Travis Kelce clears air on fiery exchange with Andy Reid
Chiefs tight end says sideline confrontation was not a beef and credits Reid's demanding approach for pushing him to peak performance as Kansas City seeks improvement after a 1-2 start.
In the wake of Sunday night’s tense moment on the Chiefs’ sideline, Travis Kelce said there is no beef with Andy Reid, despite the heated exchange during Kansas City’s 22-9 Week 3 win over the Giants. The 35-year-old tight end told The Athletic on Friday that the confrontation was 'no big deal' and that the two were aware of 'each other’s intentions.' 'I love that guy, man. There’s nothing outside of this building that’s gonna make me feel any different way,' Kelce said, adding that they know exactly each other's intentions.
The moment occurred in the first half when cameras captured Reid bumping into Kelce on the sideline. After the game, Reid downplayed the incident, praising Kelce’s passion and saying he is OK with that. 'I love Travis' passion, man,' Reid said, per ESPN. 'We didn’t have enough of it in the second quarter. It wasn’t where we needed it to be, so, within reason, he knows when to back off the pedal and knows when to push it too. That’s the part I love about him. The guy is all-in. Sometimes, I have to be the policeman.'
Kelce said the Chiefs are 'in a great position' despite their 1-2 start, and that the group remains highly motivated to fix issues and keep progressing. 'As long as we keep seeing that progression each and every single week, which we have, we know we’re only a few plays away from being 3-0 right now,' he said. 'So we’ve just got to make sure that we’re coming out playing all four quarters.'
Kelce’s comments come as Kansas City, a three-time Super Bowl champion, navigates a rocky start while reinforcing the dynamic between a veteran quarterback-receiver relationship and a coach known for pushing players to maximize their abilities. Reid, preparing for the next matchup, has repeatedly described Kelce as a pivotal contributor whose emotional intensity, when channeled constructively, helps elevate the entire team. The exchange, while drawing immediate attention, appears to have done little to shake the Chiefs’ long-term goals or the mutual respect between the two leaders. The Athletic’s reporting on Kelce’s remarks and ESPN’s recap of Reid’s comments frame the incident as a moment of competitive fire rather than discord, underscoring Kansas City’s ongoing adjustment phase as it seeks a return to its championship trajectory.