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Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs slides after running during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on February 11,…
Michael Owens/Getty Images
The NFL has a problem: quarterback slides.
In recent years, QBs have been accused of exploiting league rules regarding sliding that were intended to prevent them from serious injuries. Things hit new levels of fan frustration in recent months with dubious calls surrounding Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and a serious hit on Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, and it is clear that something needs to be done.
For all those complaining that Patrick Mahomes gets too many calls, relief soon could be on the way.
NFL replay assist is expected to expand this offseason into plays that could include the quarterback slide, league sources told ESPN.https://t.co/4w3haqOW7i
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2025
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According to NFL Insider Adam Schefter, “For all those complaining that Patrick Mahomes gets too many calls, relief soon could be on the way. NFL replay assist is expected to expand this offseason into plays that could include the quarterback slide, league sources told ESPN.”
The rules designed to protect quarterbacks have become a double-edged sword, with some quarterbacks using them to gain an advantage.
Defensive players are at risk of severe penalties—sometimes even ejections—if they hit a quarterback who is running out of bounds or preparing to slide.
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs slides after running during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on February 11,…
Michael Owens/Getty Images
This vulnerability has led some quarterbacks to take advantage of the situation, feigning an attempt to end a play, only to spring back into action once the defender lets up.
The issue revolves around the rule governing how a player declares themselves down, which can be done by falling to the ground, kneeling, or sliding.
According to the rulebook: “When a runner slides feet or head first or simulates sliding, the ball is dead the instant he touches the ground with anything other than his hands or feet or begins to simulate touching the ground.” This provision has sparked debates, especially after a key moment in the 2024 playoffs.
During a postseason matchup between the Chiefs and the Houston Texans, Mahomes found himself at the center of a controversial unnecessary roughness penalty.
As Mahomes slid to the ground to avoid a sack, two Texans defenders, Folorunso Fatukasi and To’oTo’o, collided and hit him after he had already started his slide.
Despite the seemingly innocuous nature of the play, the officials threw a 15-yard penalty flag on Houston, even though replays showed the contact appeared to involve To’oTo’o more than Mahomes.