Kansas City Chiefs Coach Questions League’s Decision

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid expressed confusion regarding the NFL’s response to a controversial hit on tight end Travis Kelce during Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The incident involved Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart, and Reid found the situation perplexing.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, ahead of the Chiefs’ upcoming match against the Philadelphia Eagles, Reid highlighted a disconnect in the NFL’s rules, which penalize unnecessary roughness but don’t necessarily mandate a suspension for such actions. “Yeah, I don’t understand that — that rule,” Reid said.

The hit occurred in the third quarter when a play continued after a whistle. Tart seemed to retaliate against Kelce with an open-handed strike. Reid noted the severity of the hit, saying, “I think it’s an open hand fist, whatever it is, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know what their decision was. But he definitely hit him pretty hard in the head, whether it was an open fist or a closed fist.”

According to the NFL Rule Book, striking with an open hand is illegal but doesn’t warrant automatic disqualification, while a closed fist does. Reid was later asked if the league clarified its decision regarding the incident. “Yeah, I’ll sort that out with the league,” he responded.

There was no further recourse taken against Tart by the league, though social media discussions arose, especially among Taylor Swift fans following Kelce’s relationship with the singer. Tart even posted an Instagram photo with a caption that playfully remarked on his agility, “Even in Brazil, I’m too quick at that…”