NFL Rigging Games? Former Head Of Officials Admits Chiefs Got Helpful Calls To Beat Steelers

When the Pittsburgh Steelers lost 29-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, the refs weren't a huge reason for the loss. The Steelers hurt themselves more than any mistakes from the officials truly impacted them. However, as with every Chiefs game, controversy strikes when a poor call goes their way. A few key moments stood out, including one where wide receiver George Pickens appeared to break free from a Chiefs defensive back, only to have a quick whistle rule the play dead.

The Steelers also had a big touchdown taken off the board as Darnell Washington was flagged for holding. That lost touchdown was a significant blow to the Steelers' momentum, and on the very next play, Russell Wilson threw an interception trying to make up for the lost yards. While the Steelers’ performance in this game left much to be desired, it didn’t help that the refs appeared to favor the Chiefs in some key situations, fueling frustration among fans.

Ex-NFL Head of Officiating Dean Blandino addressed the perceived referee bias toward the Chiefs when speaking to TMZ Sports. Blandino acknowledged that controversial calls often seem to go in Kansas City’s favor, even though he clarified that referees don’t intentionally influence the outcome. Still, with each questionable decision, the narrative of referee favoritism only grows stronger in the minds of many football fans.

"Do teams get breaks at times?" Blandino said. "They do. And not every call is right. And sometimes that happens. I think it evens out over time. But me watching it, I don't see these games and say, 'Oh god, the Chiefs are getting all these calls.' These are close, close plays and they happened to go in the Chiefs' favor on Sunday."

Blandino admitted that the Chiefs received favorable calls in the playoffs and even in their game against the Steelers. However, he was quick to clarify that if there’s any rigging in the NFL, he’s never been involved. 

He emphasized that the idea of the league intentionally instructing referees to help the Chiefs is a narrative he firmly believes needs to be put to rest.

"For it to be really a conspiracy, do you know the amount of people that would have to be involved?" Blandino said. "Someone, somewhere would slip up and it would get out. If there's a room somewhere in the NFL offices where they were writing the script, they never invited me—and I was the head of officiating. I feel like I'd be a pretty important contributor to that."

Blandino makes it clear that the NFL is not behind any intentional rigging in favor of the Chiefs. The team has developed a reputation, and any questionable call that goes their way only fuels that narrative. 

However, if you watch every NFL game, it does seem like the Chiefs benefit more than other teams. Blandino believes this is simply a case of referees getting things wrong, not any deliberate cheating.

Steelers' Rival Chiefs Have Benefited From Refs' Favorable Calls

In the Chiefs' most recent playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, there were several controversial calls that once again went in their favor. Bills quarterback Josh Allen was marked short on a play that many believed should have been a first down. Additionally, Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy lost possession of the ball, and it hit the ground, yet it was ruled a completed catch—despite nearly every broadcast analyst, rules expert, and fan calling it an incomplete pass.

These moments have all occurred in front of the eyes of football fans, and while the idea that the NFL is intentionally pushing the Chiefs to win can be dismissed, it’s undeniable that the Chiefs have benefited from key calls. Blandino believes these calls generally balance out over the course of a game or season, but many fans don’t share that perspective. With the Chiefs set to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, football fans will be closely watching how the game is officiated.

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