Is Chiefs hatred real or just jealousy?
Jan 25, 2025
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) -- The memes are funny, but has the internet really turned on the Chiefs? It can be hard for fans to tell, but a reporter from the NFL Network spoke to Nexstar's FOX 4 in Kansas City to provide some context.
NFL Network On-Air Personality Jeff Chadiha says he hears or sees the chatter on social media that the Chiefs get all the calls from the referees. He says that the perception of the Chiefs nationally is based on social media discussions.
"I always try to warn people, don't get too caught up in what's happening in that world and [I] think that it's representative of the world at large," Chadiha said.
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Besides working for NFL Network, Chadiha is also an Adjunct Humanities and Social Sciences Lecturer at two universities near Kansas City. He does not think that the Chiefs are somehow benefiting from the NFL's referees.
"Oh, I see it all the time, like every day," Chiefs fan and Kansas City resident Kevin Flint said when asked if he's seen the memes about how the refs are conspiring to let the Chiefs win.
"Then I argue with people about it, and then I laugh at them."
"On social media," he continued.
"I get banned a lot."
Flint added that when fans of other teams are complaining about the referees, that's how you know that you're a good team. Fellow Jackson County resident Ryan WIlliams agreed.
"Yeah, that's BS man," Williams said when asked if he'd seen the memes on social media too, claiming the Chiefs get all the calls.
"We don't get half of the calls that we deserve, but you know, that's the low blow that they've got to take on us because we're just that good you know. So, they can't find nothing else to depict us, so they go with the refs."
Our interviews with Williams and Flint were both outside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Williams was with his 8-year-old son Rymir, who's seen his hometown team go to the AFC Championship Game seven straight years, nearly all his life. They say the memories will last a lifetime.
"We're about to make history, so nobody will be able to forget it," said Williams.
When it comes to a perceived 'hatred' of the Chiefs, Chadiha gave an example of the city of 'Dallas.' He says that when he goes there, the fans are more focused on Dak Prescott than they are on Patrick Mahomes or a Chiefs dynasty.
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Chadiha knows there have been a lot of comparisons between the Chiefs of now and the Patriots of the 2000s and the 2010s when they won six Super Bowls.
"The difference here is that Andy Reid is a very well-liked, well-respected coach in this league," he said.
"Patrick Mahomes is a really nice guy. Travis Kelce is a really nice guy. Their stars are very likable people, so do people not like them because they're winning? Yes, but when the Patriots were on top, there was 'Spygate,' there was 'Deflategate.' Bill Belichick was not a likable guy in the media, and they were very indignant about a lot of stuff that they did that they got caught doing, so I think there's a big difference between how the Chiefs are treated and how the Patriots were treated."
Chadiha called Mahomes 'friendlier' than Tom Brady because he's friends with rivals of his like Bills' quarterback Josh Allen. He says that Brady was more like Chicago Bulls' star Michael Jordan where he wanted to beat everyone or 'kill everyone' he played.