The Kansas City Chiefs have won two straight Super Bowls and three in five years. They have Patrick Mahomes. They have Travis Kelce dating Taylor Swift. And according to researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso, they might have something else working in their favor with referee calling that consistently breaks their way.
A nine-year study covering over 13,000 penalties found patterns with fans asking whether the league’s golden franchise gets special treatment when the flags fly.
UTEP Study Says Chiefs Benefited From Subjective Penalty Calls From 2015 to 2023
Dr. Spencer Barnes led a research team that dug into every penalty called during Chiefs games between 2015 and 2023. The timing matches perfectly with Kansas City’s transformation into the NFL’s biggest money machine.
Research done by UTEP presents evidence that the Chiefs have benefited from slanted officiating from 2015 to 2023, a time that coincided with their rise as one of the NFL’s most marketable franchises.
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— KTSM 9 News (@KTSMtv) October 13, 2025
The researchers focused on subjective penalties, such as judgment calls like roughing the passer and pass interference that can swing games.
Not just in your crazy football head, but a new study actually suggests that NFL refs have disproportionately ruled in favor of the Chiefs.
“During the Mahomes-era playoffs, which the researchers said was the NFL’s most commercially valuable period, penalties against opposing… pic.twitter.com/HEWmjmU4CE
— Buffalo Fanatics (@BfloFanatics) October 13, 2025
The numbers told a story. When flags flew against opposing defenses in Chiefs games, those penalties converted to first downs at higher rates than other top teams faced.
They covered more yards and happened at crucial moments. The study pointed to three playoff games in which questionable calls extended Kansas City drives that ended in scores.
🚨 NEW STUDY from UTEP (published in Financial Review): It’s not just in your head.
From 2015–2023, data shows the #Chiefs have statistically benefited from slanted officiating, especially in the playoffs. 👀
Researchers found penalties vs Chiefs opponents were:
•More likely… pic.twitter.com/gYO8fAk9Jd— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) October 13, 2025
A 2018 roughing call against New England. A borderline pass interference in the 2019 divisional round against Houston and a defensive holding penalty that set up a touchdown against Buffalo in 2021. All these things made fans start guessing, from funny ideas to wild conspiracy theories.
The researchers stopped short of claiming conspiracy. But they noted the pattern lined up with the Chiefs becoming a ratings juggernaut worth millions in TV revenue.
The NFL needs stars. Mahomes and Kelce deliver eyeballs. The study raised uncomfortable questions about whether economic pressure subtly influences how games get called, especially when the league’s marquee team needs a boost.
NFL Fans and Referees Association Both Have Strong Opinions on Whether the Fix Is In
Social media exploded when the study dropped. One fan wrote, “If you do not understand that the NFL is classified as Entertainment like the WWE and is legally rigged, I feel sorry for your emotional health.”
Another pointed out, “5th most penalized team in that time frame.”
A third asked the big question: “Completely hypothetical but, what if the NFL were proven to be putting their thumbs on the scale of games? Would people still watch it? WWE does well.”
A fourth fan brought receipts from a recent game, noting, “Mahomes had both called last night on failed 3rd and long attempts.”
The NFL Referees Association fired back hard, calling the claims “insulting and preposterous.” They emphasized refs get graded every week and earn playoff assignments based on performance, not league orders.
Other analysts argue the Chiefs’ aggressive passing attack naturally draws certain penalties. Mahomes extends plays. Defenders get desperate. Flags fly. That’s football, not favoritism.
The debate isn’t settling down anytime soon, and fans convinced they’ve seen the truth will dissect every questionable call in Kansas City’s next game frame by frame.
