Travis Kelce got his wish and escaped the humiliation of having audio of his explosive outburst toward his Chiefs coach Andy Reid released in the Super Bowl.
Kelce was mic'd up for the Super Bowl, meaning his amazing moment of madness was recorded, but on Tuesday night's “Inside The NFL” broadcast, it was the only major incident where no audio was played.
Kelce was ejected from the game with the Chiefs within range of their first touchdown of the night, but the play failed when Isiah Pacheco fumbled against the 49ers. They showed Kelce slamming his helmet to the ground on the sidelines in response before yelling at Reid, a 65-year-old grandfather, but analysts talked over the footage and showed a clip of them fist bumping shortly after.
It could have been the lasting image of the game if Kelce and the Chiefs had lost. Instead, Kelce's fairytale season reached new heights as he became Super Bowl champion for the third time and his girlfriend Taylor Swift cheered him on from the stands.
Kelce, 34, who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 220 pounds, refused to reveal what he shouted in Reid's face but admitted his microphone could give him away.
The audio recording of Travis Kelce yelling at Andy Reid was not played on Inside The NFL
Kelce exploded in anger after the Chiefs missed the chance for their first touchdown of the game
Kelce's temper tantrum came to the fore when his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, cheered him on in the stands
“Ah, did you see that? “I’m going to keep it between us unless my microphone tells the world,” he said immediately after his win in Las Vegas. “I just told him how much I loved him.”
But it looks like the Chiefs star won't have to deal with that reality as the show neglects the incident.
Reid, for his part, wanted to downplay the situation after the game, joking that Kelce – Taylor Swift's boyfriend – is “keeping him young.”
He added: “He tested the hip. “He threw me off balance – normally I would give him something, but I had no feet under me.
“He really came over [and saying]'Just put me in, I'll score.' I'll score.' So that's really how it was. I love this. It's not the first time. I appreciate him.'
But Reid's comments raise the question of why the audio didn't come out if that was all he said.
This isn't the first time Kelce has come into contact with Reid. When the Chiefs lost to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day, Kelce slammed his helmet on the ground and shoved Reid with his shoulder, leading to a surprising loss for the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
As Kelce spoke to reporters after leaving the field at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday night, a more composed man underscored the impact Reid has had on his career.
Kelce admitted after the game that a microphone recording could reveal what he yelled at Reid
After the game, Kelce was eager to explain the impact Reid had on his career
Kelce cheers as Coach Reid addresses the crowd after the Chiefs' win over the 49ers in Las Vegas
“I have the best coach this game has ever seen,” Kelce said. “Not only is he incredible at making plays and setting everyone up, but he is also one of the best leaders of men I have ever seen in my life.”
“And he really helped me channel those emotions, channel that passion,” he continued.
“And I owe my entire career to this guy and the ability to control how emotional I get, and I just love him, man.”
Earlier Tuesday, Kelce was joined by none other than Tom Brady.
Seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady said on his Let's Go podcast: “There are always little family issues and of course I don't mind seeing that because I've been involved in a lot of those things.”
“Emotions are so high. You are definitely not centered and balanced. At this point you are not in a meditative state. They are determined to go there and win.
“I think a lot of the things that are said during games are something that people should just let go of.” And I actually think Coach Reid just handled it great, like he always does, because he just said: “I was a little off balance and Travis is such a competitor. And I love that because it just highlights his leadership skills.”
Kelce's New Heights podcast will be released every Wednesday throughout the NFL season, and while the Chiefs star will undoubtedly enjoy another victory lap with his brother Jason, it remains to be seen how – or if – he handles the Reid incident.
Kelce, Reid and the Chiefs will host a Super Bowl parade in Kansas City on Wednesday starting at 11 a.m. local time.