The NFL presented compelling data on Wednesday that won’t please the crowd who thinks the refs are out to rig games for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
During the 2024 NFL season, angry fans accused the NFL and its officials of cheating to help the Chiefs win games. The conspiracy theory grew so much that Commissioner Roger Goodell had to address it during Super Bowl week, calling the claims “ridiculous.”
Additionally, NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green put out a scathing statement on the claims, calling them “insulting.”
Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the league presented data on Wednesday showing how many penalties each starting quarterback drew per 100 hits in the 2024 season. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa drew the most penalties with 7.32.
In fact, Patrick Mahomes was only eighth on the list with 3.53 fouls per 100 hits. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers), Cooper Rush (Dallas Cowboys), Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals), Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) and Baker Mayfield also drew more than Mahomes:
Like the other 31 teams, the Kansas City Chiefs benefit from and suffer from officiating mistakes. But as the league data shows, the idea that the refs are protecting Patrick Mahomes must be put to rest.
