The pre-game clash between Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game provided us with fireworks that we were not quite expecting.
During on-field warmups, Tucker broke the “unspoken rule” of getting a little too close to the opposing team while practicing his kicks.
Unfortunately for Tucker, the opponent on Sunday was an angry Chiefs team who made it clear they were in no mood to mess around.
Travis Kelce told Justin Tucker he needed to move because their QB Patrick Mahomes had to warm up. So Kelce kicked his ball away and threw his helmet. π pic.twitter.com/pFF0DC1yA7
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 28, 2024
Appearing on his New Heights podcast, Kelce explained the situation from his perspective.
“If you’re trying to go onto the other team’s designated area, you kind of stay out of their way. You don’t interfere with what they have going on. That’s the unwritten rule,” he said.
“If you want to be a f*cking d*ck about it, you keep your helmet and your football and your f*cking kicking tee right where the quarterbacks are warming up β¦ Like, if you’re not gonna pick that up, I’ll happily move that for you,” he added.
Travis Kelce on his pregame exchange with Justin Tucker:
βIf you wanna be a f***ing dick about it, you keep your helmet, and your football and your f***ing kicking tee right where the quarterbacks are warming up. β¦ Donβt paint me as the bad guy. He was poking the bear.β
via⦠pic.twitter.com/dQ50yQNZGe
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) January 31, 2024
Sure enough, both Kelce and Mahomes made it clear that they did not want Tucker or his equipment anywhere near where they were warming up.
The Chiefs went on to defeat the Ravens 17-10, securing their fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last five years.
On Monday, Tucker gave his side of the story and called the whole situation “kind of silly” and “not a big deal.”
Kelce, though, acknowledged the gamesmanship from Tucker but emphasized that he and Mahomes did not find humor in the situation.
“Justin came out and he said it was more of a joking gesture, kind of a fun, competitive [moment]. And I get it, he was kind of winking at me, being a d*ck about it, trying to get under the skin,” he said.
“I get it, but me and Pat, we were having the same mentality for this game all week long, man. And it was, you gotta go in there and have the right mindset, and we just weren’t in a joking mood. We were ready to get after it.”
Idk how anyone can like this dude
— π»Μ·πΜ·πΜ· π― (@Theylovelus) January 31, 2024
Kelce admitted that he understands if some people think he took things too far by tossing away Tucker’s belongings but expressed no regrets.
“Justin, sorry if we took it to a level that you didn’t think it would get to, but if you’re gonna be a d*ck, I promise you I can one-up you every time, dude,” he said with a laugh.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Kelce revealed that he “1000%” would’ve gotten a 15-yard penalty had Tucker missed a crucial field goal during the game.
Justin Tucker was gonna beat your ass @PatrickMahomes ππ #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/6MzL2KW6qd
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 31, 2024
At the end of the day, Kelce and the Chiefs won the game – and that’s the only thing that matters.
What is your take on the whole situation? … Who was in the wrong?
As far as the Super Bowl, what’s your prediction for the game?
Will Kelce and the Chiefs go back-to-back and win yet ANOTHER Super Bowl???