The pressure is well and truly on in Kansas City. For the seventh year running, the Chiefs are in the AFC Championship Game — and for the fourth time since 2020, they have a chance to end the Buffalo Bills‘ season, on their way to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana.
But one of the darlings of New Orleans’ musical scene isn’t interested in seeing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce contest the 59th Super Bowl. The Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in last week’s divisional round prompted no shortage of vitriol online and in real life, as Texans players alleged pro-Chiefs favoritism was their stumbling block at Arrowhead Stadium — a sentiment that Kelce finally had the chance to discuss on the latest edition of his “New Heights” podcast.
Related:
- Super Bowl 2025: date, time, halftime show and everything you need to know
- Where to watch the 2025 Super Bowl? TV channel and streaming where you can watch the game
- Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show: Everything you need to know about Kendrick Lamar’s show
- Super Bowl Winners List: All the teams that have won the Super Bowl by year
- Gatorade Color Super Bowl: Odds, history and more about the traditional Gatorade bath
Travis tries to laugh off Lil Wayne
Even iconic 2000s rapper Lil Wayne felt compelled to chime in on the Chiefs’ controversial win over the Texans, “christening” Kansas City’s football team with a new name: the “cheating ass” Chiefs, in response to claims that referees favor Kelce and Mahomes because of the NFL’s purported desire to see the team complete its historic Super Bowl “three-peat”.
“Shout out to Tunechi, man,” Travis said, in reference to one of Lil Wayne’s nicknames.
When older brother Jason Kelce asked Travis directly for his opinion on the personal foul penalties that benefitted the Chiefs, the superstar tight end decided to “plead the fifth” and not say anything — sparking more and more speculation of a “dark pact” that is said to exist between the NFL and referees assigned to Chiefs games.
Travis’ silence on the matter is deafening, whether he intended it or not. As the Chiefs prepare for a highly-motivated Bills team on Sunday, continued discussion over refereeing choices during Kansas City’s games drive fan debate on social media and could serve as a distraction amidst the three-peat pursuit.
But Travis is not willing to demonstrate any emotion over the allegations facing his team as it sits on the doorstep of NFL history. With the Chiefs regarded as only slim favorites against the Bills, and judging by Travis’ reticence to talk about the controversy, it is a small wonder he even has time to record a podcast with Jason.