Patriots Coach Vrabel Accuses Steelers of Bribing Refs: "Patriots Can't Lose After Leading 14-0"

Foxborough , September 22, 2025

Just one day after a 14-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel publicly accused the opposing team of "bribing the referees" to suppress his squad. In the post-game press conference, Vrabel didn’t hold back, claiming that the referees’ "blatantly biased" calls altered the game’s outcome, preventing the Patriots from mounting a comeback despite an early 14-0 lead.

According to Vrabel, the string of 12 penalties on the Patriots (totaling 85 yards) – the highest in Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season – was evidence of a "setup." In particular, a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on safety Craig Woodson during the Steelers’ second drive paved the way for a touchdown by DK Metcalf, pushing the score to 14-0 for the opponents. "This wasn’t our fault; it was a conspiracy! The Steelers wanted to crush us so we couldn’t win. They bribed the refs, plain as day," Vrabel fiercely declared, leaving the press room stunned. He even compared it to past NFL referee scandals, demanding an immediate league investigation.

The Steelers swiftly pushed back. Head coach Mike Tomlin dismissed the allegations, calling them "the words of a frustrated loser." "We played fair, just capitalized on their mistakes. Turnovers were the Patriots’ problem, not the refs," Tomlin said in a separate press conference. QB Aaron Rodgers echoed: "Penalties are part of the game. If they think we bought the refs, they should look at their six turnovers."

Patriots fans erupted on social media. Thousands of posts on X with hashtags #RefsBias and #SteelersCheat shared penalty highlight videos, calling for a Steelers boycott. One fan wrote: "Vrabel’s right! Steelers bought the refs to win dirty." Conversely, Steelers fans mocked: "Patriots crying over turnovers, now blaming the refs?"

The NFL has yet to respond officially, but analysts like Adam Schefter (ESPN) noted: "This heavy accusation could lead to a fine for Vrabel. But it reflects the tension after a dramatic game." With a 1-2 record, the Patriots must focus on their next game against Carolina, while the Steelers (2-1) keep soaring.

This game wasn’t just a sporting loss but also sparked doubts about NFL fairness. Will Vrabel’s claims be investigated? Time will tell.