The AFC Championship Game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs featured plenty of tense moments. However, one of those also unfolded in pregame warmups.
That moment involved Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes deciding to forcefully move items belonging to Ravens placekicker Justin Tucker. Videos, including from CBS Sports, captured the moment that saw Mahomes kicking Tucker’s ball holder to one side while trying to warm up his arm, then Kelce flinging Tucker’s helmet and practice footballs.
On Monday, Tucker addressed the matter.
Justin Tucker Calls Chiefs Stars’ Actions “Kind of Silly”
The placekicker spoke with Baltimore media members on the day the Ravens began to clean out their lockers following their 17-10 defeat to the Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Tucker bluntly called the actions of both men “kind of silly.” He also claims that this is the first time an opponent took issue with where he placed his stuff on the field.
“I’ve been doing the exact same thing for 12 years, never really had a problem with anybody,” Tucker said. “That’s just kinda the way we’ve always done it, the way kickers around the league have always done it.”
He was aware Mahomes was trying to warm up before the game. But, it turns out, Tucker revealed the two-time Super Bowl winner actually went up to ask about the kicker’s helmet.
“I saw Patrick there trying to warm up and get some dropbacks. He asked me while I was on the ground stretching if I could move my helmet,” Tucker said. “I happily got up, and I moved my helmet out of the way — at least, I thought it was enough out of the way.”
But along came Mahomes’ go-to target, who was less cordial, per Tucker’s words.
“And then Travis comes over and just kicks my stuff, throws my helmet. I thought it was all just some gamesmanship, all in good fun, but he seemed to be taking it a little more seriously,” Tucker said.
Justin Tucker elaborates on pre game incident with @tkelce & @PatrickMahomes #Ravens pic.twitter.com/rrIsjWyvSl
— Jerry Coleman (@sportswcoleman) January 29, 2024
Tucker added, “For those that don’t know, the way it works is each team’s kicker goes to the other team’s designated warmup area on the field. For me, it’s usually 90 mins before kickoff.”
Did Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce Have a Backer for Their Actions?
Several social media users berated Mahomes and Kelce through their keyboard for their actions toward Tucker.
But while many took Tucker’s side and called the Chiefs duo words like “classless” and “spoiled,” one former rival of Kansas City instead took the side of both Chiefs.
MORE: Super Bowl 58 Early Preview
Former NFL offensive guard Rich Ohrnberger, who played for the San Diego Chargers from 2013 to 2014 and is now a radio personality/TV analyst, believed that Tucker was the one in the wrong.
“Justin Tucker set up on the Chiefs side of the field. Kickers have been doing this on purpose for years, trying to irritate,” Ohrnberger posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Ohrnberger played from 2009 to 2014 with the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals before finishing his career with the Bolts. Again, he believes Mahomes and Kelce did nothing wrong — as he saw it as a kicker trying to get on the bad side of the other team.
“Kelce and Mahomes did the right thing tossing his gear… should have tossed it further. Play stupid games, earn stupid prizes,” Ohrnberger said.
Tucker, meanwhile, denied that he was out there trying to be “problematic,” adding, “I’m just trying to get ready for a football game like they are.”
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!