NEW ORLEANS — During Fox’s media day, officiating analyst Mike Pereira noticed an unusually large group of reporters surrounding him, despite the presence of several Super Bowl-winning coaches and players also available for interviews.
“Clearly, something is awry,” he remarked.
In recent weeks, the discussion has shifted to the officials themselves, largely fueled by numerous online conspiracy theories alleging that NFL referees exhibit bias towards Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his team. Pereira dismissed these claims as a misguided “myth,” while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell referred to them as “ridiculous,” and the head of the officiating union labeled them “insulting.” However, this narrative seems to linger among certain observers as the Chiefs prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the upcoming Super Bowl.
“It’s unfortunate that this is the prevailing story,” Pereira expressed, drawing on his wide-ranging experience in officiating roles, including his previous leadership position within the NFL’s officiating department. “It puts additional pressure on the officials during the game. They will not alter how they officiate, but they are undoubtedly aware that they are part of the narrative, which is a rare occurrence. I pity the officials and the game itself, as this perception of favoritism is simply unfounded from our perspective.”
Several controversial calls during the playoffs that have seemingly favored the Chiefs have intensified these allegations. Incidents like the two illegal hits on Mahomes by Houston in the divisional round and a closely scrutinized fourth-and-1 conversion involving Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen in the AFC Championship have fueled speculation.
However, an analysis of penalties does not suggest any systemic bias. According to statistics since the beginning of the 2022 playoffs, the Chiefs have actually accrued 120 more penalty yards than their opponents. Additionally, they have been granted 10 fewer first downs from penalties on crucial third or fourth downs during that period, indicating any supposed favoritism is unsubstantiated.
Pereira noted that while the themes of criticism remain largely unchanged from his tenure as head of officiating from 2001 to 2009, the intensity has definitely escalated due to the influence of modern social media.
“I didn’t have to deal with social media back then,” he recalled. “Now, the speed at which narratives can develop online is astounding. You can lose control over these situations, and small events can quickly gain widespread attention.”
Dean Blandino, another expert on officiating and former NFL vice president of officiating, suggested that greater transparency could benefit the league. He proposed that television broadcasts should display conversations between officials and the replay crew, a practice already adopted by some spring leagues, to enhance trust among fans.
Blandino also emphasized that the league is vigilant in monitoring officiating standards by closely analyzing how officials perform on calls across different teams, accounting for variations based on home or road games and where they position themselves on the field.
“It’s hard to imagine a profession that faces more evaluation and criticism than officiating,” Blandino noted. “They are assessed immediately during games through replay checks, coaching input, media scrutiny, and fan reactions. An official showing favoritism would inevitably become apparent to the league.”
Both Pereira and Blandino acknowledged that officiating mobile quarterbacks like Mahomes can present complexities, specifically balancing the need to protect quarterbacks from significant hits against allowing defenses to function effectively.
In a recent game for the Chiefs against the Texans, an incident resulted in Houston being penalized for hitting Mahomes in the helmet following a slide, while a subsequent perceived flop by Mahomes was correctly not penalized.
“When looking at the statistics over the past few years, Mahomes actually ranks in the middle concerning the number of calls made for him,” Blandino shared. “He is skilled at testing the limits, particularly along the sidelines, so officials must be alert.”
Pereira concluded that the officiating crew for the Super Bowl, led by referee Ron Torbert, must focus on treating the game like any other, disregarding outside noise.
“Historically, there are often fewer penalties in playoff games and especially the Super Bowl,” he noted. “This is likely because officials aim to avoid becoming the center of attention. Initially, they may feel nervous and anxious, but once the game commences and they settle into their rhythm around the third play, it should be business as usual. I wouldn’t want to add any undue pressure to their mindset.”
