Chiefs fans roundly criticize the NFL for its choice for the Super Bowl LVII referee
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Despite the feelings of Chiefs fans, the NFL apparently thinks quite highly of referee Carl Cheffers.
The NFL on Tuesday announced Cheffers would be the referee for Super Bowl LVII. If the Chiefs beat Cincinnati in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, they would see the same referee as the last time they made the Super Bowl.
Cheffers worked Super Bowl LV, when the Chiefs lost 31-9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Football Zebras said Cheffers is the first referee in 35 years to be chosen to work the Super Bowl twice in a three-season span.
In Super Bowl LV, the Chiefs were penalized 11 times for 120 yards by Cheffers and his crew, while the Buccaneers were flagged four times for 39 yards.
Chiefs fans (and some players) were particularly irked by the Buccaneers’ final drive of the first half. Tampa Bay moved 71 yards in 55 seconds and scored a touchdown as the Bucs took a 21-6 lead. A pair of defensive pass-interference calls gave Tampa Bay 42 yards on the drive.
Cheffers was the referee whose holding call late in a Divisional playoff game against the Steelers wiped out a tying two-point conversion and the Chiefs lost 18-16. KC tight end Travis Kelce was fined by the NFL for saying Cheffers didn’t deserve to work in a Foot Locker in a postgame interview.
In two Chiefs games this season, fans and one commentator questioned Cheffers. First was a roughing-the-passer call on a strip-sack and recovery by Chris Jones during a game against the Raiders in October. ESPN’s Troy Aikman said the play didn’t deserve to be flagged.
Lower on the list of transgressions was last month’s Chiefs-Texans game in which KC was penalized 10 times, while Houston had just four penalties.
Football Zebras reported NFL ”officials who are selected for the Super Bowl are graded and scored in the top tier of their position.”
Chiefs fans, and a few others, would like to see those grades. Many spoke out about the decision to have Cheffers work the Super Bowl. Here’s a sample of what they were saying.
This was great until Cheffers was put on this crew
— Dylan (@DyFrex___) January 24, 2023
Not at all, he's infamous among bettors. And even neutrals hate him because he calls the most penalties of any ref by far, slows the game to a crawl.
— DOOM IS DISPLEASED (@DOOM2020ORBUST) January 24, 2023
bad, very bad, Cheffers arguably had the worst officiating in SB History in SB LV, The first half was just horrendous.
— ✘ (@JayANRCHY) January 24, 2023
This is a bad choice. You should use your good referees in the biggest game.
— Pattonious (@Pattonious) January 24, 2023
Apparently you can only fail upwards as an NFL referee. The grades are meaningless.
— Chad Campbell (@thepiecesmatter) January 24, 2023
This is like Angel Hernandez umpiring all 7 games of the World Series behind the plate.
— Ben Porepp (@bporepp24) January 24, 2023
Get ready for 25 penalties. Cheffers loves the spotlight.
— Cdafoe (@Cdafoe53) January 24, 2023
At least we agree on one thing. He might be the worst in the league IMO.
— Kellen (@KellenQuick) January 24, 2023
Cheffers should be suspended not given the Superbowl. @NFL clearly isn't paying attention.
— Dylan Edelen (@DylanEdelen) January 24, 2023
No way this is real… right?
— KCP Kuli (@KCPKuli) January 24, 2023
