Academics have found that NFL referees disproportionately favoured the Kansas City Chiefs during the Patrick Mahomes era, particularly in postseason games. Researchers from the University of Texas El Paso and other institutions analysed over 13,000 penalty calls from 2015 to 2023, revealing a pattern of favouritism towards the Chiefs in the playoffs.
The study noted that penalties against opposing defensive players were 23% more likely to result in first downs, covered an average of 2.36 more yards, and were 28% more likely to be subjective calls like roughing the passer or pass interference. These effects were not observed for other dynasties, such as the Tom Brady-era New England Patriots.
Dr. Spencer Barnes, assistant professor of finance at UT El Paso, suggested financial incentives may play a role, stating, “The fact that postseason penalties consistently favored one franchise, while similar dynasties showed no such pattern, points to the powerful role of financial incentives in shaping supposedly neutral decisions.” The study found no such bias during regular season games.
The NFL, the Chiefs, and the NFL Referees Association did not respond to requests for comment. The Chiefs have been a ratings boon for the league; this year’s Super Bowl, which they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, was the most-watched in history with nearly 128 million viewers.
