The Kansas City Chiefs had an unexpected travel hiccup ahead of their Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos: A four-hour delay at Kansas City International Airport.
Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce offered a comical glimpse into how he handled the chaos. On his podcast “New Heights,” hosted with his brother Jason Kelce, Kelce painted a vivid picture of his approach.
What Caused Chiefs’ Delay Ahead of Denver Broncos Matchup?
“When I get on these planes, I eat my Chick-fil-A, and I recline my seat, and I’m f***ing out,” Kelce said. “I could sleep at a rock concert. I was out for about three hours on the runway. I heard some O-linemen were wrestling. I woke up as the plane was taking off, and I’m like, ‘Where the f***, what just happened?’”
Travis Kelce slept for 3 hours while the chiefs were stuck on the runway at MCI and had no idea what was going on.
-Via @newheightshow pic.twitter.com/j7wxYHdKuu
— Starcade Media (@StarcadeMediaKC) January 8, 2025
The delay stemmed from an ice storm that swept through the Kansas City area and malfunctioning de-icing equipment at the airport. Despite forecasts warning of nasty weather, the team chose to stick to its original travel schedule, leading to backlash from fans questioning the departure’s timing.
Social media lit up with criticism, with some fans pointing to the Chiefs’ travel logistics team for dropping the ball.
Although the Chiefs had already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and were planning to rest key starters, the delay drew attention from fans of other teams, like the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, who needed favorable outcomes from Week 18 games to keep playoff hopes alive.
In typical Kelce style, his account — complete with tales of wrestling linemen — showcased his ability to find humor in inconvenient situations, a quality which has endeared him to fans.