During the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Kelce witnessed a young fan take a tumble from the stands. The boy fell over the railing at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, while leaning out to ask for autographs as the Chiefs made their way to the locker room. Despite seeing the fall, Kelce admitted that he didn’t stop to help, a decision that left him feeling conflicted.
On his “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis opened up about the incident. “I actually saw this, and I just kept on moving,” the tight end confessed during Wednesday’s episode. “I felt bad after.”
Although Kelce didn’t stop, he took comfort in knowing that his teammate Tershawn “Turk” Wharton had stepped in to catch the young fan and prevent any serious injury. “I’m like over to the left … I was like, ‘Oh s—t. You got him, Turk? Hell yeah, Turk’s got him!’” Kelce recalled.
Jason Kelce, who also plays in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, chimed in, jokingly calling Wharton’s heroic effort the “play of the game.” The brothers shared a laugh about the incident, with Travis expressing his relief that the boy was safe, thanks to Wharton’s quick reaction.
The child, who was wearing a Nick Bolton jersey, was visibly excited as he leaned over the railing to interact with his heroes. Fortunately, Wharton was in the right place at the right time, preventing what could have been a nasty fall. The moment became a highlight for the fans in attendance, and Wharton’s instinctive save was praised widely on social media.
Travis couldn’t resist injecting some humor into the situation, suggesting that the young fan could make something of the incident. “I don’t know who the brainiac was that cut the railing there,” the Super Bowl champion quipped, watching a replay of the fall. “What the f—k is the gap for?” He then joked, “He should f—king go to school with a neck brace on and sue the Panthers. Get rich quick, kid.”
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Despite the lighthearted jokes, Travis clearly understood the seriousness of the situation, and his comments were all in good fun, highlighting the importance of fan safety at sporting events.
As for Wharton, the 26-year-old defensive tackle spoke about his heroic catch on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “I would say it was a natural reaction,” Wharton said, describing how he managed to catch the boy. “Usually when I leave a game, I try to throw my gloves in the crowd, and I think I heard my name a little bit, and when I heard my name, I saw him coming down.”
Wharton explained that there were two security guards nearby, but they didn’t seem to realize what was happening. “They were looking at us, but I just had to kind of push him into the stands a little bit to make sure he didn’t hit too hard,” Wharton added, describing his efforts to cushion the young fan’s fall.
Wharton has been a member of the Chiefs since 2020, signing with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri S&T. Since then, he has become a valuable part of the Chiefs’ defense, and he’s been part of the team’s success, including their two Super Bowl victories alongside Travis Kelce.
With another Super Bowl title in their sights, Wharton and the Chiefs are hoping to make it three in a row. For now, though, Wharton’s quick thinking off the field has earned him plenty of respect—and perhaps even a new fan for life in the young boy he saved.
