Orchard Park, New York – 04/11/2025
After the bitter 21–28 defeat to the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium, an unexpected development sent the NFL community into a frenzy: head referee Carl Cheffers – who officiated the game and sparked controversy with the intentional grounding penalty on Patrick Mahomes – reportedly sent a personal apology text to the Kansas City Chiefs superstar.
According to multiple sources from NFL Network and The Athletic, Cheffers proactively contacted Mahomes on Monday morning, just hours after slow-motion replays clearly showed the ball was lightly tipped by a Bills player before hitting the ground – rendering the intentional grounding call invalid. That decision cost the Chiefs a chance to tie the game in the 3rd quarter, creating the turning point that allowed the Bills to extend their lead to 28–14.
A source close to the situation revealed the content of Cheffers’ message: “I reviewed the entire play and the ball did indeed graze the Bills player’s hand before falling. That was a mistaken call on my part, and I take full responsibility. I have always respected you and the Chiefs – I’m sorry for impacting the game.”
Patrick Mahomes, per ESPN, responded briefly but calmly: “I appreciate that. Everyone can make mistakes, but hopefully this helps the league improve.”
The moment the text exchange leaked, and the replay video showing the ball touching Maxwell Hairston’s (Bills) hand before hitting the ground spread rapidly, further fueling Chiefs fans’ outrage. The hashtag #CheffersSucks remained the top trending topic on X (Twitter) for 24 hours post-game.
Many experts, including Gene Steratore (CBS Sports), sharply criticized: “This is why the NFL needs to expand the list of reviewable plays. One wrong call can change the entire playoff picture.”
Meanwhile, head coach Andy Reid stayed composed: “I respect Carl owning it – that’s a responsible action. But the NFL needs a more transparent system.”
The incident has divided public opinion, but Cheffers’ action – a referee daring to admit fault to the biggest star in the NFL – has been praised by many as “rare in professional sports.” One fan wrote: “He may have been wrong, but at least he had the courage to say sorry.”
