An NFL legend who has frequently found himself in the firing line has defended both Travis Kelce and Andy Reid after the latter’s sideline altercation during the Kansas City Chiefs’ overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. 

After the star tight end angrily yelled at Reid before bumping him during Sunday’s game, Tom Brady stated he didn’t “mind seeing” Kelce’s heated exchange with his head coach.

“On his “Let’s Go!” podcast, Brady stated that little family conflicts were usually present. Naturally, I have no problem seeing it. I participated in many of such events. Emotions are running very high, you suppose. It’s obvious that you lack equilibrium and centre. At that point, you are not in a contemplative state. 

“You are fully determined to go after it and to win, so I think a lot of things that are said during the games, people should just let them fly off their back.”

Kelce and Reid’s heated exchange happened on Sunday as the Chiefs’ season was coming to an end. Shortly after Isiah Pacheco’s red zone blunder, he went to his head coach, the four-time All-Pro furious because he wasn’t on the field at the moment of the error.

Following a Chiefs turnover, Travis Kelce shouts and runs into Andy Reid on the sidelines.

Reid and Kelce both later laughed off the situation. Reid complimented Kelce’s competitive drive to finish the game and joked that the tight end “caught me off-balance.” The tight end later apologised to Reid. 

Reid dismissed the event and did not reprimand Kelce during the game, but in the past, he has benched players for similar behaviour. A.J. Brown, the great receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, implied on social media that he “would’ve been kicked out of the league” if he had been Kelce, but he later deleted the tweet.

Brady thought the incident was exaggerated given the lack of information, but he enjoyed how Reid handled the situation.

“I actually think Coach Reid handled it just awesome like he always does,” Brady commented. “Travis is such a competitor, and I just love that because it speaks to his leadership ability,” he added. “I was a little off-balance.” Coaches who were overly sensitive might say things such, “You embarrassed me that you did that.” You’re an athlete and a competitor. You have the same level of credibility as Travis when you go out there, and you’ve won Super Bowls and been an All-Pro. I know players who would pass away if they were to leave the field in those situations.

It also illustrates Coach Reid’s self-assurance in himself. He doesn’t even consider that personal. He doesn’t feel insulted by someone when he looks at that. He doesn’t try to minimise it or make it into something it’s not; instead, he accepts it for what it is. None of those things are what Travis is attempting to do. All he’s trying to do is remain focused and energised.”

An ardent Andy Reid is the head coach, and Travis Kelce loses it.

Not that it was a spark for the Chiefs, however, as Kelce and Reid handled their sideline altercation as merely a hiccup in a Super Bowl victory. The Chiefs were behind 10-3 going into the locker room at halftime. Early in the second half, they were still having trouble; on the opening drive of the half, Patrick Mahomes intercepted a pass and the following possession ended in a three-and-out.

However, it appeared as though the 49ers’ mishandled punt deep in their own territory sparked the Chiefs’ offence, as Mahomes spearheaded scoring drives on five of the team’s final six possessions en route to a 25-22 victory. In the fourth quarter and overtime, Kelce had five receptions for 67 yards, setting game highs of nine and ninety-three yards, respectively. He was a major contributor to that.

Brady stated he had no desire to root for the 49ers on Sunday, but he has long taken offence at the team’s choice to pass on him in the 2000 draft. Conversely, the Chiefs’ victory has spurred more discussion about Mahomes’ historical position in relation to Brady. 

“What I did feel when I saw the game end was, ‘I’m happy for the Chiefs because they deserved it,'” Brady stated. “If the Niners had won, I would’ve said the same thing.”