The Kansas City Chiefs are appearing in their fifth straight conference title game and are only a win away from their third Super Bowl appearance in that span. But they still need to win Sunday’s game against the Bengals before they can start worrying about the Super Bowl referee assignment.
Some Chiefs fans, though, have skipped that step.
The NFL announced its officiating crew on Tuesday for Super Bowl 57, and Carl Cheffers — who served as referee in Super Bowl 51 and 55 — is getting the nod once again as lead referee. Chiefs fans, of course, remember Cheffers’ work in Super Bowl 55 where the Chiefs were called for 120 penalty yards on 11 penalties.
The Super Bowl LVII officiating crew: pic.twitter.com/y63WiFsEEl
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) January 24, 2023
But Cheffers hasn’t been kind to the Chiefs in general, which includes this year. Cheffers has accounted for 17 percent of the Chiefs’ total penalties and 20 percent of their penalty yards this season (postseason included) despite only working two of their games.
In the Chiefs’ Week 15 game against the Texans, Kansas City was called for 10 penalties and 102 yards. So, it’s understandable that the Chiefs wouldn’t be thrilled to see Cheffers get that assignment. Still, it was odd to see Chiefs fans upset over the ref for a game they haven’t made yet.
This was how Twitter reacted
I mean seriously… How does Carl Cheffers make the head ref for the Super Bowl. It’s so clear he has a vendetta against the Chiefs and their fans. Absolutely ridiculous. The NFL should be ashamed.
— Chiefs Hive (@chiefshive) January 24, 2023
NFL: Carl Cheffers will officiate the Super Bowl.
Chiefs Fans: pic.twitter.com/CkvRyPG82h
— Megan Strickland (@StricklyMeg) January 24, 2023
I think Carl Cheffers should recuse himself if the Chiefs make the Super Bowl like a judge with a personal bias
— Cody Tapp (@codybtapp) January 24, 2023
So do the Chiefs get two Lombardi trophies when they beat the NFC champion and Carl Cheffers?
— 🗣🎙‼️ (@LanceTHESPOKEN) January 24, 2023
It doesn’t even matter if the Chiefs win on Sunday. They will lose the SuperBowl with Cheffers as the refereee
— Noah Gray burner (@TheGoatMahomes) January 24, 2023
Let’s hope he learned his lesson from the last time he officiated a Chiefs game 🙄 https://t.co/cLT2F6YkAS
— ladyjay 🐰 (@thisLittleLadyJ) January 24, 2023
NO. GOD PLEASE NO. HOW. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE. https://t.co/VjhH9BAA80
— Jeremy Bredemeier (@jpbredemeier) January 24, 2023
Someone has compromising photos of Roger Goodell. https://t.co/ZxuIYwnG9D
— Arrowhead Addict (@ArrowheadAddict) January 24, 2023
Let’s go live to Chiefs fans reaction. https://t.co/lF6IaKfcuh pic.twitter.com/pW75bvnygt
— Rob Brenton (@RoblBrenton) January 24, 2023
Literally any other crew would’ve been better https://t.co/82J6GHtDwf
— Dalian Melgoza (@dalegoza33) January 24, 2023
The #NFL wants the Chiefs to lose, wow https://t.co/G2u8c0Q9tR
— Vishnu Avva (@vishnuavva) January 24, 2023
The NFL should just admit that they don't care about their product. https://t.co/s8JOhxf49H
— Kurtis Seaboldt (@KSeaboldt) January 24, 2023
Let’s see what happens on Sunday first.
