As important as officials are to the game of football, there is no world where referees and their decisions should overshadow the players in NFL games. At times during the first four weeks of the 2026 season, there seemed to be an imbalance in the focus on officials and the teams they oversee. Whether it was a product of poor calls or a lack of discipline from players, the NFL saw a record number of penalties in Weeks 1-4.
According to ESPN, the 963 accepted penalties so far are the most through Week 4 since play-by-play data became available in 1978. And the 271 accepted penalties in Week 4 alone are the second most of any week during play-by-play.
The following teams last week racked up double-digit offenses.
Twelve teams with at least 10 penalties is an astronomical number. However, the outlier-level amount of fouls was just beyond Week 4. Maybe the officials were doing exactly what they were asked and focusing on the points of emphasis. Perhaps their performance quality is low. Or it’s possible that teams are less disciplined early this year than in previous seasons. Any of these explanations are possible, or it could be a combination of all of them.
It’s especially frustrating for teams that penalties are not only widespread but also untimely.
According to Warren Sharp, the number of penalties called on third or fourth down in the second half of games is the most in any Week 1-4 stretch since at least 2000. The number of penalties inside the red zone is also a new high. And the 17 touchdowns nullified due to penalties were blown way out of proportion; only five were called back until Week 4 last year, and only four came off the board last year. The average over the last decade was 8.3.
These high-leverage calls stopped drives and took points away from offenses. In fact, the increase in penalties this year is strictly affecting the offensive side of the ball. Sharp said the defensive penalty rate was lower in 2026 than in past years, and the pass interference calls were below average.
Tensions flared between players, coaches and officials
The impact of the increase in penalties – and in some cases, the absence of calls – is seen through players’ and coaches’ frustration with the officials. In the New England Patriots’ Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills, coach Mike Vrabel received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing a pass interference flag that gave the Bills a first-and-goal situation. Vrabel called referee Bill Vinovich “sensitive” for penalizing him for using profanity.
The NFL suspended two other officials for what it deemed “unprofessional conduct” toward players in Week 4.
A league review of line judge Jeff Seeman’s contact with Trey McBride determined that the line judge used vulgar language toward the Arizona Cardinals. McBride initially pleaded for a pass interference penalty that he felt should have been called on a third-down incompletion. CBS Sports sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala said McBride was heated in his plea for a penalty flag but did not use profanity with the official. Seeman faces a two-game suspension.
The league also issued a one-game suspension to referee Adrian Hill for an incident involving Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson. Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II pushed Wilson into the referee, who then fell back to the ground. Wilson saw the referee jump up and put out his arms to help him to his feet, but instead of accepting the help, Hill stood up under his own power and began yelling at Wilson.
The NFL Referees Association plan to challenge both suspensions.
“NFL officials have a responsibility to conduct themselves professionally on the field, and the actions in these incidents fell short of that standard,” NFLRA executive director Scott Green said in a statement. “Accountability is important, but that should not result in discipline that is excessive or inconsistent with established precedent.”