BREAKING NEWS: Denver Broncos Owner Greg Penner Accuses New England Patriots of Pre-Game Contact with Referee Alex Kemp – Claims Attempted Influence in AFC Championship Thriller

Denver, Colorado – January 26, 2026 – The fallout from the New England Patriots’ 10–7 nail-biting victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game has escalated far beyond the final whistle. In a bombshell statement released just hours after the game, Broncos owner Greg Penner has directly accused the Patriots organization of making improper pre-game contact with referee Alex Kemp, alleging an attempt to influence officiating in New England’s favor.

The accusation, delivered in a strongly worded press release and later reiterated in a brief interview with Denver’s 9News, has ignited one of the most serious integrity controversies in recent NFL history. Penner’s claims come on the heels of a tightly contested game decided by a single field goal, two critical defensive stands, and several hotly debated calls that Broncos fans and players believe cost them the chance to reach Super Bowl LX.

“I’m not going to sit here and pretend everything was above board,” Penner said in the statement. “We have credible information that members of the Patriots’ front office and coaching staff reached out to referee Alex Kemp in the days leading up to the game. These contacts were not casual. They were intended to sway the way calls were made. We will provide everything we have to the NFL and demand a full, transparent investigation.”

Penner did not release specific evidence—texts, emails, or call logs—but said the Broncos’ legal and football operations teams have compiled a dossier that includes “multiple documented interactions” between Patriots personnel and Kemp or his close associates. He stopped short of using the word “bribery” but left little room for interpretation: “This is not about one bad call. This is about whether the game was compromised before the coin toss.”

The Patriots, who advanced to their first Super Bowl since the Tom Brady era under head coach Mike Vrabel, responded within the hour. Vrabel, known for his no-nonsense demeanor, held an impromptu press availability outside the team’s locker room at Empower Field at Mile High.

“Categorically false,” Vrabel said, staring straight into the cameras. “There was no contact with any official. No texts, no calls, no meetings. We don’t do that. We don’t need to do that. We win games by preparing, executing, and fighting. That’s how we’ve always done it, and that’s how we did it tonight. If anyone has proof, show it. Until then, this is nothing more than sour grapes from a team that lost a close game.”

The NFL issued a brief statement late Sunday night confirming receipt of the Broncos’ complaint: “The league takes all allegations of improper influence seriously. We are reviewing the claims and will conduct a thorough investigation. Until that process is complete, we will have no further comment.”

The timing of Penner’s accusation is explosive. The game itself was a defensive masterpiece. The Patriots’ defense held Bo Nix to just 187 passing yards and forced two interceptions, while New England’s offense managed only 10 points on two field goals and a late touchdown drive capped by a goal-line stand. A controversial no-call on a potential pass interference against Denver’s Courtland Sutton in the final two minutes—where Sutton appeared to be held on a fourth-down incompletion—has already been replayed thousands of times online. Broncos fans insist it was the turning point. Patriots fans argue it was incidental contact.

But Penner’s claim goes far beyond on-field controversy. It suggests premeditated interference—an allegation that, if substantiated, could lead to unprecedented penalties against the Patriots, including possible forfeiture of the win, loss of draft picks, fines in the tens of millions, and even suspensions for front-office personnel.

Social media has already erupted. #PatriotsCheating and #BroncosRobbed are trending worldwide. Denver fans have flooded the NFL’s official accounts with demands to “replay the game” or “award Denver the win.” Patriots supporters counter with memes accusing Penner of “looking for excuses” after a season in which Denver finished 12-5 but faltered in the biggest moment.

Legal analysts believe the NFL faces a high-stakes dilemma. If the league investigates and finds no evidence, it risks alienating the Broncos, a high-profile franchise in a major market. If it finds even circumstantial evidence, the fallout could be catastrophic—potentially reopening wounds from past scandals like Spygate and Deflategate, and raising questions about the integrity of officiating across the entire league.

Former NFL referee Ed Hochuli, now a legal analyst, told ESPN: “Contacting an official before a game is a fireable offense under the league’s policies. But proving intent is extremely difficult. The NFL will need concrete evidence—communications, witnesses, financial trails. Without that, this stays in the court of public opinion.”

Vrabel, for his part, has refused to engage further. “We’re preparing for the Super Bowl,” he said. “That’s the only thing that matters right now.” Behind the scenes, however, the Patriots’ legal team is reportedly preparing a defamation countersuit if Penner’s allegations are proven baseless.

For Broncos fans, the pain is twofold: the loss of a trip to the Super Bowl and the lingering suspicion that the game may have been tainted. For Patriots fans, the victory is now forever asterisked—celebrated by some as hard-earned, questioned by others as potentially compromised.

As the NFL heads toward Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, the real contest may no longer be on the field. It’s in the investigation rooms, the legal offices, and the court of public opinion. One thing is certain: when Greg Penner decided to go public with these accusations, he didn’t just light a fuse—he detonated a bomb that could reshape the league’s future.

The game ended 10–7. The war is just beginning.