DeForest Buckner was not called for roughing the passer on a big hit to the chest of Washington Commanders third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis even though it looked a lot like a penalty that was called last weekend. The NFL gives special treatment to Patrick Mahomes.
Nothing is consistent!
Even if the NFL does not want to it admit, its officials are going to throw a flag for Mahomes more often than they throw a flag for other quarterbacks. Especially a seventh-round rookie.
DeForest Buckner wasn’t called for roughing the passer on Athan Kaliakmanis.
The Washington Commanders began Sunday’s game against the Colts without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. And then they lost backup quarterback Marcus Mariota to an injury during the first half.
That gave way to Athan Kaliakmanis. The former Minnesota and Rutgers signal-caller was drafted with the No. 223 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He is better known as the Greek Rifle or the Baklava Bomber.
The 23-year-old rookie quarterback got his “welcome to the league” moment on a big hit during the second quarter. 6-foot-7, 295-pound DeForest Buckner absolutely crushed him right as he released a pass.
It was a slobberknocker. Big ouch. (Here’s another video if the embed above did not load properly!)
Not called as a roughing the passer penalty because the passer is not named Patrick Mahomes. https://t.co/1rJtFcrq5L
— Big E (@ian693) October 4, 2026
Fortunately, Kaliakmanis was perfectly fine. And, fortunately, the NFL officiating crew decided not to throw a flag for roughing the passer on what appeared to be a clean hit.
Patrick Mahomes gets special treatment from the NFL.
Per the rules as they are written, a roughing the passer penalty can be called if:
- The quarterback is hit late after the ball is released.
- The defender drives the quarterback into the ground.
- The defender lands with their body weight on the quarterback.
- The defender makes forcible contact with the quarterback’s head or neck area.
- The defender makes avoidable or excessive contact with the quarterback.
Buckner was not late, did not drive the quarterback into the ground or make excessive contact. However, there is a case to be made that he landed on Kaliakmanis with his entire body weight. That could warrant a flag. Most people would agree that it was a good no call.
Unfortunately, the lack of flag in London on Sunday exposed a clear double standard for quarterbacks in the NFL. Buckner was not called for roughing the passer on a hit that looked almost identical to one on Patrick Mahomes last weekend.
Here is the play in question:
On 3rd down – Chop Robinson hits Mahomes and gets flagged for roughing the passer. There was also another flag on Miami on play. Unfortunate situation in what could have been a game changing stop. https://t.co/9utFSwu6fD
— Jason Sarney – Dolphins Wire (@Jason_Sarney) September 27, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs fans were absolutely furious that I questioned the penalty. They even put a successful community note on my post to the BroBible Facebook page!
The community note reads: “This is by rule a penalty. Kirk Cousins got a similar call the same day.”
If that is by rule a penalty, then why was DeForest Buckner not called for roughing the passer on Athan Kaliakmanis? It was the exact same hit that got Chop Robinson called for roughing the passer on Patrick Mahomes last week.
The post NFL Referees Prove Patrick Mahomes Gets Special Treatment By Ignoring Big Hit On Rookie Quarterback appeared first on BroBible.
NFL Referees Prove Patrick Mahomes Gets Special Treatment By Ignoring Big Hit On Rookie Quarterback
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