NFL referee Bill Vinovich conversation with Bills Josh Allen after missed call causes social media meltdown: “Never seen anything like that”
NFL referee Bill Vinovich was seen speaking with Bills quarterback Josh Allen after he missed a holding call on Broncos Patrick Surtain II.
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Referee speaks with Josh Allen (Image via IMAGO/X)
Bill Vinovich is one man whom the Bill Mafia isn’t much fond of. So fans went through a few unsavory flashbacks when the NFL announced his crew would referee their wildcard fixture against the Denver Broncos.
It’s hard for any Buffalo native to forget about the 2021 AFC title game against the Kansas City Chiefs which had several contested moments. The Bills fans braced themselves for a few on Sunday, and they were correct.
Vinovich overlooked a holding by Broncos defensive back Patrick Surtain II in the third quarter on tight end Dalton Kincaid and it ticked off Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
An absolutely baffling no-call on Pat Surtain pic.twitter.com/nOXgBPdsST
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) January 12, 2025
The Pro Bowl shot-caller complained profusely because the Bills had a good opportunity to score a touchdown if the DPI was called. To everyone’s surprise, Vinovich walked up to the Bills bench and had a long chat with Allen before the play resumed.
who reads lips pic.twitter.com/HR5V32OxPw
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 12, 2025
Fans on social media spring wild theories after seeing Bill Vinovich speak with Josh Allen
Usually, the head referee never visits the player’s dugout for a conversation. Vinovich’s actions raised ample eyebrows on social media.
A few even speculated that either party was up to no good.
Josh Allen spend his $1.5million wisely
— BirdlandBoh🐦⬛(Tino) (@BirdlandBoh) January 12, 2025
The “I’m so sorry we missed the holding call on Kincaid” doesn’t do a whole lot of good now… https://t.co/i8DUbJlWNS
— Eric Wood (@EWood70) January 12, 2025
A ref should never be on a sideline apologizing for a missed call….. https://t.co/z3VdkbH0bv
— Brandon (@DMBKC85) January 12, 2025
So Bills fans cry about Pat Mahomes getting referee love.
— Mike Cima (@Ci_World) January 12, 2025
I’ve never seen a ref walk over to the chiefs Bench and console Pat Mahomes like this guy did for Josh Allen
pic.twitter.com/JhirAEd0dv
I missed this live because I was tweeting. But CBS caught head ref Bill Vinovich going all the way to the Buffalo bench to apologize to Josh Allen for the missed holding call in the end zone??? Never seen anything like that. A bad look (missed call) just got even worse.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 12, 2025
I have never seen something like this.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) January 12, 2025
The ref is all the way to the Bills bench to apologize to Josh Allen pic.twitter.com/Q28HigzTbu
Another shot of Josh Allen showing his finger ouchie to the head referee pic.twitter.com/PjJXCGTkww
— Jay (@Jay__chiefs) January 12, 2025
Personal apology from the ref to Josh Allen 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Jack Mac (@JackMacCFB) January 12, 2025
I’ve seen it all man. pic.twitter.com/EpDccLOP1l
Josh Allen getting an apology from the ref during a playoff game ? This is nasty work lmao pic.twitter.com/Q85APwyIrh
— John (@iam_johnw) January 12, 2025
Seeing that referee having a conversation with Josh Allen pic.twitter.com/ixWQkFTVv3
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 12, 2025
Ain’t no fucking WAY the ref went to the Bills sideline and apologizes to Josh Allen. Holy fucking rigged
— Austin (@AStheGOAT24) January 12, 2025
poor josh allen being comforted by refs 👉👈 pic.twitter.com/NhnaUMfBdu
— veronica⸆⸉ | fan acc. (@thisisvertrying) January 12, 2025
I fucking hate seeing shit like this on my TV @NFL Like why the FUCK is a referee consoling Josh Allen on the sidelines!? He must have money on the game, probably letting him know he’s not going to let him lose. WTF else would they be talking about? pic.twitter.com/IhiMNXdmjm
— Josh (@AmericanMadeAsn) January 12, 2025
Referee on the sideline talking to Josh Allen.
— Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) January 12, 2025
And you jabronis would go nuts if it was Mahomes.
The ref went to apologize to Josh Allen, you should’ve saw this coming pic.twitter.com/mZcRgZitk9 https://t.co/glbBugEvqt
— jaden (@JadenAFC) January 12, 2025
And we know which team the refs play for. Are you kidding me after the play the official goes over to the bench and consoles? Josh Allen what the f*** pic.twitter.com/K3j1hxkBRm
— NinersALLDay (@Niners_ALL_day_) January 12, 2025
The NFL clearly wanted Buffalo to win this game. I mean, for crying out loud, the referee is over on the Bills sideline apologizing for a no-call to Josh Allen. pic.twitter.com/1bTpYTqjTr
— Jeremy Harlan (@jerharlanCNN) January 12, 2025
Later in the post-game press conference, Allen cleared the air about his conversation with Vinovich. Allen said the referee warned him to stop yelling at him or the other officials.
I wasn’t happy with what was going on. I was yelling a little bit. He just said, ‘don’t be yelling.’ So, my bad. Sorry to Bill’.
Josh Allen said
What were Josh Allen and Bill Vinovich chatting about, you ask? pic.twitter.com/76NzJcv61a
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 12, 2025
The missed call did not prove too costly for the Bills as they held the Broncos to a three-and-out before Allen’s spectacular touchdown pass to running back Ty Johnson on fourth down sealed the game for the Bills. It finished 7-31 for the Bills.
Allen ended the wild card fixture with 20 completions from 26 attempts for 272 yards and two touchdowns along with 8 carries for 46 yards. The Bills will face the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.
Related: Tony Romo irks fans after drawing a comparison between Bo Nix and Tom Brady: “Annoying as hell”
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Ishan Misra
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