Tom Brady praises Andy Reid, defends Travis Kelce after Super Bowl LVIII outburst
Tom Brady wants everyone to chill on the criticism hurled at Travis Kelce for screaming at Chiefs coach Andy Reid early in the Super Bowl. The photo and video of the pair went viral. But as Brady said, folks might not have the entire context of the exchange.
So let’s go back to early in the Super Bowl, long before Patrick Mahomes worked his overtime magic, back when the 49ers looked to be in control of the game. With about 12 minutes to go before halftime, Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco fumbled at the 49ers 9. San Francisco recovered to keep their lead at 3-0.
Now, flash forward to a sideline scene. Kelce, the Chiefs superstar tight end, bumped into Reid and began bellowing his displeasure at not being on the field for that call. Kelce said to put him in the game and he’d go score.
Tom Brady, who has seven Super Bowl rings in a jewelry box, described it as “family issues,” similar to what you see throughout the NFL.
“There’s always little family issues. Of course, I don’t mind seeing it,” Brady said during this week’s ‘Let’s Go’ podcast. “I was a part of a lot of those things. You’re thinking, emotions are so high. You’re definitely not centered and balanced. (And) you’re not in a meditative state at that point.
“You are fully determined to go after it and to win,” the former Patriots and Bucs quarterback said. “So I think a lot of things that are said during the games, people should just let them fly off their back.”
“It speaks to the self-confidence that Coach Reid has in himself, too, because he doesn’t take that personally at all. He doesn’t look at that and feel like someone offended him. He takes it for what it is and doesn’t make it more than it is and doesn’t see someone’s trying to belittle him. Travis is not trying to do any of those things. He’s just trying to be fired up and stay in the moment.”
Post-Super Bowl, pundits and players argued if Kelce should be disciplined for sideline outburst at Reid
It does appear that both Reid and Kelce let it go. Or to borrow one of Kelce’s girlfriend’s lyrics, shake it off. The still photo closeup of a red-faced Kelce screaming at Reid went viral on social media. So did the video clip. Anything Kelce did Sunday was scrutinized. He knew that coming into the Super Bowl. He was a key player, plus his date, Taylor Swift, could be the most popular singer in the world. And the Swifties also are very active on social media. It made for a perfect storm, or viral swarm, to amplify anything into controversy.
By Monday, the morning after the Super Bowl, pundits argued about Kelce’s discipline. They pondered more potential discipline. But Brady said to give it a rest as he gave props to Reid for the way he dealt with the issue during the game. Kelce led all Super Bowl receivers with nine catches for 93 yards.
“I actually think Coach Reid handled it just awesome like he always does,” Brady said. “He just said, ‘I was a little off-balance and Travis is such a competitor and I just love that because it speaks to his leadership ability.’ Some coaches would get so sensitive and all: ‘You embarrassed me that you did that.’ You’re a competitor, you’re an athlete. You get out there and you have the credibility that Travis has, you’ve had that All-Pro experience and you’ve won Super Bowls, I know certain players that would die [if they] came off the field in those moments.”
Brady continued: “It speaks to the self-confidence that Coach Reid has in himself, too. (Reid) doesn’t take that personally at all. He doesn’t look at that and feel like someone offended him. He takes it for what it is and doesn’t make it more than it is and doesn’t see it like someone’s trying to belittle him. Travis is not trying to do any of those things. He’s just trying to be fired up and stay in the moment.”