Travis Kelce blames ‘f–king d–k’ Justin Tucker for pregame incident: ‘Don’t paint me as the bad guy’
Travis Kelce won’t tolerate being “painted as the bad guy” after the pregame incident with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker before the AFC Championship game last Sunday.
In the latest installment of his and brother Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast, the Chiefs’ tight end called Tucker a “f–king d–k” for stretching in the Chiefs’ designated area, where Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was throwing.
“I love how I’m being painted as the bad guy,” said Travis, who explained why he threw Tucker’s helmet, practice balls and kicking tee, as captured on video.
“Oh, you’re definitely being painted as the bad guy,” Jason said. “I had multiple people text me at the game, middle of the game, like, ‘What’s Travis doing? … I’m like, ‘You guys have no idea.'”
Travis was seemingly referring to Tucker’s explanation of the incident, when he told reporters Monday that he had never experienced an event like that in his 12 years in the NFL.
“That is the unwritten rule,” Travis said. “If you want to be a f–king d–k about it, you keep your helmet and your football and your f–king kicking tee right where the quarterbacks are warming up and they’re dropping [back], eyes are looking left and they’ve got a helmet down by their feet.”
Travis and Jason explained that it’s an “unwritten rule” that if specialists are are warming up in their opponent’s designated area, you “stay out of their way” and “don’t interfere” with what the opposing team has going on.
“If you’re not going to pick that up, I’ll happily move that for you,” Travis said. “Justin came out and he said it was more of a joking gesture and kind of a fun competitive, and I get it, he was kind of winking at me, being a d–k about it, trying to get under the skin.
Jason, who’s rumored to be retiring after 13 seasons with the Eagles, agreed.
“It’s actually kind of dangerous … He knew what he was doing,” the All-Pro center said.
Travis recalled that he and Mahomes meant business before the AFC Championship game, and weren’t in the mood to crack jokes.
“I get it,” Travis said. “Me and Pat, we’ve been having the same mentality for this game all week long and it was, ‘You’ve got to go in there and have the right mindset,’ and we just weren’t in a joking mood. We were ready to get after it.
“So, Justin, sorry if we took it to a level you didn’t think it get to that way, but if you’re going to be a d–k, I promise you, I can one up you every time.”
Jason added that Tucker — a Super Bowl champion kicker, who’s been with Baltimore for his entire career — “is known for this” type of stuff.
“I mean, he’s a legendary kicker and he knows how to poke the buttons,” Jason said, to which Travis replied: “Arguably the best we’ve ever seen in the NFL, man. Don’t paint me as the bad guy.”
On Monday, Tucker said he wasn’t trying to be problematic while stretching near Mahomes.
“I’m totally willing to let it all go,” the All-Pro kicker said. “But that’s just what I’ve done for 12 years and it’s not like I’m out there trying to be problematic. I’m just trying to get ready for the football game, just like they are, and that’s all I really gotta say about it, just to be clear.”
Jason recalled seeing the viral video of Travis tossing Tucker’s stuff into one of the end zones at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
“You can tell he’s painting it in these clips, you could see his facial expressions,”Jason said. “He knows what he’s doing … It worked, it got under your skin bit it worked in the wrong way, because it was a record day for the Yeti.”
Travis led all players with 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs’ 17-10 win against the Ravens in the AFC Championship game.
The reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 2024, which will take place on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.