Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce found himself at the center of controversy following a sideline incident with Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker during the warm-ups for the AFC Championship game on Sunday, January 28th.
In the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, hosted by Kelce and his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, Travis shared his side of the story after video footage circulated showing him tossing Tucker’s helmet off the field.
The move came just as the Chiefs were preparing for their matchup against the Ravens, sparking mixed reactions from fans and players alike.
“I love how I’m being painted as the bad guy for this,” Travis, 34, joked on the podcast, explaining that the Chiefs follow the same warm-up routine before every game. “Both teams have their own side of the field to practice on, but kickers and punters have access to either side to account for wind conditions.”
The situation escalated when Tucker, while preparing for his warm-up kicks, left his helmet and kicking tee near the Chiefs’ practice area, where quarterback Patrick Mahomes was warming up. “If you want to be a [expletive] about it, you keep your helmet and your football right where the quarterbacks are warming up,” Travis remarked. His response? Moving the gear himself—by throwing Tucker’s helmet aside.
Video footage showed a tense moment between Kelce and Tucker, but according to the Ravens kicker, it was nothing more than lighthearted gamesmanship. “I thought I’d moved my stuff enough out of the way for Mahomes to practice,” Tucker told reporters after the game. “Then Travis comes over and just kicks my stuff, throws my helmet. I thought it was all in good fun, but I guess they were taking it a little more seriously.”
The Chiefs went on to defeat the Ravens 17-10, securing their place in Super Bowl 58 against the San Francisco 49ers. The minor confrontation between Kelce and Tucker has since become a talking point among fans, adding an extra layer of tension leading up to the championship game.
While Tucker insists he wasn’t being problematic, simply trying to prepare for the game, Kelce remains unapologetic, defending his actions as necessary to ensure the Chiefs had space to warm up. Both players, however, seem to have moved past the incident as the two teams focus on their respective preparations for the upcoming games.
As the Chiefs set their sights on a Super Bowl victory, fans are left wondering whether Kelce’s fiery passion and antics will play a role in their quest for another NFL title.
