October 7, 2025 – Jacksonville, FL

The NFL has officially suspended referee Brad Rogers and his entire officiating crew following a review of multiple “phantom” or imaginary calls that influenced the outcome of the

Kansas City Chiefs’ 28–24 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

League officials announced the suspension late Monday night after confirming “a pattern of inconsistent and selective enforcement” throughout the game — particularly during the final minutes.

The decision follows mounting public criticism from across the league, including former Jaguars player and current NFL analyst Bucky Brooks, who called the officiating “game-altering” during a live segment on NFL Network.

“I’m thrilled the Jaguars won, but let’s call it what it was — the officiating influenced this outcome,” Brooks said. “When penalties decide who wins and loses, it’s no longer about execution or game plan. It’s about luck — and that’s not football.”

 

 The Turning Point: The Phantom Pass Interference

With 1:08 left in regulation, the Jaguars trailed 24–21 and faced 3rd-and-7 at the Chiefs’ 23-yard line. Trevor Lawrence lofted a deep ball toward rookie wideout

Brian Thomas Jr., who drew a controversial pass interference flag on safety Chamarri Conner.

The call set up first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, and Lawrence punched it in on the next play for the game-winning touchdown.

Replay angles clearly showed minimal contact — if any — before the ball’s arrival, prompting outrage from fans and analysts alike. ESPN described the ruling as “marginal at best,” while Chiefs Nation on X labeled it

“a ghost call that gifted Jacksonville the win.”

One viral post summarized the outrage bluntly: “Refs say Thomas was held? What game were they watching?”

The No-Call That Changed Everything

Earlier, midway through the third quarter, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was hit late by Josh Hines-Allen immediately after releasing a pass. The hit sent Mahomes sprawling — yet no flag was thrown for roughing the passer

.

On the very next play, linebacker Devin Lloyd intercepted Mahomes for a pick-six, swinging momentum heavily in favor of Jacksonville.

While ESPN’s rules analysts later clarified that the hit landed on the torso — not the helmet — fans pointed to

“clear inconsistency” across previous games, where similar contact had drawn instant penalties.

Even Brooks, a proud Jaguar himself, admitted the inconsistency was glaring:

“That was a borderline roughing call. If we’re being fair, Mahomes deserved that flag. If it happened to Trevor, this city would’ve exploded.”

 

League Response

After reviewing both incidents, the NFL’s officiating department found “a lack of procedural discipline and unnecessary interference with competitive balance.”
As a result, Brad Rogers’s entire crew has been

suspended indefinitely pending further evaluation.

A league spokesperson stated:

“Our officials are expected to enforce the rules with precision and fairness. Inconsistency at critical moments undermines the integrity of the game.”

 

The suspension marks the second time this season that an officiating team has been removed from rotation due to performance issues, fueling growing calls for a VAR-style centralized review system

to reduce on-field judgment errors.

 Brooks’ Final Words Echo Across the League

“I love this team, I love this city,” Brooks concluded. “But the NFL can’t keep hiding behind the whistle. A win should feel earned — not granted.”

 

For Chiefs fans, that whistle wasn’t just loud — it was haunting.
And for the NFL, Sunday’s game may have been the breaking point that forces real change.