Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has found herself at the center of a hilarious and unexpected internet theory: she avoids touching her superstar husband in photos to prevent an automatic 15-yard penalty every time.
The joke, which has taken social media by storm, stems from the NFL’s ever-growing list of penalties, particularly those related to excessive celebration and unnecessary contact. Fans have playfully suggested that if Brittany were to embrace Patrick too closely in public, the league might just throw a flag on the play.
Football fans are always looking for ways to inject humor into the game, and Brittany Mahomes has become an unexpected target for lighthearted memes. The idea that she avoids touching Patrick in photos because it could result in a penalty originated after several images surfaced in which she appeared to be keeping a careful distance.
In a few widely circulated pictures, Brittany is seen standing near Patrick but not making physical contact—sometimes placing her hands behind her back or clasping them in front of her. This quickly led fans to joke that she was staying in compliance with “NFL rules” to avoid an excessive contact penalty.
"You can’t be too careful these days," one fan tweeted. "If Brittany gets flagged for roughing the passer, that’s 15 yards we can’t afford!"
Once the joke gained traction, football fans and meme creators wasted no time in turning it into a full-blown internet sensation. Social media exploded with edited images featuring NFL referees photoshopped into Brittany and Patrick’s pictures, throwing flags and signaling penalties.
One popular meme featured a referee pointing directly at Brittany in a wedding photo, with a caption reading: "Personal foul: Excessive celebration. 15-yard penalty, repeat first down."
Another tweet joked, "Brittany Mahomes knows the rules. If she hugs Patrick too hard, the Chiefs lose a timeout."
Even sports analysts joined in on the fun. A well-known NFL commentator quipped during a broadcast, "Brittany Mahomes keeps a respectable distance in public, and honestly, with the way refs have been calling games this season, I don’t blame her!"
While the internet ran wild with the joke, Brittany and Patrick Mahomes had the perfect response: they played along.
Patrick, known for his easygoing personality, addressed the memes during a press conference with a grin. "I guess we’ve got to be careful, huh?" he laughed. "We don’t want to cost the team any yards!"
Brittany, never one to shy away from social media, shared a few of the memes on her Instagram story, adding her own humorous commentary. "Just trying to keep the Chiefs in good field position!" she wrote, alongside a laughing emoji.
The couple’s willingness to laugh at the joke only fueled the internet’s obsession, and fans continued creating even more ridiculous “penalty scenarios.”
As the joke gained traction, even the NFL’s official social media accounts couldn’t resist chiming in. The league’s Twitter account shared a meme of Brittany standing next to Patrick with the caption: "After further review… the ruling on the field stands. 15-yard penalty for unnecessary contact."
The NFL's official Instagram also posted a lighthearted video featuring a referee reviewing “game footage” of Brittany and Patrick’s photos, blowing a whistle and motioning for a penalty flag. The comment section was flooded with laughing emojis and football fans appreciating the league’s willingness to have fun with the viral moment.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(711x391:713x393)/britanny-patrick-mahomes-tout2-042724-d3a579b10aed41c2a0a6763a6a5b02ae.jpg)
Of course, all the jokes aside, there’s no actual rule against Brittany hugging or touching Patrick in public. The viral joke likely stemmed from coincidence—certain pictures where her pose just happened to look like she was keeping a cautious distance.
Brittany Mahomes is no stranger to the spotlight. As a former soccer player, entrepreneur, and a vocal supporter of the Chiefs, she’s used to being in the public eye.
She’s also been an outspoken advocate for Patrick’s success, constantly cheering him on from the sidelines and celebrating his victories.
Despite occasional criticism from detractors, Brittany has built a strong brand of her own, and her ability to lean into humor with this latest internet trend only adds to her charm.
Given the internet’s short attention span, most viral jokes fade quickly—but this one seems to have serious staying power. Fans continue to poke fun at the “automatic 15-yard penalty” every time Brittany stands near Patrick in a photo.
With the Chiefs headed toward another deep playoff run, it’s likely that Brittany will continue appearing in high-profile moments, meaning the joke may only grow bigger. Fans are already predicting a moment during the Super Bowl where Brittany goes in for a hug, and a ref symbolically throws a penalty flag for the cameras.
One thing is for sure: Brittany and Patrick Mahomes know how to handle the spotlight, and as long as the internet keeps making jokes, they’ll be ready to laugh right along with everyone else.
Until then, Brittany might just keep her hands where everyone can see them—just in case.
