Quarterbacks have historically benefited from lenient officiating in the NFL, but this is poised to change significantly next season. A recent example of this occurred during the Divisional Round game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans. In that match, Patrick Mahomes attempted to slide during a rush, and two Texans players grazed him, resulting in an unnecessary roughness penalty that led to a Chiefs score. Moving forward, this type of play will be subject to the NFL’s replay review policy.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league plans to expand the replay review policy to include quarterback slides. “The belief around the league is that there’s no reason not to bring further objectivity and clarity to a play that fans in the stadium or at home can see,” wrote Schefter. If last week’s play had been reviewable, it’s likely that no penalty would have been called, potentially altering the game’s outcome.
This new rule, which still requires approval at the league’s annual meeting in March, will impact how the game is played and experienced by fans. It is hoped that the frustration surrounding missed unnecessary roughness calls will diminish, as early responses indicate that fans generally support this change. “Start it tomorrow,” tweeted one enthusiastic fan.
Start it tomorrow. https://t.co/aaxYF0mB2O
— Jeff Facun (@Jeff_Facun) January 26, 2025
Another fan remarked, “Chiefs devil magic gone soon.”
chiefs devil magic gone soon https://t.co/BIDGcdfSzl pic.twitter.com/POjqqxg2JF
— zHeat (@zHeattt) January 26, 2025
