Super Bowl referees speaking with Andy Reid. Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talks to referee Carl Cheffers (51) after a catch by Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (not pictured) in the third quarter of Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

A controversial holding penalty made by the officials at Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles directly led to a game-winning field goal by Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker to seal the victory for Kansas City. Stats have emerged about Carl Cheffers’ crew, who were the officials for the game, and how often they call defensive holding, which has made the NFL world extremely upset.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Cheffers’ crew had gone 576 consecutive snaps without calling a defensive holding penalty before calling one in the final moments of the Super Bowl. This dates all the way back to December 24th, officiating three games in a row without a holding call on the defense.

There was already a ton of controversy about this call. It is safe to say that this stat has only added to fans’ frustrations about the crucial penalty on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry.

While this stat may lead some to believe that the call was not correct, Bradberry did admit after the game that even he believed that he held on the play.

“I pulled on his jersey. They called it. I was hoping they would let it ride,” said Bradberry after Sunday’s entertaining matchup.

It seems pretty cut and dry that Bradberry held on the play. The issue is that holding happens on both sides of the ball on nearly every play, and it may not have been a justifiable call to make in such a crucial moment for both teams.

Regardless, it is a play that Eagles fans will never forget, and one that Chiefs fans will likely omit years from now when they look back at their Super Bowl victory.

[Jeff Rowe on Twitter]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.