Andy Reid Responds to Travis Kelce Altercation: ‘I Have to Be the Policeman’

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the latest viral on-field moment between himself and Travis Kelce.

Reid, 67, and Kelce, 35, bumped chests and had an animated exchange on the sidelines during the second quarter of the Chiefs’ game against the New York Giants on Sunday, September, 21. 

The incident was caught on camera by NBC and then spread like wildfire on social media. 

“I love Travis’ passion, man,” Reid told reporters after the game. “I’m OK with that. 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.”

Reid added, “That’s the part I love about him. The guy is all-in. Sometimes, I have to be the policeman. He’s an emotional guy.”

Ultimately, Reid urged all concerned parties not to “make too much of it.”

“He’s a passionate guy, and I love that part,” Reid said of Kelce. “I’ve been through a lot of things with him. That’s all part of it. I love that he loves to play the game. That’s what I love. It’s an emotional game, so I’ll take it.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also told reporters not to overblow the interaction between his head coach and superstar tight end. 

“He’s a guy that loves it,” Mahomes said of Kelce. “That’s what’s made him so great. I know they love each other. That’s what you want out of the greats.”

The Chiefs recovered after a sloppy first half pull away from the Giants to win the game, 22-9. It was the first win of the season for Kansas City, who improved their record to 1-2. 

Kelce finished the game with four catches for 26 yards. Through the first three games of the season, Kelce has 10 receptions for 134 yards and one touchdown. 

Kansas City returns to action at home on Sunday, September 28, against the Baltimore Ravens. 

The dust-up between Reid and Kelce on Sunday mirrored a similar situation between the pair during Super Bowl LVIII in 2024. 

After being pulled from the game by Reid, Kelce grabbed his head coach by the arm and screamed at him, in a clip that went instantly viral. 

“He caught me off balance,” Reid joked to reporters after the game. “Normally I’d give him a little bit [back], but I didn’t have [my] feet under me.”

Reid added at the time, “He was really coming over [and saying], ‘Just put me in, I’ll score. I’ll score.’ So, that’s really what it was. I love that. It’s not the first time. I appreciate him.”