Travis Kelce’s father, Ed, has some serious questions about a tackle that his son faced during a recent game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
In the first quarter, Kelce made an impressive 38-yard catch from Patrick Mahomes, but shortly after, he was taken down by Chargers’ safety AJ Finley.
While Kelce got up celebrating, Ed couldn’t help but wonder if this tackle was a dangerous hip-drop maneuver.
On Monday, Ed shared a clip of that catch on Facebook, asking his followers, “Was this one of those drop-hip tackles?”
It’s a fair question, especially given the growing concerns surrounding this type of play in the NFL.
The League’s Response to Hip-Drop Tackles
The NFL has been proactive about player safety, recently voting unanimously to ban hip-drop tackles ahead of the 2024 season.
After reviewing over 20,000 tackles, the league determined that this technique poses a significantly higher risk for injury—20 times more likely, to be exact.
The league defines a hip-drop tackle as when a player grabs the ball carrier with both arms and drops their hips or lower body, effectively trapping the runner’s legs.
In the play involving Kelce, Finley did wrap his arms around the tight end before both players fell to the ground, appearing to land on the back of Kelce’s left leg.
Looking closely, it’s clear that the situation could have turned serious if luck hadn’t been on Kelce’s side.
The Stakes for Kelce and the Chiefs
Last year, Kelce’s fellow tight end Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens missed two months due to a hip-drop tackle by Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson, which resulted in a fractured fibula and ligament damage.
An injury to Kelce would have been a huge blow for the Kansas City Chiefs, especially since they’re already dealing with other significant player absences.
With Hollywood Brown out for the season and Isaiah Pacheco sidelined for about eight weeks with a leg fracture, Kelce’s health is crucial.
In a timely performance, Kelce showcased his return to form in the Chiefs’ hard-fought 17-10 victory at SoFi Stadium.
The standout moment was his 38-yard reception, which helped him set a franchise record for the most receptions in Chiefs history, reaching a total of 922.
He ended the game with seven catches for 89 yards, surpassing his combined total of eight catches for 69 yards from the first three games of the season.
Support from Taylor Swift and Coach Reid
Interestingly, Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, wasn’t in attendance for this game—marking the second consecutive week she missed cheering him on from the stands.
After the game, Kelce didn’t address reporters in the locker room, but Coach Andy Reid put any fears about his star player’s performance to rest.
“I really don’t care what anybody thinks, to be honest with you,” Reid stated confidently.
“I watch what the defense does and how they respect him. I see how Trav works, how he never wants to come out in practice or during games. He’s all in all the time, so I don’t worry about all that.”
Looking Ahead
As Kelce approaches his 35th birthday on Saturday, October 5, he’s gearing up for his next challenge with the Chiefs—his first Monday night game since his brother Jason retired and took on a role as an ESPN analyst.
What’s next for Kelce and the Chiefs? Fans will be eagerly watching to see how he continues to perform this season.
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