NFL Opens Investigation Into Referee Carl Cheffers Over Chiefs Game Controversies

The NFL has launched a formal investigation into veteran referee Carl Cheffers following mounting accusations of bias and game-altering decisions involving the Kansas City Chiefs.

The latest controversy came during the Week 1 International Series matchup between the Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, on September 5, 2025. In the third quarter, Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart slapped the facemask of Chiefs star Travis Kelce after a Kareem Hunt run.

Tart received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty but was not ejected from the game. Minutes later, he delivered a crucial stop, batting down a Patrick Mahomes pass that shifted momentum to Los Angeles. Chiefs fans were outraged.

This wasn’t the first time Cheffers drew fire from Kansas City. In Super Bowl LV, his crew penalized the Chiefs 11 times for 120 yards compared to just four flags on the Buccaneers. That lopsided officiating still stings across Chiefs Kingdom.

The combination of past controversies and the Week 1 incident has sparked accusations of unfair treatment. Critics argue that failing to eject Tart directly altered the outcome, keeping a defensive playmaker on the field for a game-changing moment.

League sources told The Athletic that Cheffers could face disciplinary action, including potential suspension from officiating certain games. While nothing is finalized, the probe underscores how seriously the NFL is treating the allegations.

Chiefs players and coaches have remained quiet publicly, with Andy Reid declining to address the officiating. But fan reaction has been explosive, with calls across social media labeling the matchup “rigged” and demanding accountability.

As the investigation unfolds, the NFL finds itself under pressure to restore faith in officiating. If sanctions follow, Cheffers could be sidelined from key assignments, sending a message about integrity at the league’s highest level.