Patrick Mahomes to File Official Complaint to the NFL, Demanding Discipline for Lions’ Kerby Joseph Over Social Media Insult – “We Just Play by the Rules.”

Patrick Mahomes to File Official Complaint to the NFL, Demanding Discipline for Lions’ Kerby Joseph Over Social Media Insult – “We Just Play by the Rules.”

Kansas City, Missouri

Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 30–17 victory over the Detroit Lions, controversy has erupted — not over a play on the field, but over what happened online afterward. According to multiple reports from NFL Network, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to file an official complaint to the NFL, asking the league to discipline Lions safety Kerby Joseph for a social media post that was deemed disrespectful toward Mahomes and suggestive of referee bias.

“TAKE ME THRU THERE” https://t.co/wK542OUytj

— ZUPER BOWL KERB💤😎 (@JKERB25) October 13, 2025

Joseph’s post — which quickly went viral — featured an image of Mahomes speaking with a referee, accompanied by mocking emojis, implying that Mahomes had an unfair relationship with the officials.
Analysts and commentators have called the post “unprofessional” and “in violation of the NFL’s code of conduct,” which prohibits players from publicly criticizing referees or other players.

In his postgame interview, Mahomes remained calm but made his stance clear:
“We just play by the rules. They can say whatever they want, but the truth is everything that happened was within the game. I don’t need to prove that — the film speaks for itself. Let the NFL handle this the right way, because that’s how respect in this game should be kept.”

Sources close to the team say the Chiefs believe the issue must be addressed to protect the integrity and mutual respect among players across the league. Publicly implying that Mahomes receives preferential treatment, they argue, not only damages his reputation but also undermines the credibility of the game itself.

The Lions have not released an official statement, though insiders expect the organization to be contacted by the NFL for review. The league has recently tightened its disciplinary stance on “unsportsmanlike conduct via social media.”

If the complaint is upheld, Kerby Joseph could face a fine or formal reprimand from the NFL — a rare but not unprecedented action.

Once again, Patrick Mahomes demonstrates that he’s not just the leader of the Chiefs’ offense but a defender of the game’s values — reminding everyone that in football, respect is earned through play, not through posts.