Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre called out Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on Thursday morning for his behavior towards head coach Andy Reid during the Super Bowl.
The incident in question occurred early in the second quarter of Sunday’s championship game when Kelce was subbed out after a play where the ball was fumbled away to the San Francisco 49ers. Kelce got in Reid’s face and bumped him before the game resumed.
While Kelce privately apologized to Reid at halftime, both players shrugged off the altercation as a result of competitive emotions. However, public opinion has been much harsher on Kelce, with Favre expressing his disapproval during an interview with Jason Whitlock.
Favre criticized Kelce’s actions, emphasizing the importance of respecting authority figures, especially on the biggest stage of football.
‘Emotions play a big part of it, and sometimes they get the best of you, and that’s what happened there,’ Favre said. ‘… It just was the biggest stage in the football world and he does that to arguably, maybe the greatest coach in history. You just can’t do that.’
Whitlock further suggested that Kelce’s behavior is indicative of a broader trend of diminishing respect for head coaches. The criticism extended to online platforms, with some suggesting that Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, should view his behavior as a red flag.
Favre himself has faced controversy post-retirement, including allegations of misusing public welfare funds for personal projects.
Additional concerns arose after the Super Bowl, with reports of Kelce being too intoxicated to speak at the Chiefs’ championship parade and later seen smiling for a selfie with a local policeman following a fatal shooting at the parade’s conclusion.
