For years, Patrick Mahomes has let his game do the talking. Five Super Bowl appearances in seven seasons as a starter, three rings, and a highlight reel that could loop for hours-his resume speaks louder than words.
But the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominance hasn’t come without criticism. Lately, NFL fans have been buzzing about whether the referees are giving Mahomes and the Chiefs a little too much love. From social media debates to heated talk-show segments, the idea that Kansas City gets favorable calls has taken on a life of its own.
That didn’t stop a reporter from trying to stir the pot at Super Bowl LIX media day. When asked which NFL referee was his favorite, Mahomes kept it smooth: “All the refs are great, man. They do the best they can. Go out there and play the game the right way.”
Not satisfied, the reporter doubled down, jokingly asking if Mahomes had a ref he’d send a Christmas card to. Again, Mahomes sidestepped the trap: “Not that I can remember. I’ll talk to some of my teammates to figure it out.”
Related:
The noise isn’t going away but the Chiefs aren’t listening
The exchange was classic Mahomes-never giving anyone ammo for a headline. But the conversation around officiating won’t go away that easily. During the Chiefs’ divisional-round win over the Texans, a controversial roughing the passer penalty on Will Anderson Jr. left fans fuming. Anderson himself didn’t hold back, saying, “We knew going into this game that it was us versus everybody… And I mean everybody.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wasn’t having any of it, calling the claims of ref favoritism “ridiculous.” He even compared it to the absurd NFL is scripted conspiracy, laughing off the idea that the league would tip the scales for Kansas City.
Meanwhile, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was visibly annoyed when the topic came up during Super Bowl Opening Night. Instead of diving into the debate, he flipped it back on the reporters: “Y’all got anything else to ask?”
As Mahomes and the Chiefs prepare for a shot at their third straight Super Bowl, the noise around them is only getting louder. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Mahomes won’t be distracted. He’s got bigger things on his mind-like making NFL history, again.
