Amid Mahomes angst, NFL eyes replay on slides
There may soon be solace for everyone who has been moaning that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes receives too many calls.
According to league insiders who spoke to ESPN on Saturday, NFL replay help is anticipated to spread this summer into plays that might involve the quarterback slide.
In 2025, the NFL implemented replay assist, which permits authorized officiating department personnel and replay officials to help with on-field calls in certain game scenarios.
When there is unmistakable video evidence, such as the location of the ball or a foul, a full or partial pass, or the touching of the ball or a line, replay assist has been used during games.
The league extended replay help starting in 2025 to cover more situations where information might be given when a penalty flag was already on the field, including as fouls for hits that went out of bounds, fouls for quarterback head injuries, and components of intentional fouling.
Troy Aikman, an ESPN pundit, shouted, “Oh come on,” as the penalty was called during the telecast. He is a runner, after all, and I couldn’t argue with that any more. He is hardly ever struck.
The NBA must “address it in the offseason,” according to Aikman.
“You can’t, as a quarterback, run around and play games with the defenders and then get called for a penalty,” Aikman stated.
Before voting on rule changes at the league’s annual meeting, which will take place in Palm Beach, Florida this year, the NFL’s competition committee usually convenes during the offseason. Expanding replay assistance will be discussed by the competition committee, and quarterback sli is probably going to be included.
The league’s prevailing view is that there is no excuse for not adding more objectivity and clarity to a play that spectators may watch at home or in the stadium.
Will Anderson Jr., the top pass rusher for the Texans, said Houston “knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game.” Anderson was flagged for roughing the passer earlier in last Saturday’s game.
Mahomes, meanwhile, disputed the notion that authorities regard the Chiefs favorably.
“I hampionship Game against the Buffalo Bills.” Ultimately, the referees are trying their hardest to call the game as appropriately and fairly as they can.
