Travis Kelce Didn’t Hold Back on 49ers Over Stunning OT Coin Flip Decision
The Chiefs’ standout tight end provided a blunt opinion on the matter.
Did Kyle Shanahan choose wrong? Travis Kelce certainly thinks so.
The veteran tight end was the latest Kansas City Chiefs player to rip the San Francisco 49ers coach for choosing to receive the ball in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII.
In the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis told his brother, Jason Kelce, that the 49ers essentially handed their advantage from winning the overtime coin flip to the Chiefs. Kansas City would take it and run, ultimately winning the game, 25—22, to clinch the team’s third Super Bowl title in the past five years.
“You win the coin toss, that’s what you get, you get the opportunity to have the advantage, and they handed it right over to us,” Kelce said in Wednesday’s episode of the podcast. “Not trying to harp on the guy, but … like, they said they wanted to receive, and the ref looked at Fred [Warner] and said, ‘Are you sure? Are you sure you want to receive?’ And he said, ‘Yeah.’”
Travis Kelce couldn't believe the #49ers took the ball to start overtime.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 14, 2024
"You win the coin toss, you get the opportunity to have the advantage ... and they handed it right to us."
(via @newheightshow)pic.twitter.com/GbYtArwSqj https://t.co/weOIqlZ1if
Kelce’s comments echo those of Chiefs teammate Chris Jones and can be added to the growing archive of criticism directed toward Shanahan.
Shanahan has since doubled down on his decision, saying he “wanted the ball third,” but Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense never gave the 49ers the chance.
“We get second possession. We know exactly what they want,” Travis Kelce said. “Defense, hold ’em. Just hold ’em to three. We’re going to go down here and win this thing baby.”
And that’s exactly what Kansas City did.