{"id":837263,"date":"2026-03-27T17:05:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/837263\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T17:05:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:05:19","slug":"officiating-proposal-replacement-officials-would-greatly-affect-chiefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/837263\/","title":{"rendered":"Officiating Proposal, Replacement Officials Would Greatly Affect Chiefs"},"content":{"rendered":"

KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2013 Facing second-and-goal from the Colts\u2019 4-yard line, Andy Reid painted a Mona Lisa.<\/p>\n

With Patrick Mahomes lined up as the \u201cdot,\u201d 10 yards behind the ball, Reid aligned Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt in a full-house backfield, parallel with the line. Kelce took the snap, faked a handoff to Hunt and ran through a huge hole off right tackle for his first rushing touchdown in four years.<\/p>\n

\"kelc\"<\/p>\n

Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Indianapolis Colts safety Cam Bynum (0) tackles Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) in the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

But wait \u2026 the hole was so huge because Jawaan Taylor had briefly wrapped his big bright arm around the neck of Kwity Paye. Officials nullified Kelce\u2019s touchdown not for holding, but for a phantom facemask. Replays showed Taylor never touched Paye\u2019s facemask, but the right tackle\u2019s high-penalty reputation might\u2019ve preceded him.<\/p>\n

Then, late in the game with the Chiefs trailing by a field goal, penalties continued to creep in at the worst possible time. Officials nailed Kristian Fulton for holding on a punt return, forcing Kansas City to begin at the Colts\u2019 6-yard line with 4:43 left. And on the first snap, officials hit Kelce with offensive pass interference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is literally the worst call I\u2019ve seen all year,\u201d said Tony Romo on the CBS broadcast. \u201cYou know that happens on every play if you\u2019re pressing the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"rom\"<\/p>\n

Sep 10, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; CBS analyst Tony Romo makes his way to the announcers booth before the game between the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Plenty of penalties — from regular officials<\/p>\n

Mahomes wound up masterful when Kansas City needed him<\/a>, overcoming that adversity to drive Kansas City 90 yards in 15 plays, setting up Harrison Butker\u2019s game-tying field goal with zeroes on the clock. The Chiefs wound up winning in overtime on another Butker field goal, their last win of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n

But they had to overcome several questionable calls to do it. They weren\u2019t alone, either. Referee Alex Moore and his crew fired 20 combined flags at Colts and Chiefs players that day (each team had one declined penalty).<\/p>\n

\"alex<\/p>\n

Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; NFL referee Alex Moore during the Arizona Cardinals game against the Green Bay Packers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Replacement officials, more league control up for discussion<\/p>\n

Now, as NFL owners head to Phoenix for next week\u2019s annual league meeting, consider this: The league is preparing to open the 2026 season with replacement officials. Mired in a stalemate with the NFL Referees Association, the league is looking at a collective bargaining agreement set to expire May 31.<\/p>\n

Negotiations are not going well, and that\u2019s an understatement. The NFL Players Association is obviously concerned. Fans should be, too, as both sides stare at a Grand Canyon-sized chasm. <\/p>\n

Labor negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association remain stalled ahead of the expiration of their CBA in May, with the league doing contingency planning for a potential work stoppage and the possible use of replacement officials next season. pic.twitter.com\/9NADHLASyp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Those replacement officials wouldn\u2019t come from the group that supplies the Big Ten or SEC. They\u2019d come from the lower levels of college football. Imagine that crew officiating last season\u2019s Colts-Chiefs game.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s interesting, however, is the league seems to be capitalizing on the opportunity to give its New York hub, the Art McNally Gameday Central, more control over real-time officiating. And if a proposal passes with the required 24 votes next week, replacement officials overseeing that Colts-Chiefs overtime game would get some help.<\/p>\n

\"fail<\/p>\n

Officials indicate opposite rulings, one a touchdown, one incomplete during the Packers 14-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Monday, September 24, 2012. | Rick Wood \/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Another Fail Mary averted?<\/p>\n

In the final two minutes of regulation or overtime, through official-to-official earpieces, league employees would communicate to referees immediate feedback. Should they see clear and obvious video evidence of an uncalled penalty for roughing the passer, intentional grounding or an act that should\u2019ve disqualified an offender, those employees will communicate that and referees could correct the non-calls.<\/p>\n

And, should officials throw flags by mistake \u2013 according to the proposal\u2019s verbiage, fouls in which at least one element isn\u2019t present \u2013 the league could wipe out those penalties. Those include disqualification, illegal contact, roughing the passer, horse-collar tackles, pass interference, intentional grounding or twisting, pulling or turning a facemask. <\/p>\n

\"jawaan<\/p>\n

Aug 22, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (74) at the line of scrimmage against the Chicago Bears during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The good news for the Chiefs, should they choose to re-sign Taylor<\/a> and restore their 2025 starting offensive line, is that those replacement officials don\u2019t figure to penalize the veteran for his penalty prevalence.<\/p>\n