Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has made his feelings clear after a young Chiefs fan fell from the stands at Bank of America Stadium in Carolina on Sunday. Kelce joked that the young fan should sue the Panthers following the scary incident, which was narrowly averted thanks to the quick actions of Chiefs defensive end Tershawn Wharton.
The incident occurred at the end of the game as the Chiefs players were leaving the field. Wharton, known for connecting with fans by giving away his gloves, approached a group of Chiefs supporters when a young fan, wearing a Nick Bolton jersey, leaned over to receive the gloves and suddenly lost his balance.
The boy plummeted headfirst over the edge of the stands, but Wharton reacted swiftly, managing to catch the child and help him climb back to safety.
Footage of the incident quickly went viral on social media, showing the young fan waving to the players before the unexpected fall. Kelce himself could be seen in the corner of the frame, but the real hero of the moment was Wharton, whose fast reflexes prevented what could have been a tragic accident.
On the latest episode of his podcast “New Heights,” which he hosts alongside his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, Travis spoke candidly about the situation. “I actually saw this and I just kept it moving. I felt bad after once I found out,” Kelce admitted.
He went on to criticize the stadium’s design, particularly the gap in the railing that seemed to contribute to the dangerous situation. “I don’t know who the brainiac was who cut the railing right there. You see how there’s a little gap? What the f*** is that for?”
Jason chimed in with his trademark humor, saying, “Who knows? Maybe the Panthers are anti-kids.” The brothers shared a laugh, but Travis had a more direct message for the young fan involved. “Dude, he should fing go to school with a neck brace on and sue the fing Panthers. Get rich quick, kid,” Kelce joked.
He also praised Wharton for his quick reaction, adding, “Shoutout to Terk [Wharton] for making sure the little guy was alright. Once I saw Terk was over there, I knew everything was good.”
Wharton himself spoke about the incident during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. He described the rescue as a “natural reaction” and emphasized that his primary concern was the young fan’s safety. “It was a natural reaction. Usually, when I leave a game, I try to throw my gloves into the crowd. I heard my name a little bit and then I saw him coming down,” Wharton explained.
He noted that there were two security guards nearby who didn’t seem to realize what was happening. “I just had to push him into the stands a little bit so he didn’t hit too hard. I kind of grabbed him right by the back of his back and pushed him into the stands a little bit more.”
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Wharton expressed interest in reconnecting with the young fan, adding, “I haven’t [spoken to him], but I would like to reach out to him and get him to a game and be able to reflect with him a bit more if I could.” The 26-year-old defensive end, who joined the Chiefs in 2020 after going undrafted, has been a consistent contributor to Kansas City’s defense and has played in every game for the team this season.
The incident added some unexpected drama to what was already a thrilling game. The Chiefs narrowly defeated the Panthers with a late field goal from Spencer Shrader, securing a 30-27 victory and improving their record to 10-1 for the season.
The win keeps Kansas City firmly in contention as one of the top teams in the league, and their focus now shifts to a quick turnaround as they prepare for a divisional matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday.
Despite the close call, Wharton’s heroics ensured that the young fan was safe, and the Chiefs’ victory provided a happy ending for the team’s supporters.
The Super Bowl-winning Chiefs continue to impress this season, and with leaders like Wharton and Kelce on the field, the team’s resilience and sense of community are clear for all to see.
As the Chiefs gear up for their next challenge, fans will undoubtedly remember this moment not only for the scare but also for the heartwarming act of heroism that helped avert disaster.
