Troy Aikman: Why I called out refs on Patrick Mahomes hit

On the ride to the airport following the Chiefs’ win over the Texans in the divisional round, Troy Aikman’s phone blew up more than normal.

Some from people he doesn’t often hear from “ever.” Others from those whose opinions he truly values.

“I was really dumbfounded,” Aikman said on the “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” podcast. “I didn’t know what the deal was and I didn’t realize until later.”

Aikman would soon learn that his critical comments about the referees while broadcasting the game for ABC had gone viral after he said “Oh, come on” following an unnecessary roughness penalty for a hit against Patrick Mahomes.

The Cowboys legend explained that the increased focus on the calls, especially with gambling become more prevalent, necessitates actions be taken to ensure calls are accurate.

“I know the officials have a tough job,” Aikman said. “We’ve gotten more advanced with instant replay, those guys, it seems, have become more and more scrutinized and the game has not become less controversial, it’s become more controversial. I just think we are at a point, and this is tipped a little bit because the league is partners with a number of these gambling services. So here you are promoting gambling, people are gambling more than they have ever before and those types of calls, there’s a lot at stake regardless, but especially when you’re considering there’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls as well. I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right, and I think that we are at a point and time where we can. We can get it more right. That was really my position and just trying to lean on the NFL and say, ‘Hey, we gotta fix this. We’ve got to address this in the offseason.’”

The referees’ alleged Chiefs bias has become a hot topic this postseason, with Kansas City being on the right end of some debatable rulings.

Two calls went their way in a 23-14 win over the Texans on Jan. 18, with Will Anderson being penalized for a questionable roughing the passer that extended a drive and led to points, and the Texans being hit with the same call when Mahomes took off as a runner in third quarter.

That call particularly perturbed Aikman.

“Oh, come on! I mean, he’s a runner. I could not disagree with that one more,” Aikman said. “And he barely gets hit. That’s the second penalty now that’s been called against the Texans.”

He added: “They’ve gotta address it in the offseason. You can’t as a quarterback run around and play games with defenders and be able to draw a penalty.”

Aikman said the NFL needs to do something to help defenders out, noting that quarterbacks can weaponize the current rules against defenders.

However, he made it clear that he does not believe the Chiefs have the refs on their side.

“I don’t think Patrick Mahomes gets preferential treatment. I don’t think Tom Brady got preferential treatment. I think there is an idea among fans that when a team’s really good, like New England was, like we (the Cowboys) were in the ’90s, like Kansas City is now, those teams get the benefit of the doubt,” Aikman said. “Do they? Maybe at times, but when they do get the benefit of the doubt, then there’s this conspiracy theory like, ‘Oh, yeah, see, that’s what happens.’”

Aikman is hopeful the NFL can take steps to avoid making the wrong calls.

The league has looked into tracking technology similar to what tennis uses, which could have helped in the AFC Championship game on Josh Allen’s game-changing failed quarterback sneak.

“When you’re talking about these plays that just change the outcome of games — pass interference, hits on quarterbacks — if we can all look at it two days later, if the league can look at it later and say, ‘You know what, you’re right, that shouldn’t have been called or this should have been a first down,’” Aikman said, “then I think we owe it to all the people we can get it right in real time and that’s where we are.”