Which Chiefs get the most penalties? See the list and the most common flags in the NFL
Nothing ruins a team’s momentum on the football field like a penalty. When the referees on the sidelines pull out a yellow flag from their pockets, fans know someone messed up — they just hope it’s not someone on the team they’re cheering.
Penalties can be called at any point throughout the game, even when play is officially stopped. A penalty is enforced when a player or coach performs an illegal action. When a penalty is called, it can mean a loss or gain of yards for the offense depending on which team was flagged.
The Chiefs have had their fair share of penalties called against them, and a few called in their favor, throughout the 2024 season. In a game of inches, these yards lost or gained could make all the difference between Kansas City moving on to the next round or seeing their season come to an end.
What are the most common penalties in the NFL? Which Chiefs have been penalized the most this season? Here’s what the statistics say.
Common penalties called in the NFL
An ESPN report from 2019 listed some of most common penalties fans will see called on the field during the game. Here’s an explanation on what the referees mean when they call the flag:
- False start: This penalty is called when someone on the offense moves after the team gets set to run the play, but before the ball is snapped. Likely offenders are on the offensive line, but wide receivers and tight ends can also get called for it. The penalty sets the offense back 5 yards and replays the down.
- Holding: This penalty is called when someone grabs an opposing player to restrict their movement, giving them an unfair advantage. It sets the offense back 10 yards and replays the down if it’s called on them, and it costs the defense 5 yards and gives the offense a first down if it’s called on them.
- Offsides: This penalty is called when a player is lined up across the line of scrimmage, which is set by the ball, before the ball is snapped. It costs the offense or defense 5 yards and replays the down.
- Pass interference: This penalty is called when a player illegally prevents another from catching the ball, like making contact or pushing each other away. It’s a 10-yard penalty on the offense and if called on the defense, puts the offense at the spot of the foul. If the defense commits pass interference in the end-zone, the ball is placed at the 1-yard-line.
- Illegal formation: This penalty is called when the offense does not have the minimum amount of seven people on the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. It sets the offense back 5 yards and replays the down. This is different than a penalty for having too many men on the field, which is called when a team has 12 or more players on the field and costs them 5 yards.
- Unnecessary roughness: This penalty is called when a player’s activity is deemed overly aggressive, dangerous or unsportsmanlike. Examples include hits after a play is over, hitting a player who is out of bounds or helmet-to-helmet contact. It’s a 15-yard penalty on the offense and defense, and gives the offense a first down if it’s called on the defense. Roughing the passer is a similar penalty that can only be called on the defense, and it’s called when the defense hits the quarterback after the ball is out of his hands.
- Delay of game: This penalty is called when the offense doesn’t snap the ball before the play clock, which is either 25 or 40 seconds, hits zero. It’s a 5-yard penalty on the offense.
Which Chiefs are penalized the most?
The Chiefs were one of the least penalized teams in the NFL, with 94 flags thrown their way for the 2024 season, according to The Football Database. The team saw offensive holding called the most at 29 times in 2024, followed by 17 false start and nine defensive pass interference penalties.
Which Chiefs got caught the most, and what were they called for? Here’s what the numbers say:
- Jawaan Taylor, offensive lineman: He was called for 14 penalties, seven of them for holding.
- Joshua Williams, defensive back: He was called for nine penalties, two of them for grabbing the opponent’s face mask and two of them for coming back into the field of play after going out of bounds.
- Wanya Morris, offensive lineman: He was called for eight penalties, five of them for holding.
- Trey Smith, offensive lineman: He was called for seven penalties, five of them for holding.
- Trent McDuffie, defensive back; Chris Jones, defensive lineman: both were called for five penalties each. McDuffie was called for pass interference five times and Jones was called for offsides five times.
This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
