NFL Officially Disciplines Referees Shawn Smith and Craig Wrolstad After Controversial Decisions in Bills vs. Falcons and Chiefs vs. Lions Games Raise Transparency Concerns

NFL Officially Disciplines Referees Shawn Smith and Craig Wrolstad After Controversial Decisions in Bills vs. Falcons and Chiefs vs. Lions Games Raise Transparency Concerns

New York, USA – Following intense backlash from fans, analysts, and team officials, the NFL has officially disciplined veteran referees Shawn Smith and Craig Wrolstad — who officiated the two most controversial matchups of the week: Bills vs. Falcons and Chiefs vs. Lions.

According to an official statement from the league office, the disciplinary action came after an internal review of both games’ officiating tapes, which revealed multiple instances where officials “failed to call obvious penalties” or issued “inconsistent rulings that directly impacted the outcome of the games.”

In the Bills vs. Falcons game, Shawn Smith’s crew came under heavy criticism for failing to flag a dangerous hip-drop tackle that left Buffalo receiver Joshua Palmer injured and unable to return. Despite clear evidence of the illegal move, no penalty was called.

Just a day later, Craig Wrolstad, who led the officiating crew for the Chiefs vs. Lions matchup, faced similar scrutiny after ruling Travis Kelce’s controversial catch as complete, even though replay footage suggested the ball slipped during contact with the ground. A nearly identical play involving a Bills receiver the week before was ruled incomplete.

Sources told ESPN that the NFL’s Officiating Oversight Committee identified multiple procedural violations and inconsistencies, including failures to follow established replay review protocols during key moments. Internal reports also indicated a lack of transparency in communication between on-field referees and the league’s replay command center.

An NFL spokesperson stated:

“The league will not tolerate any action or negligence that undermines the fairness and integrity of the game. The officials involved have been disciplined pending further investigation.”

This marks one of the NFL’s most decisive disciplinary actions against officiating crews in recent years, coming at a time when fan trust in the league’s officiating has been under growing strain. Both Bills Mafia and Lions Nation praised the decision, calling it “a necessary first step toward restoring integrity and accountability in the NFL.”

Neither Shawn Smith nor Craig Wrolstad has issued a public statement, while the league confirmed that the internal investigation will continue in the coming days to determine whether any bias or ethical violations were involved in the disputed games.