Breaking: Ref Who Favored Chiefs Loses Position After Leaked No-Calls (Report)

Oct 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks with referee Jerome Boger during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most successful teams in the NFL ever since Patrick Mahomes took over as quarterback. Mahomes and Andy Reid have made for an unstoppable duo at times.

However, they have also been subject to heavy criticism due to penalties seemingly always going their way. That was evident leading up to the Super Bowl when players were asked about it.

It would appear that where there is smoke, there is fire.

Breaking: Chiefs Cause NFL Referee To Lose Position After Blatant Favoritism (Report)

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Fans aren’t exactly crying over the NFL’s officiating changes heading into the 2025 season. As a result of several high-profile errors, including one that helped the Kansas City Chiefs win a key game, the NFL has reassigned Tra Blake:

Blake, who served as an NFL referee for three seasons, will return to his former role as an umpire, according to FootballZebras.com.

While the league hasn’t publicly detailed the reason for his demotion, the timing suggests the missed calls, particularly one involving the Chiefs, played a part in the decision.

One of Blake’s most criticized moments came during a Week 3 matchup between the Chiefs and the Falcons on Sunday Night Football. With the game on the line, Chiefs safety Bryan Cook appeared to wrap up Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts well before the ball arrived. No flag was thrown. The Chiefs held on for the win.

The league later acknowledged the officiating error, and Blake issued a formal statement explaining the mistake.

NFL Demotes Referee After Missed Kansas City Chiefs Penalty Tra Blake (Photo By Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images) — Tra Blake (Photo By Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

It wasn’t an isolated incident. Earlier that season, Blake’s crew also missed a clear facemask penalty during a Thursday Night Football game between the Vikings and Rams. Both calls generated widespread backlash online and led to renewed calls for accountability among NFL officials.

The NFL rarely reassigns referees mid-tenure, making this move notable. FootballZebras reports that officials demoted Blake, making him just the 12th referee to face this in the Super Bowl era. He served as a field judge and umpire before earning a promotion to referee in 2022 after Tony Corrente retired.