Travis Kelce is one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ most passionate players. The tight end always shows what he feels, on or off the field, which is why he was one of the most affected by Alex Smith’s departure and Patrick Mahomes’ arrival, head coach Andy Reid recalled.
A few days before Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs’ head coach took a trip down memory lane. In a chat with Rich Eisen, Reid reminisced about his first impression when he met Kelce almost 15 years ago.
“When he was young, [he was] different than his brother. His brother was calmer-still very intense, but more calm than Travis,” the coach recalled. “So when we [the Chiefs] got Travis, he was a bit of a live wire, but he’s matured over the years.”
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The difficult transition from Smith to Mahomes
Reid mentioned that one of the reasons Kelce is so popular among his teammates is his big heart; however, this same quality made it difficult for him to say goodbye to quarterback Alex Smith, with whom he played the first four years of his career.
“He always had that heart,” Reid said. “That’s why he was broken up about Alex. He loved Alex, and he’s emotional-Trav’s emotional. He’s not afraid to show it, and that’s part of him, that part of him that we love.”
Reid recalled that Kelce was crucial in helping Patrick Mahomes join the team, and in the end, they became great friends. “He’s done great, and he loved Alex, and he loves Pat Mahomes too. They’re buddies, and he’s been fortunate to have these two great quarterbacks who have thrown to him. But he’s got a big heart.”
Will the unfortunate scene from Super Bowl LVIII be repeated?
Although Reid has assured that everything is fine between him and Kelce, fans and media wonder if the team has overcome last year’s altercation. A year ago, in a moment of frustration in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, the tight end pushed and yelled at his coach, causing a moment of tension within the team and among fans.
The altercation was resolved without further incident, and the Chiefs won their second championship in a row. However, the images remained in the memory of all those who witnessed that moment. Now, it remains to be seen if everything is truly in the past and if the team is ready to show its best face in the game against the Eagles.