Head coach Andy Reid has seen a lot with the Kansas City Chiefs. Championships, controversies, dynasties – all of it. But these days, his biggest opponent might not be on the field. It’s the noise off it. The podcasts. The commercials and viral clips. And coach Reid has the perfect way to deal with all the noise.

 “I think these kids have been raised with this.” Andy Reid told former NFL head coach Mike Tice on The Coach’s Cut. “It’s a different generation than when you played or I played. … you kind of grow with them with it. And they handle it and they handle it easy. It’s something to kind of watch and see how they go about their business. They still go out and work their tail off. Travis, Patrick, they have a lot of opportunities to do things off the field, but they handle it, and I think the other guys see that football’s first.”

This isn’t some old-school coach fighting social media. Reid has evolved. He knows the game’s changed. His players aren’t just athletes anymore; they’re brands. The trick is balance. He gives them the space to be themselves as long as the focus stays sharp when the helmets go on. That “football’s first” mantra perfectly sums up why the Chiefs keep humming through all the chaos.

You can see how it works every week. Travis Kelce might spend weekdays behind a microphone, but come Sunday, he’s still one of the best tight ends in football. Franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes handles national ads, interview tours, manages his wide array of businesses, and still picks defenses apart like it’s backyard ball. For Reid, that’s proof enough that discipline and personality can coexist.

Here’s the thing. His players buy in because they see it working. Andy Reid trusts his captains to set the tone, and they do. That internal culture, that peer accountability, keeps Kansas City’s locker room aligned. Funnily enough, that balance is part of what makes the Chiefs feel modern. They don’t hide from the cameras; they control the story. Players are plugged in, visible, connected. But when the lights flip to game day, the switch is simple: “football’s first.”

And no Chief sits closer to that spotlight than Travis Kelce. The NFL’s most media-savvy player has pulled off yet another crossover. One that exploded across social media before the next snap.

Travis Kelce’s major off-field moment

On Tuesday, October 14, the Kelce brothers announced that Hollywood star Keanu Reeves will join their New Heights podcast, and the viewers lost it. The clip went viral instantly. Jason Kelce’s booming into teased the “6’1 action from Toronto, Canada, New York Times ranks him as the fourth greatest actor of the 21st Century but he’s No. 1 in your heart,” before Keanu’s name dropped and the internet melted.

That short clip has gathered 1.6 million likes since then, and the podcast itself? The episode 160, titled, “Every Chief’s Gotta Eat, NFL Meatheads & Keanu Reeves on Comedy Dangers, Life Advice & More” has already gathered 355K views. 

For a show that’s already featured stars like Brad Pitt, Caitlin Clark, and, of course, Travis’ fiancée Taylor Swift, snagging Reeves was another power move. The teaser showed Reeves joking about the Chiefs and the upcoming Super Bowl. “I think the Chiefs are on a roll right now, big guy,” Travis replied with a grin. Keanu shot back with a fun celebration and joined the hype with a long “Yeeeeaah,” perfectly on brand.

The full episode had everything. Football talk, self-deprecating humor, and a wild story about Keanu’s injury on set.

It’s this mix – sport culture meets Hollywood – that keeps New Heights thriving. And coach Reid? He’s totally fine with it. As long as Kelce’s tape still looks like Kelce’s tape, the podcast mics can stay on. Reid put it perfectly, they’ve grown up in this world. Fame’s part of the job now. But under him, football will continue to stay the king.