Travis Kelce ‘was lit’ during heated confrontation with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker
Travis Kelce ‘was lit’ during heated confrontation with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker
Travis Kelce’s pregame spat with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was not all in good fun, at least according to one NFL Network analyst.
Before Sunday’s AFC Championship game, Kelce kicked away warmup balls and a kicking tee and threw Tucker’s helmet aside as the kicker was getting loose close to the end zone where the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes were working out.
Jesse Palmer recorded the incident Sunday and went into further detail about what he saw with NFL Network on Tuesday.
“I was there to witness this and I talked to a number of people afterward that were involved,” Palmer said Tuesday while speaking with Steve Wyche, as reported by The Daily Mail. “There was nothing playful about this. Travis Kelce was lit, Steve. He was angry at Justin Tucker.”
Palmer added that Tucker has done stuff like this before to frustrate the opposing team before a game.
“And this is what I was told by people that have played on other teams that have faced the Ravens this year,” Palmer said. “Tucker does this to get under the skin, warming up in the end zone of the opposing team, and then warming up in their way in a sense to play, maybe, a head game.”
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tosses the helmet of Ravens kicker Justin Tucker during pregame warmups before the AFC Championship game on January 28, 2024. X/@JamesPalmerTV
On Monday following the Ravens’ loss, Tucker addressed the incident and told reporters that how he was warming up was no different than how he’s done things previously.
“The way it works is each team’s kicker goes to the other team’s designated warmup area on the field,” Tucker told reporters while at his locker.
“For me, it’s usually 90 mins before kickoff. I’ve been doing the exact same thing for 12 years, never really had a problem with anybody. I saw Patrick there trying to warm up and get some drop backs. He asked me while I was on the ground stretching if I could move my helmet.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tosses the helmet of Ravens kicker Justin Tucker during pregame warmups before the AFC Championship game on January 28, 2024. X/@JamesPalmerTV
“I happily got up and I moved my helmet out of the way — at least I thought it was enough out of the way — and then Travis comes over and just kicks my stuff and throws my helmet. I thought it was all just some gamesmanship, all in good fun, but they seemed to be taking it a little bit more seriously.”
But speaking on 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City on Tuesday, Mahomes addressed the incident and said he’s had no problems with other teams in the past — other than the Ravens.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates after the AFC Championship. AP
The Kansas City signal-caller said Tucker was standing near the end zone to get “under our skin,” and that he even asked the kicker to move his balls and helmet.
Tucker apparently did comply, but only moved the gear “two inches,” and while Mahomes said was going to just drop the issue, Kelce stepped in and threw aside the equipment.
“I’ve had seven years of doing that same warmup routine and there’s only been like three occasions where there’s been a kicker that wasn’t … moving out of the way,” Mahomes said.
Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a fourth quarter field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium. Getty Images
“And it was in Baltimore all three times.”
Whether or not the helmet tossing fired up the Chiefs, Kansas City will try to win its second straight Super Bowl when it takes on the 49ers in a 2020 rematch on Feb. 11.
