NFL Fans Celebrate Potential Rule Change That Could Improve QB-Slide Officiating

Patrick Mahomes is an easy target, but he's far from the only offender.

Patrick Mahomes slides during the Chiefs' 38–35 win over the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023. / Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

With the Kansas City Chiefs smack in the middle of one of 21st-century sport's great runs, NFL fans have been chomping at the bit for a permission structure to detest quarterback Patrick Mahomes even more.

They've found it in recent weeks, as officials' treatment of Mahomes has come under the microscope—most notably on the quarterback slide, long a favorite Mahomes play. On Saturday afternoon, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the NFL would expand its expedited replay system to cover quarterback slides in 2025.

This development drew a mostly positive reaction from football fans, although whether the league caved to hyperbolic coverage of Mahomes was a subject of debate.

For all those complaining that Patrick Mahomes gets too many calls, relief soon could be on the way.

NFL replay assist is expected to expand this offseason into plays that could include the quarterback slide, league sources told ESPN.https://t.co/4w3haqOW7i

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2025

Some fans wondered why the play wasn't reviewable in the first place.

There’s no reason in the lords year 2025 that everything shouldn’t be reviewable. https://t.co/JG2wc5ojyX

— Nickolai (@nwfisch) January 25, 2025

The Houston Texans' ample complaints after their 23–14 loss in the divisional round Saturday drew praise.

The Texans saved the NFL https://t.co/aHnlTILLJt

— Lawson Pyles (@LawsonPyles) January 25, 2025

Generally, expedited replay has been welcomed by NFL fans, and this development appears to be no exception.

Expand it for a lot more.

What caused so much ruckus is when fans on TV can see something the refs didn’t.

If you’ve got someone seeing what the fans see and making correct calls, you’ll end with fewer disconnections. https://t.co/YoVdYFzdru

— Bruce Nolan (@BruceExclusive) January 25, 2025

Chiefs fans, meanwhile, were left to roll their eyes.

Always changing the rules because of the Chiefs😂 https://t.co/LKRJF7tl1X

— Arrowhead Live (@ArrowheadLive) January 25, 2025

The application of this rule—if brought into force—will be an intriguing storyline to watch in '25.

Arbitrarily deciding what replay assist can be applied to still doesn't sit well with me. If you're going to incorporate the technology, it should be applied to all plays. https://t.co/SrHDp2WMEG

— Matt Karoly (@mattkaroly) January 25, 2025

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