After Thanksgiving Loss to Cowboys, Chiefs Hit With More Bad News: Rookie Ashton Gillotte Faces Possible Suspension for Controversial Hit on Dak Prescott

Kansas City, Missouri – 11/28/2025

Following the heartbreaking 31–28 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Kansas City Chiefs are now staring at another potential disaster that could make their playoff push even steeper. Rookie defensive standout Ashton Gillotte, who had been viewed as a bright spot on the defense, is facing possible suspension for next week’s game after a highly controversial hit on Dak Prescott that has sparked furious debate across the NFL.

Should this have been a flag for roughing the passer? Dak was asking for one pic.twitter.com/1SB3HPSZGO

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) November 27, 2025

The incident occurred in the second half on a 2nd-and-7 play at the 18-yard line. As soon as Prescott released the ball, Gillotte launched himself and delivered a direct blow to Prescott’s helmet. No flag was thrown in real time, despite Prescott immediately protesting and asking officials to review it. Slow-motion replay, however, clearly shows helmet-to-helmet contact — a textbook violation that could be called “roughing the passer” under current NFL rules. The footage instantly enraged Cowboys fans and triggered widespread calls for league discipline.

The NFL is currently conducting a full review of the play. Even though no penalty was assessed on the field, every quarterback contact is automatically scrutinized post-game. If the league deems the hit unnecessary or excessively violent, Gillotte faces a $17,389 fine and, more critically, a possible one-game suspension. That outcome would be a massive blow to a Chiefs defense already thin due to injuries and fighting to keep the season alive.

After the game, head coach Andy Reid came to his rookie’s defense, trying to calm the growing firestorm: “Ashton is a young player still learning the speed of this league. That play had zero malicious intent. He was just trying to finish his job at full speed, and sometimes things happen faster than they look. I trust that whoever reviews the tape will see it the same way.” Reid’s comments resonated with many Chiefs fans and sparked curiosity to re-watch the collision.

As the NFL prepares to announce its official ruling, Chiefs Nation is holding its collective breath — Gillotte has become a critical piece on an already shaky defense. The clip is spreading like wildfire across social media, fueling heated arguments between the two fanbases. The loss was already hard to swallow, but losing a key contributor to a suspension would turn this into the toughest stretch of the Chiefs’ season.