The Kansas City Chiefs might have been frustrated during Sunday’s game versus the New York Giants, as the AFC giant chased its first 2025 season win. The Chiefs were 0-2 entering the game, the first time since 2014 they’ve begun a season with two straight losses. That frustration with the early stages of the season was clear from the bench.

The head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and tight end Travis Kelce were spotted exchanging words during Sunday’s game. In fact, Andy Reid almost threw a shoulder at the TE. The incident took place before halftime when the Chiefs were up by a slim 9-6 margin. It was a familiar sight.

”Andy Reid and Travis Kelce… we have seen them before kind of getting heated there, but you can sense the frustration there,” noted an NBC commentator. Andy Reid, however, did his best to downplay it.

“That’s okay, we need some juice, so that’s good,” he told NBC at halftime, when asked what his message to the team was, speaking about the competitiveness he demands out of his players and the shot of adrenaline on the field.

Reid approached Kelce after kicker Harrison Butker had a 40-yard field goal attempt and looked visibly upset, gesturing to the subpar performance.

The clash happened as a result of the build up from the previous two games. The tight end had only caught two of four opportunities for four yards, and his play was hurting the Chiefs’ ability to keep drives going and score when opportunities arose. 

This is not simply personal rage but the reaction of the Chiefs’ overall performance. As a Super Bowl contender, Kansas City has been hammered repeatedly by suspensions, injuries, and the occasional blunder.

And this season has not been good for Travis so far. In Week 1, against the Chargers, he dislocated Xavier Worthy’s shoulder. In Week 2, against the Eagles, he dropped a touchdown pass that later became an interception.

Already without suspended wide receiver Rashee Rice, Reid and coaches require veteran grinders such as Kelce to come through and be consistent, providing the needed juice to the team.

Travis Kelce’s past meltdowns

Kelce’s sideline temper is nothing new. Way back in 2024, Super Bowl he engaged in a chest-to-chest confrontation with Reid that looked eerily similar to this exchange on the field today.

Week 2 of the 2025 season against the Eagles saw Kelce’s fury finally boil over when his fumble catch  resulted in an interception and subsequent Eagles touchdown. He was seen slamming his helmet and screaming, “I’m sick of this s–t.” 

However, Reid went on to defend Kelce, stating, “Listen, he’s trying to get guys fired up and going. You know, I mean, that’s him. He’s that way every week if you keep an eye on him. So he’s all in all the time. That’s the way he was today.“

In 2023, against the Raiders, he tossed his helmet onto the field during frustration plays on offense. Reid stuck with him then as well, commenting that Kelce performed well, demonstrating a pattern of passion being directed to drive the team forward.

Reid’s comment today suggests two things:

The Chiefs’ offense, spearheaded by veteran players such as Kelce and powered by Reid’s play sheet, will need to convert sideline emotion onto the field for victory in an attempt to reverse their season record.