Whenever sports media speaks poorly of the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s a call to action for Nick Wright. The FS1 host of First Things First is openly passionate about his fandom; his emotions often dictate his on-air presence, sometimes resulting in greater anger following a Chiefs victory than a defeat. What truly ignites his frustration is when mainstream media insinuates that the Chiefs benefit from NFL rigging. Despite how absurd it may seem, that narrative remains alive, fueled by a few dubious calls that have gathered momentum.
During a recent appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Wright expressed his ire regarding the narratives surrounding the Chiefs throughout the playoffs. “I’m angry about how last week got hijacked,” Wright stated. “I’m angry at folks instead of just being like, ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong,’ creating a nonsense conspiracy. The conspiracy stuff — mainstream media let the tail wag the dog, based on internet chatter.”
Wright continued, “And then a Twitter account with 12 million followers says, ‘Relief is on the way, football fans.’ Relief from what? A rigged game? Is that what you’re claiming?” He pointed out how social media influences what becomes newsworthy, driven by engagement rather than journalistic integrity. “It’s like, ‘Man, this sure gets engagement.’ I understand why anonymous accounts do this—it’s their livelihood—but I don’t respect it.”
Patrick urged Wright to momentarily set aside his Chiefs allegiance and evaluate whether there is any truth to the favoritism narrative. Wright countered, “The data suggests not… There was a questionable moment in the playoffs when Patrick Mahomes asked for a call and was later seemingly apologized to by a referee, but when Josh Allen experienced something similar, nobody noticed.” He acknowledged that star quarterbacks often receive preferential treatment regarding calls but insisted there’s no evidence indicating the Chiefs receive better officiating.
Wright emphasized, “The idea that they get a more beneficial whistle than other teams lacks data support. The focus should be on the media ecosystem, which prioritizes sensationalism and engagement over providing a complete and honest narrative. The idea of Chiefs fatigue in sports media doesn’t hold water for me,” he concluded, asserting that the real issue lies in the media’s approach to storytelling.
