Shannon Sharpe Criticizes Travis Kelce After Goal-Line Drop in Chiefs' Loss to Eagles
Hall of Famer calls tight end 'lazy' following interception that preceded Philadelphia's go-ahead score in Kansas City's 20-17 defeat
Shannon Sharpe sharply criticized Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after a costly drop at the goal line in the Chiefs' 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 14 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
With the Chiefs trailing by three early in the fourth quarter and inside the red zone, quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw to Kelce as the veteran tight end was breaking toward the goal line. The pass struck Kelce in the hands as he turned and then bounced into the hands of Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba for an interception. Following the turnover, Philadelphia scored a touchdown to take a 20-10 lead; the Chiefs later cut the margin to 20-17 but did not regain possession.
Sharpe, the Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end, addressed the play during an episode of "Nightcap" with Chad Ochocinco and called Kelce "lazy." "Kelce has been lazy. He’s getting lazy with his head and he’s getting lazy with his eyes," Sharpe said. "He knows in that area of the field, he has to snap his head. He knows, I don’t know why he is so lazy with his head. There is nobody inside, and Blankenship has got you manned. Why are you so lazy? Your head, you have got to snap it around, you know that. And you took points off the board. In other words, you don’t get points and they go down and they get points."
Sharpe also said the only player on the Chiefs' offense who still stood out was Mahomes. "There is nothing special about anybody on that team right now offensively other than Patrick Mahomes," he added.
Kelce finished the game with a team-high 61 receiving yards, but the fourth-quarter drop quickly became the defining moment of the night for Kansas City. The Chiefs fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss. Philadelphia improved its record with the victory, taking control of the AFC matchup at Arrowhead late in the game.
The Chiefs are scheduled to play the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET. Kansas City will look to rebound after consecutive losses to open the season, while Kelce faces scrutiny for a play that ended up swinging momentum in Philadelphia's favor.
Sharpe's comments follow a broader national conversation about the Chiefs' early-season offensive struggles outside of Mahomes. The team's red-zone execution and situational consistency became focal points after the game, as Kansas City had multiple opportunities to score in crucial stretches but failed to convert into a decisive lead.
Coaches and players typically review such turnovers closely in the days following a loss. The Chiefs, led by Mahomes and a coaching staff seeking answers, will enter their next matchup aiming to address execution in the red zone and reduce unforced errors that have contributed to the team's 0-2 start.