Chiefs’ Andy Reid admits Kadarius Toney was offside vs. Bills but irked refs didn’t give warning

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledged that receiver Kadarius Toney lined up offside on the would-be game-winning play in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills that was called for a penalty, but also reiterated his assertion that officials typically warn coaches before throwing a flag for those types of violations.

“You see it on both sides (of the ball),” Reid said Monday. “Whether it’s a defensive end lining up in the neutral zone sometimes or that. You just give the head coach a heads up and, in our case, we tell ’em.

“And then if they get called … listen … you were warned. That’s how it’s worked over the years and that’s what I was really trying to get across.”

Both Reid and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes were critical of the officiating on the play that saw Mahomes throw a 25-yard pass to tight end Travis Kelce, who then lateraled the ball back to Toney for the score. Officials said Toney was lined up in the neutral zone before the ball was hiked and threw the flag. The Chiefs then turned the ball over on downs, ending the contest with a 20-17 loss.

Reid admitted Monday that Toney was not lined up properly and didn’t check with down judge Mike Carr before the snap — something Reid said the player normally does. The coach added that his criticisms were not meant to serve as an excuse or blame the loss on the officials.

“We’ve always had a good working relationship with these guys and that’s the important part,” he said. “They know when they tell me something … I’m gonna go address the guy like right now and make sure that it gets changed.”

Reid said penalties like this one were among several things Kansas City needs to clean up.

“Do we need to line up right? Yeah. We do.” Reid said. “We’ve gotta take care of that part and not put it in the officials’ hands.”

Andy Reid on the Chiefs' lack of attention to details, especially in late-game situations: "I get paid to teach. I'm going to continue to each. The players are going to continue to work."

— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) December 11, 2023

Mahomes slammed his helmet on the ground and multiple teammates had to hold him back as he shouted toward the field in the final minute following the call. Mahomes could be heard saying the offensive offside was the “wildest f—— call I’ve ever seen” while embracing Bills quarterback Josh Allen after the game. He was also heard muttering that the call was “f—— terrible” in video clips circulated on social media.

Mahomes later said Kelce’s play was “a legendary moment” ruined by the call that did not impact the play result. Reid said after the game officials usually warn the sideline before calling a penalty like the one on Toney.

Referee Carl Cheffers addressed the call after the game, saying the down judge saw that Toney’s “alignment was over the ball and that’s what he ruled on the field.” Regarding Reid’s comment about getting a warning, Cheffers said that if a coach or receiver looks for alignment advice, officials will give it to them, but “ultimately, they are responsible for wherever they line up.”

“And certainly, no warning is required, especially if they are lined up so far offsides where they’re actually blocking our view of the ball,” Cheffers said. “So, we would give them some sort of warning if it was anywhere close, but this particular one is beyond warning.”

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(Photo: David Eulitt / Getty Images)