Patrick Mahomes was roughed twice in Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts, but the defensive players went unpunished. (Image: 2025 Getty Images)
The NFL has slapped Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie with a fine for grabbing the facemask of rookie tight end Tyler Warren during a 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, but chose not to penalize two opposing players.
The Chiefs clinched a thrilling win against the soaring Colts in Week 12, triumphing in overtime to keep their playoff dreams alive. However, Kansas City then suffered a 31-28 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, further denting its postseason prospects.
The situation worsened after left tackle Josh Simmons sustained a significant injury, potentially leading to his placement on the injured reserve list. Now, McDuffie has been hit with a substantial fine, while two Colts players avoided punishment despite receiving roughing the passer calls on quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The NFL released its weekly fine list, and McDuffie was charged $11,593 for grabbing Warren’s facemask on the opening drive of the Week 12 showdown. Officials overlooked the incident, but the NFL reviewed the footage and penalized the Chiefs’ cornerback.
It was an early setback for the Colts, as they were third-and-15 when quarterback Daniel Jones found Warren on the left side of the field. Warren was stopped just short of the first-down marker after being pulled down by McDuffie.
Trent McDuffie was fined for grabbing the face mask of Tyler Warren. (Image: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
At the time, Indianapolis was certain that McDuffie had committed a facemask foul and demanded a penalty flag. If noticed, the Colts would have advanced 15 yards upfield and received a new set of downs.
Despite losing the game, two Indianapolis players were spared from an anticipated fine following an NFL review. The Chiefs picked up steam in the second quarter after the Colts were penalized twice for roughing Mahomes.
The first penalty was given to defensive tackle Grover Stewart, while the second was assigned to lineman Laiatu Latu. Although Mahomes didn’t complete a pass in either play, the Chiefs were granted a new set of downs each time and concluded each drive with a field goal.
If hits on the quarterback breach player safety standards, the NFL can impose a $17,389 fine on the offending players. This amount can increase to $23,186 if a player has been disciplined earlier in the season, and suspensions can be handed out to repeat offenders.
Grover Stewart and Laiatu Latu avoided fines for roughing Mahomes. (Image: 2025 Getty Images)
However, after a review, Stewart and Latu were not penalized. The Colts had an impressive start to the 2025 NFL season but have now suffered two consecutive losses, allowing the Jacksonville Jaguars to take the lead in the AFC South division.
After Week 8, Indianapolis had a 7-1 record, with quarterback Daniel Jones exceeding expectations after joining in the offseason, and running back Jonathan Taylor being a contender for Offensive Player of the Year. However, the team’s performance has started to decline, leaving the Colts with an 8-4 record.
Jones has been grappling with an injury, and the team’s momentum has suffered, with five tough games left on their schedule. The Colts still have to square off against the Jaguars twice, as well as the Seattle Seahawks, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Houston Texans.
Despite these challenges, the Colts are in a more favorable position than the 6-6 Chiefs, who could surprisingly miss out on the postseason. Mahomes is of the opinion that the Chiefs need to win all their remaining regular-season games to have a shot at the playoffs.
