The Kansas City Chiefs are the greatest modern NFL dynasty — the best since the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots. Along the way, they’ve been the beneficiaries of some questionable officiating, perpetuating a narrative that NFL referees favor Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Following their blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59, DeAndre Hopkins had some thoughts on the situation.
DeAndre Hopkins Blasts Media for Claiming the Refs Favor the Chiefs
"I saw a lot of things in the media about the refs, but obviously sh**, what y'all gonna say now about the refs? There was a lot of touchy calls. Are y'all gonna report that? Are y'all gonna talk about the refs now?" – DeAndre Hopkins pic.twitter.com/uUWqoHsrVr
— PFSN (@PFN365) February 10, 2025
There’s no denying that certain timely calls have gone the Chiefs’ way in the past, leading to them winning games they may have otherwise lost. However, the notion that NFL games are rigged or the NFL wants the Chiefs to win was obviously false. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Chiefs players weren’t blind to the comments that were being made.
The first flag of the Super Bowl was a questionable offensive pass interference call on A.J. Brown. Naturally, this led to a swath of complaints about the officials from fans and media alike on Twitter. Afterward, though, it’s hard to say the calls went the Chiefs’ way.
In the first half, the Eagles were gifted a first down on what would’ve been third-and-impossible when the Chiefs were flagged for a late hit on an incomplete pass to Saquon Barkley.
In the second half, albeit with the game already no longer in doubt, Mahomes took a clear shot to the face/helmet on a play that resulted in a turnover, which absolutely should have been flagged. It’s the exact type of call fans and media often complain about Mahomes always getting. No flag was thrown.
To be clear, the referees did not dictate the outcome of this game. While we can’t predict how one call may have changed what happened afterward, this was the least competitive Super Bowl in a long time. The Eagles were going to win regardless.
Hopkins is probably not blaming the refs for the loss. Rather, he’s expressing his frustration over the entire situation.
This was Hopkins’ 12th year in the league. He will be 33 years old before training camp begins. It’s unlikely he will be back with the Chiefs. For a declining player very close to the end of his career, he knows this was likely his best chance at winning a Super Bowl, and is understandably upset things did not go his team’s way.