The Houston Texans‘ 2024 season had its highs and lows, with a thrilling playoff push led by rookie QB CJ Stroud. But it wasn’t just the game against the Chiefs that had people talking—it was what went down off the field. A fine, a misquoted statement, and a whole lot of controversy about NFL discipline took over the headlines, thanks to Texans’ running back Joe Mixon.

The NFL fined Texans running back Joe Mixon a hefty $25,000, even though he wasn’t directly involved in the officiating controversy. The reason? A quote that wasn’t even his. The fine came after an article linked Mixon to a statement that was actually made by former Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, which led Mixon to question the NFL’s decision. “I’m getting fined by the @nfl for what someone else said. What’s next? I get fined by them for Connor McDavid cross-checking an opponent on a @nhl game! 🤦🏽‍♂️,” Mixon joked on social media, but clearly frustration can be seen.

I’m getting fined by the @nfl for what someone else said. What’s next? I get fined by them for Connor McDavid cross checking an opponent on a @nhl game! 🤦🏽‍♂️

The fine was based on the misattributed quote, which was not Mixon’s, but rather from Houshmandzadeh. The fine letter didn’t mention Mixon’s actual statement, suggesting it wasn’t deemed enough to trigger punishment. Mixon’s agent, Peter Schaffer, confirmed that he will “defend and appeal” the fine, exploring all legal avenues to correct.

Joe Mixon‘s fine is just another example of how the NFL can fumble when it comes to discipline, especially when misinformation is in the mix. Let’s be real—the league needs to own up to the mistake, rescind the fine, and hit Mixon with an apology. Fans are already side-eyeing the NFL over officiating issues, and this just adds more heat to the conversation.

This whole situation puts a spotlight on the NFL’s struggle to keep things consistent with punishments. With so many people already calling out for the bad calls and questionable decisions, Mixon’s case is only making it worse. The league’s gotta step up and get it right, both on the field and off. While, Mixon’s case is one thing, several Texans players comments back up that.

The accusation continues

The Texans’ playoff loss to the Chiefs on January 18, 2025, had fans and players heated—big time. And not just because of the score. Texans players and head coach DeMeco Ryans were calling out the refs for what they saw as some sus officiating. Will Anderson Jr. didn’t sugarcoat it: “We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game.”

It all popped off after a roughing-the-passer call on Anderson for a hit on Patrick Mahomes. Like, seriously? Even Troy Aikman called the penalty “questionable” during the broadcast. Texans QB C.J. Stroud jumped in too, saying, “It’s tough to beat a team like the Chiefs when you feel like you’re not getting a fair shake. We just want the game called straight.” Straight facts.

DeMeco Ryans also threw in his two cents, saying, “We’re not looking for favors, just fairness. Calls like that change games, and everyone saw it.” Texans fans were all over social media, dragging the NFL and the refs for what they felt was straight-up favoritism toward the Chiefs.

Now, everyone’s buzzing about how refs low-key decide games, especially in playoffs. For Texans fans, the refs weren’t just a factor—they were the X-factor. Whether the NFL fixes this or not? That’s a whole other vibe. But yeah, this game’s living rent-free in their heads for a while.