NFL referees push back against controversy before Eagles vs. Chiefs Super Bowl

The NFL Referees Association fires back at theories questioning the integrity of officiating before the Eagles face the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Clete Blakeman - AFC Championship Game
Clete Blakeman - AFC Championship Game | Aaron M. Sprecher/GettyImages

The NFL Referees Association has had enough of the growing conspiracies questioning the integrity of officiating, particularly with Super Bowl LIX on the horizon. As we near the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs matchup, Executive Director Scott Green released a firm statement rejecting claims that officials favor certain teams, calling them "insulting and preposterous." 

Commissioner Roger Goodell also weighed in, dismissing the idea of a scripted league. He also acknowledged room for improvement.

For Birds fans, officiating remains a sore subject, especially after the controversial defensive holding penalty on James Bradberry in the final minutes of Super Bowl LVII (when aggressive play was allowed throughout the game beforehand).

That call set up the Chiefs for the game-winning field goal with minimal time remaining, leaving many Philadelphia supporters frustrated with how the game ended. With the Eagles seeking redemption, scrutiny on the officials will be at an all-time high.

NFL Referees Association condemns conspiracy theories.

Amid growing speculation that officiating decisions have benefited certain teams throughout the season, the NFL Referees Association took a strong stance against the accusations. Scott Green defended the 138 officials across 17 officiating crews, insisting they operate independently and with fairness.

Roger Goodell echoed these sentiments, laughing off the idea of a league-wide script and noting that officiating improvements remain a priority. He suggested the NFL could explore expanded replay review for penalties like facemasks but did not see an urgent need for a rule change regarding flopping.

Eagles fans are still haunted by the Super Bowl LVII officiating controversy.

While the NFLRA dismisses all the theories, Eagles fans have every reason to be skeptical. The last time Philadelphia and Kansas City met on the Super Bowl stage, a late-game defensive holding call on James Bradberry essentially sealed the Chiefs’ victory.

With the game tied 35-35 and Kansas City facing a critical third down, Patrick Mahomes' pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster sailed out of reach. But the penalty flag flew, extending the Chiefs' drive and allowing them to drain the clock before kicking the go-ahead field goal.

Even Bradberry admitted postgame that he grabbed Smith-Schuster's jersey, but the call sparked heated debate over whether such a minor infraction should have decided a championship. With that controversial finish still fresh in the minds of Eagles fans, officiating will be under the microscope this Sunday.

Sunday's officiating will face unprecedented scrutiny on the game's biggest stage as the Eagles and Chiefs meet for a rematch.

As the Eagles and Chiefs prepare for their rematch, the officiating crew will undoubtedly be under intense pressure to call a clean, controversy-free game. However, the reality is that officiating will always be a point of contention—especially with a championship on the line.

For Philadelphia, a win on Sunday wouldn’t just mean securing another Lombardi Trophy—it would also serve as redemption for the heartbreak of two years ago. Whether the officials will play a role in the outcome remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: every call, or non-call, will be heavily scrutinized.

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