Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon successfully overturned a $25,000 fine he received after his team’s playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The fine was initially imposed for allegedly criticizing game officials, but after a hearing on January 30, appeals officer Chris Palmer ruled in Mixon’s favor.
Palmer stated that while Mixon’s comments could be interpreted in different ways, they did not necessarily constitute public criticism of referees. He also acknowledged Mixon’s awareness of the impact his words have as a high-profile player.
Anderson’s Similar Case and Overturned Fine
Mixon was not the only Texans player to face a fine for postgame comments. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. also received a $25,000 fine for saying, “We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game.” Like Mixon, Anderson appealed, and his fine was later rescinded.
The Athletic first reported Anderson’s successful appeal. The Texans’ defense had been penalized twice for roughing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and both penalties contributed to 10 points in the Chiefs’ 23-14 victory.
A major controversy arose when it was revealed that Mixon’s initial fine was based on a misattribution. The NFL cited a social media post by former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who had criticized the officiating and claimed bias in favor of the Chiefs.
Sports Illustrated mistakenly attributed those remarks to Mixon, which led to the NFL’s disciplinary action. After the mistake was identified, Sports Illustrated issued a correction, but the NFL responded by reissuing a fine based solely on Mixon’s actual comments.
Mixon Criticizes NFL’s Accountability and Calls for Fairness in Player Fines
Mixon expressed frustration over the NFL’s handling of the situation, particularly how the league fined him for something he did not say. He took to social media on January 22, questioning why he was penalized twice—once for a mistake and again for remarks that were not a violation. He criticized the lack of accountability within the league and called for more fairness and respect toward players.
The controversy surrounding Mixon’s fine raises broader concerns about how the NFL enforces its rules on public comments about officiating. The initial misattribution and subsequent fine reissue sparked discussions about the fairness of the league’s disciplinary actions. While Mixon ultimately won his appeal, the incident highlighted the challenges players face when speaking about officiating and the need for more transparency in the NFL’s disciplinary process.