Fans Outraged After NFL Tries to Debunk Accusations of Favoritism Toward Particular Quarterbacks

One of the recurring themes of the 2024 NFL season was fans accusing the NFL and its officials on social media of giving the Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes preferential treatment with certain penalty calls.

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And while Mahomes and the Chiefs were the beneficiaries of questionable calls in various games, the league maintained all along that Mahomes wasn’t favored more than any other QB was.

At the NFL combine on Wednesday, the league supported its claim by releasing data collected throughout the season showing the number of fouls drawn per 100 hits by 33 quarterbacks around the league. Mahomes wasn’t at the top of the list.

A photo tweeted by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo showed Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa led the league in fouls per 100 hits with 7.32, followed by Buffalo’s Josh Allen (6.73), Carolina’s Bryce Young (5.45), Dallas’ Cooper Rush (4.88) and Arizona’s Kyler Murray (4.00) rounding out the top five.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with NFL referee Carl Cheffers in Super Bowl LV in February 2021.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn

Mahomes ranked eighth with 3.53 hits per 100 hits.

The league ultimately concluded there was “no apparent link between QB status and treatment from officiating,” though fans on social media still didn’t seem to buy what the NFL was selling.

“We aren’t talking about the volume of calls. We’re talking about when in the game those fouls take place. It’s always at the most opportune time for the chiefs and Mahomes,” one fan wrote.

“My question is the timing. Mahomes drew a lot at the end of halfs,” another added.

“Chiefs fans think this is a win when it’s the timing of the calls that matters not the quantity lmao,” one user stated.

“They can try and cover this up as much as possible. The calls we complain about with the Chiefs are GAME ALTERING penalties. It’s the timing that matters. Also the no calls during critical situations,” remarked another.

“It’s not how many calls Mahomes gets in his favor. It’s about the calls be at the opportune time for Mahomes,” one fan noted.

“’We’ve investigated ourselves and found we did nothing wrong,’” quipped another fan.