The NFL season is underway, and controversy is already dominating social media. In Friday night's matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, a former LSU defensive back was involved in a controversial play with Patrick Mahomes.
Donte Jackson played at LSU from 2015-17, racking up 110 tackles, four interceptions, and one sack over three seasons with the Tigers. He was drafted in the 2nd round with the 55th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He now plays for the Chargers, and made his debut for Los Angeles on Friday night against the Chiefs.
In the season opener, Mahomes was scrambling for a first down and as he was nearing the sideline, lowered his shoulder into Jackson. The play was a bit of a cheap shot by Mahomes, as defenders have been taught to not hit quarterbacks in this situation, or else they will be flagged for a penalty.
Mahomes throws his shoulder 💥
KCvsLAC on YouTube https://t.co/JVXS9sMZhB pic.twitter.com/JMzgPSTESD
— NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2025
Mahomes' cheap shot has social media talking
The move by Mahomes to lower his shoulder takes advantage of a point of emphasis in the NFL. Defenders are instructed not to deliver hits to QBs running out of bounds when they appear to be "giving up on the play." Defenders have to give QBs the sideline, which is what Jackson was doing.
Over the past several seasons, Mahomes has been notorious for utilizing his acting skills in order to draw a penalty flag in these types of situations. If a defender merely touched Mahomes as he was running out of bounds, Mahomes would dramatically flail about in pursuit of a call. And more times than not, he would get it. In this particular instance, Mahomes knew Jackson had to ease up as he neared the sideline, so he decided to lower his shoulder and try to truck stick Jackson.
Social media expressed frustration over Mahomes' play, knowing that he is exploiting a glaring double standard. If Jackson hits Mahomes in this situation, it's a 15-yard penalty. Mahomes knows this, so he decides to lower his shoulder. That's not exactly a great look.
now there needs to be a double standard.
defender is clearly letting Mahomes have the sideline..
so now the next time Mahomes flops like a fish when someone touches him near the sideline there shouldn’t be 49 flags
pic.twitter.com/d6ejpMUa72
— Gavin McHugh (@gavinmchughh) September 6, 2025
I’ve been saying it for years…the NFL has made it impossible to play defense when a QB has the ball.
If the defender hits him, it’s a 15-yard penalty. Now Mahomes lowers his shoulder on the defender?
Make them a RB once they break the pocket… pic.twitter.com/SQavRgR2C7
— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) September 6, 2025
If the defender did this to Patrick Mahomes, he would have been ejected and his future grandchildren would be spend their lives receiving fine letters from the league in the mail pic.twitter.com/qslkFfFvuH
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) September 6, 2025
It's the same sentiment that former Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett used in regard to the fake slide. Knowing that defenders had to let up as a QB was beginning his sliding motion, Pickett famously faked a slide and then when the defenders let up, continued running for a long touchdown.
Never Forget when Kenny Pickett hit the fake slide ðŸ˜ðŸ˜‚
pic.twitter.com/rhaPgKtJCH
— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) August 26, 2025
The difference between Pickett's play and Mahomes' play is that Mahomes deliberately delivered a hit to a defender who was easing up. Needless to say, defensive players aren't going to be a fan of that. It will be interesting to see if the NFL decides to address the situation in hopes of avoiding potential injuries.