RM NFL Suspends Carl Cheffers’ Entire Officiating Crew Following Controversial Chiefs–Bills Game
Kansas City, Missouri – November 4, 2025 —
The NFL has handed down an indefinite suspension to the entire officiating crew led by veteran referee Carl Cheffers after a highly contentious Week 9 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. The Bills came away with a 28–21 victory, but the game has since sparked outrage from fans, players, and analysts alike.
According to multiple league sources and officiating reviews obtained by Football Zebras, the suspended crew includes umpire Fred Bryan, down judge Sarah Thomas, line judge Carl Johnson, field judge Nate Jones, side judge Chad Hill, back judge Dino Paganelli, and replay official Roddy Ames. The suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The move came less than two days after widespread criticism over a series of questionable calls that many believe directly impacted the outcome of the game. The most disputed moment occurred in the third quarter when Patrick Mahomes was flagged for intentional grounding, even though replays clearly showed the pass was tipped by a Bills defender before it hit the ground. When Chiefs head coach Andy Reid attempted to challenge the ruling, Cheffers declared the play “non-reviewable,” effectively ending a key drive that could have tied the score.
After the game, fan backlash exploded across social media. The hashtag #BillsVsChiefsRigged topped X (formerly Twitter), generating more than 2.5 million posts within 24 hours. Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez called for an official inquiry during CBS’s NFL Prime Night, saying:
“You can clearly see the ball hit a Bills defender’s hand. How does that become intentional grounding? This needs to be investigated — that call changed the entire game.”
Late Monday, NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Walt Anderson confirmed that a full review had been launched, citing “a series of significant officiating errors that failed to meet the league’s professional standards.” It is one of the rare instances in recent NFL history where an entire officiating crew has faced suspension over a single game.
While the league has not provided a timeline for possible reinstatement, the message was unmistakable: accountability is essential. For Kansas City fans, however, the decision offers little comfort — a potential comeback was derailed, and questions about fairness in today’s NFL continue to linger.
