Roger Goodell Stands by Refs' Penalty on Chiefs Amid Patrick Mahomes' Outburst
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands by referees' penalty decision, prompting visibly heated reaction from Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Roger Goodell and Patrick Mahomes. Getty Images (2)
During a news conference at the league's winter meetings, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expressed his pride in game officials following a penalty call that caused Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to become upset after his team's loss on Sunday, December 10. "Their job is to call fouls, and there was no question about that call. It was absolutely the right call," the 64-year-old Goodell remarked, according to Yahoo Sports. He added, "If you don't make that call, our officials would have also faced criticism."
Goodell recognized that "nobody is perfect," but he firmly supported the controversial pre-snap penalty. He expressed irony in having to defend when officials make the right call while facing criticism. He added that everyone in the sports community acknowledges that the officials made the correct decision.
The Chiefs had a touchdown reversed by referees in the last two minutes of their game against the Buffalo Bills. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney was deemed to be offsides after a lateral pass by tight end Travis Kelce. This led to the Chiefs losing with a final score of 20 to 17, marking their second loss in two weeks.
Quarterback Mahomes, 28, was visibly upset by the decision and was seen expressing his frustration on the field. He was captured on camera telling Bills quarterback Josh Allen, “Wildest call I’ve ever seen. Offensive offsides on that play, man, terrible.”
One day after the game, Mahomes apologized for his hot-headed behavior during an interview with Kansas City’s 610 Sports Radio.
Patrick Mahomes, shown in the photo above, expressed regret for his behavior and specifically his treatment of Josh after the game. He acknowledged that his actions were not a good example for young fans watching the game.
The Texas native recognized that incidents like that are common in the NFL, but he emphasized that his reaction was rooted in genuine concern. "I have a passion for this game. I care about my teammates, and I'm willing to give my all to win," he added. "However, I understand that it's not acceptable to show that kind of behavior towards officials or anyone else in general."
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The quarterbacks don't appear to have any ill will toward each other. Allen commented on the interaction with Mahomes after Wednesday's practice.
"I thought, 'It's football, a game of emotions,'" Allen explained, according to Sports Illustrated. "I know he didn't intend any harm, and I understand that the cameras only captured the last part of our conversation. But he's a fierce competitor. He's driven to win and that's what defines him."
