KANSAS CITY. MO — In a rare and forceful move, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has officially requested that the NFL remove referee Clete Blakeman from officiating their upcoming matchup. According to team sources, the organization submitted a formal complaint citing
multiple games over several seasons in which Blakeman’s crew issued questionable decisions that directly harmed Kansas City’s competitive position.
The Chiefs front office believes the pattern is too significant to ignore, and according to one source, this request had been “years in the making.” As part of the formal filing, Veach included four games that the team views as the clearest examples of officiating failures under Blakeman.
Four Controversial Games Under Clete Blakeman
1. AFC Championship 2024 vs. Ravens — Jan 28, 2024
Final: Ravens 23, Chiefs 20
Blakeman’s crew missed a blatant roughing-the-passer on Patrick Mahomes during a pivotal fourth-quarter drive. Chiefs fans erupted on social media, calling Blakeman “the worst ref for Chiefs,” and clips of the hit resurfaced again this week.
2. Week 1, 2025 vs. Chargers — Sept 7, 2025
Final: Chargers 30, Chiefs 23
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was flagged four separate times for what analysts called “soft and inconsistent penalties.” Two flags erased first downs and killed offensive momentum. Film analysts later suggested the calls “would not have been made against any other team.”
3. Week 2, 2024 vs. Ravens — Sept 15, 2024
Final: Ravens 33, Chiefs 27
A phantom holding call on Travis Kelce erased a 22-yard gain during a fourth-quarter drive. Even former officials questioned the legitimacy of the flag. Chiefs fans called it “one of the worst single penalties of the season.”
4. Week 5, 2025 vs. Jaguars — Oct 5, 2025
Final: Chiefs 21, Jaguars 20
Blakeman’s crew missed an obvious defensive pass interference on rookie Xavier Worthy in the end zone. Worthy was grabbed mid-route on a third-down play, yet the flag never came. National analysts unanimously agreed it should have been DPI.
Chiefs Push NFL for a Change Before It’s Too Late
According to sources inside the building, Kansas City emphasized that this request is not about criticizing officiating broadly but about ensuring
fairness, consistency and playoff-level integrity in a game that will shape the AFC standings.
The NFL has not yet commented, but a response is expected before the full officiating assignments are finalized. Chiefs Kingdom is watching closely — and loudly — hoping the league finally listens.
⭐ NFL’s Response Shocks Everyone
Late Tuesday afternoon, the NFL finally issued its response — and it caught fans, analysts, and even some league insiders completely off guard.
A league spokesperson stated:
“We acknowledge the concerns raised by the Kansas City Chiefs and will conduct a full review of the officiating crew assigned to this game. Adjustments may be made if deemed necessary to ensure competitive integrity.”
According to multiple insiders, this is one of the very few times in recent history the NFL has openly indicated it may reassign an officiating crew following a team’s complaint — a move many believed the league would never consider.
The spokesperson added that the league’s final decision will be announced before officiating assignments are locked in later this week.
Chiefs Kingdom is now watching — and loudly — as anticipation builds. For the first time, it appears the NFL might actually be prepared to take action on a request Kansas City has been waiting “years” to make.
