For Pete’s Sake

What is an administrative timeout? Fans had funny answers in Chiefs-Ravens game

By Pete Grathoff

Updated January 28, 2024 3:56 PM

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) grabs Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) while he attempts to throw a pass in the first quarter Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, during the AFC Championship Game in Baltimore. Nick Wagner nwagner@kcstar.com

Fans who tuned in to Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium likely wouldn’t have been surprised to see something new.

With Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, anything is possible, after all.

But fans and pundits alike were not expecting what happened in the first quarter.

The Ravens were driving when officials stopped the game for an ... administrative timeout.

I've watched and been around a LOT of football

I have never heard of an "Administrative timeout"
— Aaron Borgmann (@RehabAllStar) January 28, 2024

I've watched football for 45 years and never heard of an administrative timeout...wtf
— Rich (@JhawkRich) January 28, 2024

The timeout resulted in CBS taking a commercial break and when the coverage resumed, broadcaster Jim Nantz explained what had happened. Here is video from Awful Announcing.

"An administrative timeout... you may have not heard of one like that before. But it was a drone apparently that was interfering too close to the play. It was not ours, we're told." - Jim Nantz pic.twitter.com/gKF9zlyklF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 28, 2024

Fans had plenty of jokes about what constitutes an administrative timeout and the drone. Here is a sample of what they were saying on X.

Administrative Timeout: To check that all players had turned in Parental Permission Forms.
— Kenny Mayne (@Kenny_Mayne) January 28, 2024

The entire NFL fanbase trying to figure out what an administrative timeout is…#NFL pic.twitter.com/pOhGkuF2L5
— JUSTINville2882 (@WhyAmIhere_27) January 28, 2024

Administrative timeout, straight to a long commercial break nice job Roger
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 28, 2024

“administrative timeout” = “some drunk Baltimore guy is flying a drone near a Taylor’s suite”
— Nathan Hubbard (@NathanCHubbard) January 28, 2024

Over 0.5 administrative time outs hits
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) January 28, 2024

Administrative timeout.
Translation: “We need to play some more commercials.”
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) January 28, 2024

CBS when they hear “administrative timeout” and can go straight to commercial pic.twitter.com/tj5oyzsi1A
— Bit Hawk (@PixelHawk0) January 28, 2024

The refs take “an administrative timeout” and my streaming goes out because I’m at my “streaming limit” and they give me the option to upgrade? You guys don’t think I’m onto you? Beat it nerds! pic.twitter.com/k5l6VTNwo1
— (@JRGrayson) January 28, 2024

Goodell had to pee
— Darth Shredder (@coryschroeder82) January 28, 2024

Writers updating the script
— Andrew Diss (@AndrewDissNV) January 28, 2024

This story was originally published January 28, 2024 at 3:33 PM.

Pete Grathoff

The Kansas City Star

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From covering the World Series to the World Cup, Pete Grathoff has done a little bit of everything since joining The Kansas City Star in 1997.

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