Travis Kelce Takes Blame for Mecole Hardman’s Costly Fumble Through End Zone

The Chiefs tight end says he owes his teammate big time for a critical miscue.

Mecole Hardman committed what appeared to be a costly fumble during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s divisional round playoff clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. 

On first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Kansas City called for a shovel pass to Hardman, who fumbled just before crossing the goal line. The fumble went out of bounds in the end zone, resulting in a touchback and possession going back to the Bills. The Chiefs had a 24–20 lead at the time, but it appeared to be a crucial turnover that could have spelled trouble for Kansas City.

Fans watching the game ripped coach Andy Reid for calling a run play for Hardman when running back Isiah Pacheco was moving the ball effectively. However, teammate Travis Kelce insists that he was the one to blame for the fumble.

On the latest episode of his New Heights podcast, Kelce explained that he didn’t finish his block on Bills safety Jordan Poyer. That allowed Poyer to reach out and knock the ball from Hardman’s hands. 

“I’m not gonna lie man. I owe Mecole a f—--- new car or something,” Kelce said (at the 34:15 mark of the show). “I owe so much to him, man.”

“My block was the one that knocked the ball out. And I’ve been sick,” he added when his brother Jason Kelce asked for an explanation. “I apologized to him every single time I saw him today and I’ll apologize again. My bad, Mecole. My guy’s just trying to be great and get the ball in the end zone.”

Considering how much criticism Hardman took for the fumble–his second of the game–Kelce is being a good teammate for taking blame for the play. His admission is also a reminder that football is rarely as simple as one person being responsible for a botched play that results in a turnover.