There was no shortage of fireworks before the Kansas City Chiefs’ matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Sunday’s AFC title game. But an equipment incident involving Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce stands out the most.
During warmups, Mahomes and Kelce kept tossing Tucker’s kicking equipment as they tried to get settled in their end zone. At an initial glance, it wasn’t clear who was technically “right,” but it sure seemed like the Chiefs were getting in on a little bit of gamesmanship. As Tucker would explain on Monday, he apparently did nothing out of the ordinary to instigate any antics with Mahomes and Kelce. Tucker clarified that he’s been warming up in the opposing end zone for his entire 12-year career, just like every NFL kicker does, because it’s a good idea to gauge conditions while kicking from both ends of a stadium.
Tucker maintained that he tried to stay out of Mahomes and Kelce’s way, and they even spoke and had an agreement on whose space was whose. It is then that Mahomes and Kelce tossed around Tucker’s equipment regardless, per the kicker.
Justin Tucker addressed the pregame incident with Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce. He explained that kickers around the league always warm up in the opposite end zone. And that is what he has done for 12 years. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/3SIsYO6vk6
— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) January 29, 2024
If true, this isn’t necessarily the biggest deal, especially before the heat of competition of an NFL game. But it does make Mahomes and Kelce look pretty petty for trying to throw off a kicker that was just minding his own business.
