KC Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Explains Pregame Exchange With Ravens Kicker Justin Tucker
From the very moment the Kansas City Chiefs took the field on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, the tone was set.
The AFC Championship Game itself didn't have a ton of drama, however, as something that happened prior to kickoff may have been the most theatrical development.
With both squads warming up before the game, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker eventually joined Kansas City on their side of the field. NFL Network's James Palmer captured a clip of Tucker setting up shop near Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, which didn't go over well with the Chiefs superstars. A bit of back-and-forth ensued, with Kelce ultimately tossing Tucker's things aside.
Tucker explained after the game that it was "all just some gamesmanship" on his end and followed a warmup routine he's been doing for 12 years. Kelce wasn't too amused, though. On this week's episode of the New Heights podcast with his brother Jason, Kelce told his side of the story.
"So we're warming up, and we do our same warmup on our side of the field," Kelce said. "For those of you who won't know what happens in pregames, the Ravens have their side of the field and the Chiefs have our side of the field. Now specialists, because of the wind factor and where you are, they get a chance to kick at both field goals and kind of punt from both sides of the field. But if you're trying to go on to the other team's designated area, you kind of stay out of their way, you know? You don't interfere with what they have going on. That's the unwritten rule.
"If you want to be a f— d— about it, you keep your helmet and your football and your f— kicking tee right where the quarterbacks are warming up. And they're dropping, eyes are looking left and they've got a helmet down by their feet. Like, if you're not going to pick that up, I'll happily move that for you."
Kelce then doubled down on Tucker seemingly thinking it was all fun and games. The only issue? The visiting team didn't appear to have its focus on anything other than getting the job done.
"Justin came out and said it was more of a joking gesture and more of a fun, competitive [gesture]," Kelce said. "And I get it, he was kind of winking at me and being a d— about it, trying to get under the skin. I get it, but me and Pat, we'd been having the same mentality for this game all week long. And it was [that] you've got to go in there and have the right mind frame. Have the right mindset, and we just weren't in a joking mood. We were ready to get after it."
Looking back on the game in retrospect, giving Kelce and Mahomes even an ounce of extra motivation may not have been the best idea. Kelce turned in one of his best playoff performances, hauling in 11 passes on 11 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown. Mahomes, as he has been all postseason, was extremely efficient en route to a 30-completion, 241-yard showing on Sunday.
Mahomes spoke to local radio this week and echoed a sentiment similar to that of Kelce. According to the reigning NFL MVP, he's only dealt with a situation like that in Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium. Regardless of whether it's Tucker's go-to routine or not, it wasn't very well-received by the road squad in the most important game of the year thus far. Kelce apologized for his attitude, although he says two can play the hijinks game if need be.
"Justin, sorry if we took it to a level that you didn't think it'd get to," Kelce said. "But if you're going to be a d—, I promise you I can one-up you every time, dude."
