Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Expected to Face NFL Punishment for Lions Game
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes could be in line for some NFL punishment for an incident in the team’s game against the Detroit Lions.
With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Mahomes kept the ball on an option play near the goalline and ran in for a touchdown. As he crossed the plane, many watching believed that Chiefs quarterback taunted Lions defensive back Brian Branch — which was not flagged for a penalty during the play, but could still result in punishment for Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes Faces Scrutiny Over Play
Many fans and commentators seized on the play quickly, questioning why Mahomes did not face a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Patrick Mahomes is the only player in the NFL who can taunt defenders. It’s in the NFL Rulebook,” one fan noted in a post on X.
Others saw a double standard in how the league used Mahomes’ actions toward Branch to promote the play, while other players may have been flagged for a penalty for those actions.
As Teddy Ricketson of The Sporting News noted, the NFL informed teams before the season that it would be cracking down on taunting penalties.
“The league has cracked down on taunting in recent years, with the 2025 changes being perhaps the most notable,” Ricketson wrote. “The NFL sent out memos to its officials that they were going to be trained on cracking down on unsportsmanlike conduct, with a particular attention to taunting.”
As Ricketson added, one of the examples of taunting from the NFL was one player flexing toward an opponent after making a play — which is what Mahomes appeared to do during Sunday’s game against the Lions.
While Mahomes escaped a flag on the play, he could still face a fine when the league announces them next Saturday. All games are reviewed during the week, and infractions that aren’t flagged during the week can still draw fines.
That would cost him five figures.
“The first offense of a player taunting and getting flagged for it will earn them an $11,593 fine, per the NFL’s website,” Ricketson noted. “Their second offense will see the fine increased to $17,389.”
Mahomes has been fined in the past, including some hefty ones. He was docked $50,000 in 2023 for “verbally abusing” referees in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. He faced another fine of more than $14,000 for a “violent gesture” against the Bills in a regular-season game the following year.
There have been some other clear taunts this season that did not result in flags or fines. Bills quarterback Josh Allen appeared to make a gun motion in a win over the Miami Dolphins this season — a banned celebration that is supposed to draw a penalty and fine — but Allen escaped without any punishment.
Patrick Mahomes Could Be Involved in Another Fine
Mahomes may have also been at the receiving end of a play that will draw scrutiny from the NFL. Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson knocked Mahomes down on a late hit during the fourth quarter, drawing a penalty that gave the Chiefs a free first down.
Mahomes appeared angered after the play, saying something toward the star Lions edge rusher.
Josh Allen's alma mater bestows high honor upon its most famous alumnus
Ample recognition continues to be showered upon Buffalo Bills’ reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen, who was bestowed a high honor by his alma mater this past weekend.
Allen’s mother and father, Lavonne and Joel Allen, were on site as the Firebaugh, Calif. native was presented as the new namesake of his hometown’s high school football field. Firebaugh High School’s gridiron will now be known as "Josh Allen Field" in honor of the institution’s most famous alumnus.
“As I look around this beautiful stadium, memories come flooding back,” said Joel to the crowd on hand at FHS via the Bills’ Instagram page. “Firebaugh has always been a very special place for our family. I think about all the people who helped shape Josh’s journey. I have to start by thanking his late grandfather, Albert E. Allen.
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“He had a vision that one day, Firebaugh would have its own high school and football field where his children and grandchildren could showcase their talents. I believe this moment is Josh’s way of saying thank you to his grandfather for that dream.”
While Allen was unable to attend Friday night’s ceremony, he was able to express his gratitude in a video message. During his time at Firebaugh, Allen threw for 5,269 yards and 59 touchdowns, per MaxPreps. As a senior, Allen had more than 3,000 yards passing and 33 touchdowns passing to go along with 400 yards rushing and four touchdowns rushing.
“He wishes in the worst way that he could be here, but he’s in his season right now,” Lavonne told FOX26. “We’re here representing him, and we could not be more honored.”
Along with the honor presented to Allen by his high school, later this year, he will also have his number retired by the University of Wyoming, where the Bills QB played college football. The upcoming retirement ceremony will take place on Nov. 22 at halftime of the Cowboys’ game against Nevada. Allen is expected to be in attendance.
During his career at Wyoming, Allen recorded 5,833 yards of total offense, including 5,066 yards passing and 767 yards rushing. He accounted for 57 total touchdowns (44 passing, 12 rushing, one receiving) before his collegiate career came to a close at the end of the 2017 season.
