Travis Kelce got his wish and avoided the humiliation of the audio of his explosive outburst at his Chiefs coach Andy Reid in the Super Bowl being released.
Kelce was mic’d up for the Super Bowl, meaning his astonishing moment of madness was recorded but on Tuesday night’s Inside The NFL show, it was the only key incident where audio they had access to was not played.
Kelce was left out of a play with the Chiefs in range of their first touchdown on the night but the move broke down with Isiah Pacheco fumbling against the 49ers. They showed Kelce slamming his helmet to the ground in reaction on the sidelines before screaming at Reid, a 65-year-old grandfather, but analysts spoke over the footage and then showed a clip of them fist-bumping soon after.
It could have been the enduring image of the game if Kelce and the Chiefs had lost. Instead, Kelce’s fairytale season reached a fresh high as he became a Super Bowl champion for the third time with girlfriend Taylor Swift cheering him on from the stands.
The 34-year-old Kelce, who stands at 6ft 5″ and weighs 250 pounds, refused to reveal what he shouted in Reid’s face but admitted on Sunday night that his mic could give him away.
Inside The NFL didn’t release the Travis Kelce-Andy Reid audio. Probably was just “Don’t count me out” as Reid said though pic.twitter.com/uBeOHzJ6ys
— Sideline Films (@SidelineFilmz) February 14, 2024
Audio recording of Travis Kelce screaming at Andy Reid was not played on Inside The NFL
Kelce exploded in fury after the Chiefs lost a chance for their first touchdown of the game
Kelce’s explosion of fury emerged with girlfriend Taylor Swift cheering him on in the stands
‘Ah, you guys saw that? I’m gonna keep it between us unless my mic’d up tells the world,’ he said in the immediate aftermath of his Vegas victory. ‘I was just telling him how much I love him.’
But it appears the Chiefs star will not have to face that reality with the show brushing over the incident.
Reid, for his part, was keen to downplay the situation after the game, joking that Kelce ‘keeps him young.’
He added: ‘He tested that hip out. He caught me off balance – normally, I’d give him a little bit, but I didn’t have any feet under me.
‘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.’
But Reid’s comments beg the question as to why the audio did not come out if that was all he said.
It is not the first time Kelce appeared to get close to physical with Reid. When the Chiefs lost on Christmas Day to the Las Vegas Raiders, Kelce slammed his helmet to the ground and barged Reid with his shoulder as the Chiefs fell to a shock loss at Arrowhead Stadium.
Speaking to reporters after leaving the Allegiant Stadium field on Sunday night, a more composed Kelce made sure to underline the influence Reid has had on his career.
Kelce admitted after the game that being mic’d up could reveal what he shouted at Reid
After the game, Kelce was eager to outline the influence Reid has had on his career
Kelce cheers as coach Reid addresses the crowd in Vegas after the Chiefs beat the 49ers
‘I got the greatest coach this game has ever seen,’ Kelce said. ‘He’s unbelievable at not only dialing up plays and having everybody prepared, but he’s one of the best leaders of men that I’ve ever seen in my life.’
‘And he’s helped me a lot with that, with channeling that emotion, with channeling that passion,’ he continued.
‘And I owe my entire career to that guy and being able to control how emotional I get and I just love him, man.’
Kelce was supported by Tom Brady earlier on Tuesday.
Seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady said on his Let’s Go podcast: ‘There’s always little family issues and of course I don’t mind seeing it ’cause I was a part of a lot of those things.
‘Emotions are so high. You are definitely not centered and balanced. You’re not in a meditative state at that point. You are fully determined to go out there and to win.
‘So I think a lot of the things that are said during the games, people should just let them fly off their back. And I actually think coach Reid handled it just awesome, like he always does, ’cause he just said, ‘I was a little off balance and Travis is such a competitor.’ And I love that because it just speaks to his leadership ability.’
Kelce’s own New Heights podcast is released every Wednesday throughout the NFL season and while the Chiefs star will no doubt enjoy another victory lap with his brother Jason, it remains to be seen how – or if – he addresses the Reid incident.
Kelce, Reid and the Chiefs are going on a Super Bowl parade in Kansas City on Wednesday, starting at 11am local time.