Suspicions of preferential treatment for the Kansas City Chiefs resurfaced during their Saturday afternoon game against the Houston Texans, as eagle-eyed fans noticed an unusual incident involving a ball boy seemingly aiding in calling a timeout.
The incident occurred in the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium, with the Chiefs trailing 10-7. Head coach Andy Reid attempted to call a timeout from the sideline but struggled to capture the referee’s attention. That’s when a ball boy standing near the official appeared to intervene, pointing toward Reid and seemingly relaying the timeout request.
The referee then granted the timeout, allowing the Chiefs to regroup. However, according to NFL rules, only the head coach or a designated player on the field is permitted to call timeouts, sparking immediate backlash from fans and raising questions about whether the Chiefs received undue assistance.
Social Media Backlash
Fans on social media were quick to react, accusing the Chiefs of bending the rules.
“How the f**k do they keep getting away with this?” one fan wrote.
“Just because Reid can’t get his fat a* down the field like every other HC does, doesn’t mean the ball boy should be allowed to get the ref’s attention,”* another exclaimed.
“Ball boy cannot assist or notify the refs when a team is attempting to call a timeout. It’s insane the ref didn’t call a flag on the Chiefs for that… oh wait,” joked another.
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Support for the Chiefs
While many fans criticized the incident, others defended the Chiefs, arguing that the ball boy’s actions were merely a practical way to alert the referee.
“Dude got the official’s attention to look at Reid,” one fan countered. “Y’all are whiners.”
“It looks like the coach was attempting to call timeout, and the ref didn’t see him, so the ball boy got his attention. What a controversy,” another fan wrote.
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first time the Chiefs have faced scrutiny for unconventional timeout calls this season.
In Week 1, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo ran down the sideline with nine seconds left in the first half, prompting the officials to grant a timeout. Despite the NFL’s rule that only the head coach can make such calls, no penalties were issued.
The Chiefs went on to win that game against the Baltimore Ravens, 27-1, in an AFC Championship rematch, kicking off a nine-game win streak that has set the stage for their potential Super Bowl threepeat.
The Bigger Picture
Saturday’s timeout controversy didn’t overshadow the Chiefs’ performance, as they fought back to secure a 27-19 victory over the Texans. The win improved Kansas City’s record to 14-1, keeping them atop the AFC standings and inching closer to locking up the No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Texans left Kansas City with a 9-6 record but remained at the top of the AFC South.
What’s Next?
As the Chiefs gear up for their final two regular-season games, starting with a Christmas Day clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team continues to face heightened scrutiny. Incidents like Saturday’s timeout call add fuel to ongoing debates about whether the reigning champions receive favorable treatment.
Whether the controversy impacts the Chiefs’ standing remains to be seen, but for now, Kansas City remains the team to beat in their pursuit of a historic Super Bowl threepeat.
