Andy Reid is still trying to make sense of how Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart remained in Friday’s season opener after smacking star Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in the head.
When discussing the fiery scene from last week’s season-opening loss to the Chargers in Brazil, Reid told reporters Monday he did not comprehend the rule that permitted Tart to stay in the game after he struck Kelce in the second half of the Chiefs’ eventual 27-21 defeat.
“I don’t understand that rule,” Reid said, according to NFL.com. “I guess it’s open-hand, fist, whatever, I don’t know. I don’t know what their decision was on that. But he definitely got hit in the head pretty hard, whether it was an open fist or a closed fist.”
The incident transpired in the third quarter, when Kelce clashed with Tart on a block. Kelce then pushed the Chargers defender’s left arm off him before Tart used his spare right hand to slap the tight end’s helmet with an open palm.
Tart was penalized for unnecessary roughness and continued to play — a decision rules analyst Terry Terry McAuley expanded on during Friday’s broadcast.
“According to (NFL officiating rules analyst) Walt Anderson, they said because it was an open-hand contact to the head, that was not disqualifying action,” he said.
“On this one, they felt it was just an open hand blow to the head, not a closed fist, not a punch, and they did not disqualify in this case.”
When asked Monday if he intended to receive further clarification from the league, Reid said, “I’ll work out that with the league. I can’t get into all that.”
The Chiefs will be back at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday for their home opener, a Super Bowl 2025 rematch against the Eagles.
Kansas City failed to three-peat in February’s championship contest, with the Eagles dismantling the reigning champs, 40-22.
Kelce, now in his 13th season in the league, told reporters over the summer he’s tossed that game in the “trash.”
It remains to be seen if his new fiancée, pop superstar Taylor Swift, will take in Sunday’s game from Kansas City after missing the Week 1 loss in Brazil.
The couple announced their engagement last month after two years of dating.