NFL Study Showing Surprising QB Who Gets Most Calls From Refs Had Fans Sounding Off

Andy Nesbitt | Feb 27, 2025

Patrick Mahomes is No. 8 on this list. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

One of the biggest narratives during this past NFL season was that Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs benefited from a lot of calls from refs that helped them win close games and get back to the Super Bowl for a third straight year.

Well, it seems the NFL heard enough about that as the league decided to jump into the numbers and do some research on which QBs got the most calls to see if there might be some preferential treatment going on.

The complete list, which was shared by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, shows that Mahomes isn't the QB getting the most calls, as he was at No. 8. Who got the No. 1 spot? Miami's Tua Tagovailoa, who was followed by Josh Allen, Bryce Young, Cooper Rush, and Kyler Murray.

The league reviewed the number of fouls drawn by QBs to see if there’s preferential treatment from officials and found there’s no pattern. The #Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa was the most fouled passer per 100 hits this past season. pic.twitter.com/xmAcHEcEus

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 26, 2025

NFL fans had lots of reactions to that, including many who came to the defense of Mahomes and the Chiefs and others who wondered why some big-name QBs were so low on the list.

How? This absolutely makes no sense. I don’t even remember more than two personal foul calls that came Tua’s way. https://t.co/ANrM9AAJmD

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) February 26, 2025

But I thought Pat got all of the calls?? https://t.co/ywYdtu1cez

— David Derks (@derks13) February 26, 2025

But I was told the Chiefs get all the calls. https://t.co/uX78RaKPQl

— James Steele (@JSteele56) February 26, 2025

People on here don't want to hear it and crush me but in my opinion the QB that benefits the most from a favorable whistle is Josh Allen. https://t.co/CkPKGmpRN4

— OfficiatingObserver17 (@RefObserver17) February 27, 2025

Jalen Hurts: https://t.co/1ydzptGxQL pic.twitter.com/BLgvOROiFj

— MisterCusick (@MisterCusick) February 26, 2025

Fact checking won’t stop the scrutiny but it’ll make the Chiefs hate more unnecessary https://t.co/ru7J3xpr17

— KC Special Teams Enthusiast (@footballspam7) February 26, 2025

Whats Hurts got to do to get a call @NFL https://t.co/TaU6uH5arq

— Max D (@Max_Derringer) February 27, 2025

Oh wow you don’t say. Maybe the Chiefs are just good https://t.co/DUnLXtLUgi

— LUCID (@lucid316) February 27, 2025

Wait Mahomes should be clear as day #1. And wow look who’s above him. Joshy boy! IMPOSSIBLE https://t.co/vT1K5RVQy1

— marcus (@marcus_0206) February 26, 2025

That’s weird.

Mr. Never Gets Calls gets almost double the calls of Mr. Always Gets Calls https://t.co/7bssQnnRQx

— Kyle Jones (@KyleJones_96) February 27, 2025

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