NFL Suspends Shawn Hochuli’s Crew After ‘Imaginary Calls’ Controversy in Bills–Patriots Game
Buffalo, NY – October 7, 2025
The NFL has suspended referee Shawn Hochuli and his entire officiating crew following a controversial performance in the Buffalo Bills’ 20–23 loss to the New England Patriots
, citing multiple “procedural and judgment errors” that directly impacted the outcome.
League officials confirmed that the suspension was based on three critical sequences from the fourth quarter, all of which were deemed
“clear violations of officiating protocol and situational control.”
The first incident came when Bills running back James Cook was hit hard by rookie linebacker Hunter Farmer after he was clearly down by contact. Despite review from the booth,
no flag was thrown — a non-call that violated player safety enforcement standards.
Minutes later, the crew penalized Buffalo for a late hit on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, even though Maye was already in his slide motion and contact was incidental. The call extended New England’s drive and ultimately led to the game-winning field goal.
The final strike came when game footage revealed a missed hold on the Patriots’ offensive line
during that same drive — a penalty that should have nullified the key first down. Instead, the play stood, sealing Buffalo’s defeat.
Following internal review, the league labeled the officiating “inconsistent, reactionary, and below professional standards.” As a result, Hochuli’s entire crew has been placed on indefinite administrative leave
pending further evaluation.
The decision comes amid growing public criticism, intensified by comments from Ed Hochuli, Shawn’s father and one of the NFL’s most respected former referees, who said the crew made
“imaginary calls” that “rewrote the rulebook in real time.”
For the NFL, this marks one of the rare instances where a full officiating crew has been suspended midseason — and for the Bills, it stands as one of the most controversial officiating nights in recent memory.
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