Chiefs fans, media unhappy with missed defensive pass interference call: Super Bowl LVII

A few flags have already been thrown during Super Bowl LVII, but the one to rile up Chiefs fans the most so far was one that wasn’t.

The Chiefs were facing a third-and-8 at their own 27, trailing 14-7 just after the start of the second quarter. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes dropped back and attempted a pass to wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster over the middle. The ball fell incomplete, but Smith-Schuster popped up almost immediately looking around for a flag.

The reason? Smith-Schuster appeared to have his arm grabbed by Philadelphia’s James Bradberry while going over the middle.

Greg Olsen, on the call for Fox, pointed out that the Eagles defender probably got away with a penalty, while former NFL punter and media personality Pat McAfee chimed in on social media with “These refs”

Of course, the Chiefs have something of a history with lead Super Bowl official Carl Cheffers, including a notably controversial roughing-the-passer call that riled up the crowd at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium during a Chiefs-Raiders game earlier this year.

It is worth noting, though, that the Super Bowl features what is called an All-Star crew, meaning it isn’t the same group that worked with Cheffers game to game that is officiating the big game.

Here is some of the reaction to the call.

This story was originally published February 12, 2023 at 6:53 PM.