Throughout the NFL playoffs, officials have been under heavy scrutiny due to controversial calls that favored the Kansas City Chiefs in both the division round and the AFC Championship game. Legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman voiced his discontent regarding the current state of officiating during a recent appearance on “SI Media with Jimmy Traina.” While Aikman acknowledged that referees have a tough job and that the scrutiny they face has intensified with advanced instant replay, he emphasized the need for improved officiating, particularly in the context of the NFL’s partnership with sports gambling services.
Aikman stated, “I know the officials have a tough job. I mean, the scrutiny that they’re under. As we’ve gotten more advanced with instant replay, those guys, it seems, have become more and more scrutinized. And the game has not become less controversial. The game has become more controversial.” He further pointed out the potential issues arising from the league promoting gambling, as it has led to increased stakes in these contentious calls. “Here you are promoting gambling — people are gambling more than they ever have before and those types of calls – there’s a lot at stake regardless. But especially when you’re considering there’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls as well,” he noted.
Aikman firmly believes that the NFL should enhance its officiating standards for the fans’ sake, declaring, “I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right, and I think we’re at a point in time where we can. We can get it more right. So, that was really my position in just trying to lean on the NFL and say, ‘Hey, we gotta fix this. We gotta address it in the offseason.’”
As we await the Super Bowl LIX matchup later this month, we’ll have to see how officials perform under the spotlight.
