Travis Kelce wasn’t being playful when he was seen kicking and dragging Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s ball and equipment during pregame warmups ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship in Baltimore. Prior to the Chiefs’ 17-10 victory, Kelce was seen furiously moving Tucker’s gear while the celebrated kicker was stretching at Kansas City’s end of the field. NFL Network’s James Palmer caught the exchange on his cell phone and the footage has since gone viral, with many speculating that Taylor Swift’s boyfriend was just goofing around.
But speaking to his NFL Network co-anchor Steve Wyche, Palmer strongly disagreed with that characterization. ‘I was there to witness this and I talked to a number of people afterward that were involved,’ Palmer said Tuesday. ‘There was nothing playful about this. Travis Kelce was lit, Steve. He was angry at Justin Tucker.’ Palmer went on to say that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was also irritated with Tucker, and the two ‘actually had words.’
Travis Kelce told Justin Tucker he needed to move because their QB Patrick Mahomes had to warm up. So Kelce kicked his ball away and threw his helmet. 😂 pic.twitter.com/pFF0DC1yA7
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 28, 2024
Marquez Valdes-Scantling was also seen kicking Tucker’s ball out of the way on Sunday
Furthermore, this isn’t the first time Tucker has irritated opponents by warming up at their end of the field, according to Palmer. ‘And this is what I was told by people that have played on other teams that have faced the Ravens this year,’ Palmer said. ‘Tucker does this to get under the skin, warming up in the end zone of the opposing team, and then warming up in their way in a sense to play, maybe, a head game.
‘I was told they asked him to move, and just to be a you know what, Justin Tucker moved his ball over, ‘one inch to the left.’ It was then that Kelce allegedly became irate with the Ravens’ veteran. ‘That was it,’ Palmer said. ‘And that set this team off even further. And I was told in the Chiefs post-game locker room, they poked the bear pregame, and ‘we knew we had an advantage prior to the start of this game.’ For his part, Tucker has denied getting upset over the exchange, and said he’s willing to forget it altogether.
Justin Tucker elaborates on pre game incident with @tkelce & @PatrickMahomes #Ravens pic.twitter.com/rrIsjWyvSl
— Jerry Coleman (@sportswcoleman) January 29, 2024
‘I saw Patrick there trying to warm up and get some dropbacks and he asked me, while I was on the ground stretching, if I could move my helmet,’ Tucker said. ‘I happily got up and I moved my helmet out of the way – at least I thought it was enough out of the way. ‘And then Travis comes over and he just kicks my stuff and he throws my helmet.
‘I thought it was all just some gamesmanship, you know, all in good fun, but they seemed to be taking it a little bit more seriously,’ Tucker continued. ‘I’m totally willing to let it all go, but I just wanted to explain that that’s just what I have done for 12 years and it’s not like I’m out there trying to be problematic.’ If it was gamesmanship on Kelce’s part, it appeared to work in his and Mahomes’ favor. The Chiefs quarterback finished 30 of 39 for 241 yards and a touchdown to Kelce, who had 11 catches for 116 yards in the win.
