The NFL on Tuesday conceded that game officials missed a taunting call on then-Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill in January’s AFC divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.
Executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent was asked directly about the play during a rules committee meeting at the NFL annual meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. Vincent said there were four wrong calls — either called or not called — of 61 taunting penalties assessed over the course of the 2021 season.
And that was one.
“Tyreek was one that was missed,” Vincent said in response to the question. “That was a missed call, should’ve been called.”
And it was a huge non-call.
Hill took a pass from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, scampering 64 yards for the score while flashing the peace sign to Bills defenders more than once. It gave the Chiefs a 33-29 lead with 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs went on to win 42-36 in overtime.