The idea that the NFL is rigged is a common topic of debate and speculation among fans, especially after controversial plays or decisions in big games. Leading up to the Superbowl, many in the NFL community have begun to circulate theories that the Kansas City Chiefs are getting special treatment from the refs on calls and flags thrown during their games.
NFL fans around GCSU have partially entertained these theories, however, remain skeptical of their true validity on a large scale.
“I don’t think that the league office is making calls on the field,” said Cade Steel, a junior history and philosophy major. “But what I do think is that refs in the back of their minds know that these are the big market teams, and these are the big market players, and they are always going to receive a little bit of favoritism. I think the Chiefs are particularly egregious, I don’t think the refs are rigging it, but I also don’t blame people for saying it is.”
The NFL is governed by strict rules, and while human error in officiating can lead to controversial calls, the league is known for its efforts to maintain integrity and fairness. The referees and the league work to minimize bias, and there are rigorous systems in place for review and accountability.
One system is the referees’ ability to throw flags during plays, which stops the game and issues a penalty to the aggrieving team.
According to an article by Forbes, in recent years the number of flags thrown per game has risen, with more flags thrown in 2024 than in all subsequent years.
“I don’t really like flags because it disrupts things,” said Derek Kim, a junior political science and philosophy major. “But I do like how they are being softer with the calls on things like roughing the passer and charging, as the small little taps do add up and lead to serious repercussions.”
Penalty flags have always been a way to protect the players and the integrity of the game, this ties into the controversy surrounding the sanctity of the NFL’s competitive environment by having referees throwing flags to protect certain teams or players.
Other GCSU students seem to share in Kim’s sentiment, that more flags thrown seem to disrupt and extend the game while creating a boring viewing experience for spectators.
“It just messes up the flow of the game when too many are thrown,” Steel said. “The main thing about flags is that you need to be consistent. The issue is that you go into any given game, and there will be 6 holds that are not called, then you go to another game and every hold is called.”
Whilst the conspiracy theories surrounding the current environment of the NFL seem to not hold much truth value, the speculations can be enlightening towards fans’ opinions on the current state of the game and the direction it is headed in the future.