El Paso, TX – A groundbreaking study from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) suggests that as the NFL’s TV revenue climbed, officiating trends may have quietly shifted — especially in key penalty categories like pass interference.
Published August 28, 2025, in the journal Financial Review, the study titled “Under (Financial) Pressure” analyzed 13,136 defensive penalties from 2015 to 2023. Researchers found that during the Patrick Mahomes era, postseason calls favored the Kansas City Chiefs, particularly on subjective penalties such as roughing the passer and pass interference — the types of calls that most directly sustain offensive drives and boost game excitement.
Lead author Spencer Barnes, Ph.D., an assistant professor of finance at UTEP’s Woody L. Hunt College of Business, said the data reveal a subtle link between on-field enforcement and off-field economics. “When the league’s financial health depends on ratings and fan engagement, enforcement patterns can unconsciously adapt to protect those interests,” Barnes said.
The study found no similar bias for other dynasties, including the Tom Brady–era Patriots, suggesting the trend was unique to the Chiefs’ emergence as a TV ratings powerhouse and one of the NFL’s most profitable brands.
Researchers say the findings highlight a broader issue: how financial reliance on star-driven markets can shape decision-making, even in highly visible institutions like professional sports.
