NFL Legend Rob Gronkowski's Honest Take on Chiefs Accusation (Exclusive)

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Feb 6, 2025 7:52 AM ET

Being the two-time defending champions has its downsides. For one, the Kansas City Chiefs have a perpetual target on their back, with every single opponent giving them their best shot whenever they get the opportunity to face the champs.

The Chiefs have also been accused of having an unfair advantage. More than a few fans out there believe that one of the main reasons why they've won three titles in the past five years -- and are going for a fourth this Sunday at Super Bowl LIX -- is because the NFL has helped them get to where they are right now.

That is, the Chiefs have allegedly cheated their way to the top with the help of the referees.

NFL legend Rob Gronkowski recently shared his thoughts on this hot topic. Speaking to Us Weekly, the four-time Super Bowl champ claimed that the refs have been "more lenient to giving (the Chiefs) more calls over anyone else.”

Gronkowski cleared the air on his rather controversial take in an exclusive interview with Athlon Sports. The four-time All-Pro tight end doubled down on his observation about the refs being more lenient when it comes to the champs.

“I’m not sure if they have an unfair advantage,” he told Athlon Sports. "I mean, definitely the calls have been more lenient towards the Kansas City Chiefs to their opponents."

Gronkowski, however, made it extremely clear that he believes this issue is "not an excuse for why these opponents are losing to the Chiefs."

“You gotta beat them straight up," asserted the New England Patriots icon. "No matter if you don’t get a call. No matter if things aren’t going your way. In order to be a championship team you have to level off and you have to be tough. You have to want it more and you have to become greater than the champions themselves."

Gronkowski added that thus far, no team in the league has proven capable of beating the champs, which is why they're rolling into their third straight Super Bowl and on the brink of an unprecedented three-peat.

“It doesn’t matter if the refs call play a certain way," he continued. "It doesn’t matter if the ball bounces a certain way in favor of the Chiefs. You gotta be able to overcome everything and beat the champions, and no one has done that yet.”

This is exactly what the Philadelphia Eagles have set out to do on Sunday. They might be the underdogs, but there's no denying that they are fully capable of challenging Kansas City and potentially pulling off an upset.

As Gronkowski said, the Chiefs have yet to find their match. The Eagles will do everything in their power to prove otherwise.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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