Tom Brady has weighed on the Kansas City Chiefs and referees before the Super Bowl (Image: Getty)
has weighed in on claims that the are gaining an advantage due to a conspiracy amongst NFL referees, as they prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles at
The five-time MVP quarterback will be in – the second Super Bowl clash between the Chiefs and Eagles in three years – at Caesars Superbowl in New Orleans on Sunday.
One of the biggest storylines heading into the game , who have made the unfounded claim that the reigning NFL champions have referees in their pocket.
But Brady has shut down talk of a refereeing conspiracy on the Chiefs’ side and jumped to the defence on the officials by claiming their jobs are ‘very challenging’.
“I think it’s just all BS. It’s just a bunch of noise,” Brady said on Fox & Friends, when asked about the theories. “These refs have very challenging jobs to do.
“I’m very happy Twitter (now called X) didn’t exist during the Tuck Rule Game in 2001, let me say that. I would’ve been on the wrong end on a lot of those.
“But these refs are out there trying to do their very best. They got to make decisions in a split second and they’re going to call what they see and these guys are some of the most professional people on the field.
“They just want to do a good job like everyone else.”
Complaints were raised following the Chiefs’ 32-29 win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, which was marred by claims from fans and pundits that the referees made a series of blunders at critical moments.
Conspiracy theorists claimed the Chiefs had benefited from a serious of dubious referee decisions (Image: Getty)
In the build-up to the Super Bowl, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and coach Andy Reid were all grilled by reporters over the controversial decisions that went in their favour, with Reid admitting his side had received some good fortune in that victory.
It even led to talkshow host Pat McAfee making a tongue-in-cheek remark about Reid meeting the referee Ron Torbert prior to the game taking place in New Orleans.
But both the Chiefs and NFL referees union have vehemently denied that favouritism has been afforded, with the latter releasing a public statement labelling the claims as ‘insulting’.
It represents a major U-turn from Brady, who was vocal in his criticism of referees during his playing career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on his way to winning six Super Bowl rings. By his own admission, Brady said in 2021 that he was a “pain in the a**” for those wearing the black and white striped uniform.
Tom Brady has previously been vocal in criticism of referees (Image: Getty)
Only two weeks ago, the Patriots Hall of Fame inductee levelled criticism at officials following the NFC Championship Game between the Eagles and Washington Commanders, which finished 55-27 in favour of the Eagles.
The FOX analyst, 46, claimed they were interfering with the play too often which led to a stop-start encounter: “I do like the ability in the playoffs, I always felt this as a player: Let the players play,” Brady said in January.
“Let them go out there, be physical. I’m not saying with something egregious, but I don’t love seeing the refs factor into too many games. I want to see the players on the field get the decision in why they advance or not.”
It remains to be seen which side Brady will take if the Chiefs are handed good fortune by the officials in charge on Sunday as they aim to win the Vincent Lombardi trophy for an unprecedented third straight year.