...
By Nathan Kamal
Contributing Sports Writer
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith has an interesting theory about the allegations that NFL officials favor the Kansas City Chiefs during games: Taylor Swift.
More News: Texans' Will Anderson Jr Calls for NFL To Review Controversial Roughing the Passer Plays
Read More on NFL
It is common knowledge that Swift, the world's most dominant pop star, is a big fan of the Chiefs and is in a relationship with star tight end Travis Kelce.
According to Smith on today's episode of "First Take" (via The Spun), the star power of Swift (as well as quarterback Patrick Mahomes) may be unconsciously pushing NFL refs to call in favor of the Chiefs.
"Here's where the controversy comes in and it's uncomfortable but we'll say it because it's 'First Take'," Smith said. "We'll bring up the fact that Patrick Mahomes has box office appeal. We'll bring up the fact that Taylor Swift being a Chiefs fan doesn't hurt [the team]. That doesn't mean the officials go out there and intentionally do this stuff, but it ain't like the audience doesn't have a reason to say, 'What the hell is going on here?'"
...
Obviously, that is a strong (even "uncomfortable") suggestion to make, but it is undeniable that there is a prevailing feeling in the football world that the Chiefs are frequent recipients of beneficial calls.
The Chiefs' victory over the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round has sparked widespread discussion, primarily centered around controversial officiating.
Two key penalties—roughing the passer on Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and unnecessary roughness on linebacker Henry To'oTo'o—became the focal points of the discussion.
The latter penalty, in particular, was heavily criticized, as replays showed To'oTo'o's contact appeared more with a teammate than with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who had already slid to the ground.
These calls led to 10 points for Kansas City, a crucial factor in their win. Whether you think the writer of "Blank Space" was also a key element of the victory is up to fans and/or ESPN personalities.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans voiced his frustration, alluding to a perceived bias in the officiating.
While he didn't directly criticize the referees, he hinted that his team faced not only the defending Super Bowl champions but also an unfair system, though he didn't bring Swift into things.
"We knew going into this game, man, that it was 'Us vs. Everybody,'" Ryans remarked, implying that the Texans were fighting against more than just the Chiefs.
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain also chimed in, referencing the Mahomes penalty with a post on X, "Cmon man, what are we supposed to do when he's sliding?" His frustration echoed that of many watching the game.
In response, former NFL officiating chief Walt Anderson defended the calls, explaining that such penalties are part of the league's evolving focus on player safety. "The game is never going to be perfect, but we keep trying to make it better.
Despite Anderson's defense, many Texans players, including running back Joe Mixon, felt the penalties played a significant role in the Chiefs' win, emphasizing, "You can never leave it in the refs' hands."
According to Smith, it might all be in Swift's hands.
More News:
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Giants Land Quarterback Of The Future, Patriots Get The Best Player
Rams' Matthew Stafford Discusses NFL Future Following Loss to Eagles
For more on the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines