Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes received heavy criticism last week when it appeared that the officials gave him preferential treatment in a playoff game against the Houston Texans.
The most controversial incident happened in the third quarter of an eventual 23-14 win over the Texans. After scrambling for a few yards, Mahomes slid at the last moment and two Houston defenders weren’t able to stop before making contact. (They made more contact with each other than with Mahomes, but that didn’t prevent a 15-yard penalty.)
The play outraged fans and pundits with even Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain chiming in with a since-deleted tweet that asked, “Cmon man what we supposed to do when he sliding.”
This week, a former Broncos cornerback has weighed in with an unexpected take.
Aqib Talib, who won Super Bowl 50 with Denver, seemingly came to the defense of the officials and Mahomes three days after the game.
“I’m #BroncosCountry 4Life!!!” Talib tweeted. “BUT this Chiefs hate is getting out of hand!!! If you hit the QB in his head, it’s a flag! No matter your intentions! And please don’t say they didn’t touch his head.”
I’m #BroncosCountry 4Life!!! BUT this Chiefs hate is getting out of hand!!! If you hit the QB in his head, it’s a flag! No matter your intentions! And please don’t say they didn’t touch his head.
— AqibTalib21 (@AqibTalib21) January 21, 2025
After beating the Texans, Mahomes and the Chiefs are now set to host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday.
Talib’s ten career pick-sixes are the fourth-most in NFL history. He is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.
