NFL Review Finds No Preferential Treatment for QB Flags; Mahomes 8th in Drawing Fouls

Those who believe Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes gets preferential treatment from NFL officials may want to look away.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network relayed findings from the league on Wednesday regarding the number of fouls quarterbacks drew per 100 hits during the 2024 season, and Mahomes checked in at No. 8 at 3.53. 

While Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the list with 7.32, the league's findings determined there was "no apparent link between QB status and treatment from Officiating."

It highlighted the quarterbacks of playoff teams, and they were spread across the list of 30 signal-callers. In fact, Jalen Hurts was tied for 30th with Derek Carr, C.J. Stroud and Bo Nix, and he led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl title.

As for Mahomes, he found himself behind the likes of Bryce Young and Cooper Rush, among others.

That there was no clear evidence of preferential treatment is notable because officiating and the Chiefs in particular was a storyline throughout the playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl. It reached a point where Chiefs players expressed their annoyance that it was such a talking point before their Super Bowl showdown with the Eagles.

The NFL Referees Association even issued a statement that said, in part, "it is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team."

It surely won't stop the noise, but in the category of fouls drawn by quarterbacks per 100 hits, it seems like neither Mahomes nor anyone else received preferential treatment.