2/17/24

Jay C. Brandriet

Thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl 58 was a classic.

There was a brief, hard to forget moment in the first half.

After a Kansas City fumble, Travis Kelce flipped out while on the sideline.

He got up in head coach Andy Reid’s space and face, screaming like a mad man.

Coach Reid stumbled.

Travis was escorted away by a teammate.

My initial reaction?

I let out a groan.

It was a bad look and would be an unavoidable talking point.

After the game I checked social media.

I expected Kelce to get roasted a bit, but 90% of the crowd was DESTROYING him.

I watched the moment again.

Coach Andy was knocked off balance a little.

He was looking forward. Head set on. Bumped more than pushed.

It was Reid’s momentary vulnerability that rubbed me the wrong way.

I’m a fan. He’s a cool, relatable guy.

Andy’s a BYU brother of mine.

He’s twice Kelce’s age, and half the size.

He’s also the boss!

PART OF THE BACKLASH MAKES SENSE

You can’t come at your coach with attitude.

It’s not a good example for children to see.

There are certain fundamentals that exist for me.

I would never sass my Grandpa Rogness.

I was goofing off with other kids in church when a priest raised his voice at us. I didn’t talk for a week.

I remember every teacher I’ve had.

Talking to a Judge or a police officer?

It’s “yes sir, yes mam!”

When I’m with someone that has served in our country’s military? There are particular subjects in which I turn the authority over to them. Certain contributions demand certain respect.

I don’t call coach Fields, Scott.

I don’t call coach Chiesa, Gordon.

I call them “coach.”

You see a drunk Mike Tyson?

Keep it simple and refer to him as “champ.”

I’m not lacking sensitivity to the importance of order and boundaries.

VARIABLES

If the Chiefs lost, the story would have been three times louder.

We would not treat every athlete and coach combo the same in this exact scenario.

STARS ARE SLIGHTY DIFFERENT

Lawrence Taylor strolled into a team meeting about ten minutes late.

Bill Belichick wanted to let Bill Parcells know about it.

Parcells response?

“Ya, ok. Why’d ya start the meeting before he got there?”

Jimmy Johnson cut a guy for sleeping in a film session.

When asked what he would have done if it was Troy Aikman napping?

“That’s easy. I’d go over gently and say, Troy wake up.”

Travis Kelce has more playoff catches than Jerry Rice.

He’s going to get some advantages whether you like it or not.

Those that were suggesting he “be benched” in the Super Bowl for that??

You are a casual fan or were cheering against the Chiefs.

THE UNFAIR PART OF THE CHATTER

I hear fans saying, “If I got in my bosses face, I’d be gone.”

You and I both.

A youth baseball coach told me how “disrespectful” it was.

The difference?

Andy Reid and Travis Kelce are the best on earth at what they do.

They have won and lost WORLD TITLES together.

They are family!

Both are vital characters on a television show worth BILLIONS.

The two men share celebrity, daily criticism, and unique pressure.

You do your job in an office.

They live out their cutthroat lives in front of the largest audiences in television history.

This puts their “coping boundaries” in a place most of us can’t comprehend.

Buddy Ryan once punched an offensive coordinator.

Bill Cowher shoved a piece of paper with a missed call on it, in a ref’s pocket.

Coaches cross lines with players.

What really happened last Sunday?

Kelce thought he could do more to help his team.

He was trying to cement a dynasty.

The dude has music royalty in the stands he’s trying to impress.

The Niners were balling, and Travis felt the pressure.

He yelled loudly and got too close to a man he loves.

NFL players are putting their actual lives on the line.

It gets tense out there.

Relax y’all!

Jay C. Brandriet