help one team.”
Some controversial playoff decisions that favored Kansas City have fueled theories of favoritism, especially on crucial plays against Patrick Mahomes during the divisional round and close calls in decisive games.
However, a closer look at the penalties shows no signs of systematic bias. Since the start of the 2022 playoffs, the Chiefs have received 120 more yards of penalties than their opponents, both regular season and playoff.
Kansas City also had 10 fewer first downs from penalties on third- or fourth-down plays during that span and a slight advantage in yardage difference from penalties in the fourth quarter or overtime of close games.
“There are many things fans can worry about during a 17-game season, including coaching decisions, player injuries, the weather and even close calls on incredible plays by incredible athletes,” Green said. “But you can rest assured that on every play, NFL officials, both on the field and in the video booth, are doing everything in their power to correctly officiate each play.”
