Tom Brady is the latest person to enter the discussion regarding referee calls regarding Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Brady, 47, explained that the onus should be on the quarterback to protect himself.
“When quarterbacks become running backs and they’re out of the pocket, they should lose their protection,” Brady said during a recent appearance on FOX Sports’ “The Herd.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Announcer Tom Brady looks on before an NFC wild card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
“We’re trying to protect the quarterbacks, but coaches are calling more quarterback runs than ever in the history of the game. So who’s protecting the quarterback? We’re trying to say the refs should do it? “
Mahomes benefited from two calls in the Chiefs’ 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans.
Texans star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was flagged for a roughing passer penalty for hitting Mahomes in the head while throwing a pass, but what Brady appears to be referring to is the penalty Mahomes received in the third quarter.
Mahomes was struggling in the third quarter and, as he slid, he was hit by two Texans defenders near the head area as he went down.
PATRICK MAHOMES RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS OF Flop and Referee FAVORITISM After Outrage Over Penalties
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, is tackled by Houston Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair, #0, during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoffs at GEHA Field in Arrowhead Stadium on January 18, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the game.
There was another play in the fourth quarter when Mahomes appeared to embellish contact along the sideline in hopes of generating another flag, but the referees did not call a penalty.
“The reality for me is that offensive players have to protect themselves. If they’re running full speed and the defender is coming, the only way to return the ball is to create force. You’re not going to blow the ball away and work its way out of the hands of a running back or a quarterback,” Brady said.
“You have to go out there with force and eliminate it. You try to create turnovers. You try to disrupt the passer. You try to dislodge the ball. The only way to do that is with force. You have to be aggressive ‘aggressiveness to achieve this.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Brady said defenders who are afraid of being penalized are doing the game a disservice.
“If you don’t want to get hit, you can go down, you can go out of bounds,” Brady said. “But you can’t, in essence, have the defensive player come in at half speed and then you run over the defensive player because he’s afraid of getting a penalty. That doesn’t do the game any favors. “That’s something I hope for.” People really care. Not that anyone is trying to take advantage of the rules, but they’ve gotten to a point where it’s impacting the quality of the game.”
When Mahomes’ Chiefs take on the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., there will certainly be a lot of attention paid to Mahomes and the referees.
Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage onand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
