Here’s Andy Reid’s reaction to the Travis Kelce-Teair Tart altercation in Brazil
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Andy Reid questioned officials’ decision not to eject Teair Tart for a slap.
- Tart received a penalty but stayed in the game and deflected two late passes.
- NFL rule allows ejection for flagrant fouls, even with an open-hand strike.
Count Chiefs Andy Reid among those who don’t know why the open-handed slap by the L.A. Chargers’ Teair Tart to the head of KC tight end Travis Kelce wasn’t ejection-worthy.
The moment occurred during Friday night’s season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“Yeah, I don’t understand that,” Reid said Monday. “He definitely got hit in the head pretty hard, whether it was an open or closed fist.”
The altercation happened with about eight minutes remaining in the third quarter of the game. Tart was hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty.
On the broadcast, former NFL referee Terry McAulay said Tart wasn’t ejected because he used an open hand instead of a closed fist. But referees are also allowed to disqualify a player when the foul is particularly flagrant.
The previous night, Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter was ejected from his game against the Dallas Cowboys for spitting on an opposing player.
Tart remained in the game and came up with two big plays, deflecting a pair of passes by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes — including one on a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game 20-20. The Chargers won 27-21.
Reid said he would “work that out with the league,” when asked if he’ll seek further explanation. But he wouldn’t comment further.
Tart, meanwhile, doubled down, posting on his Instagram account: “I’m too swift even in Brazil,” in an apparent reference to Kelce’s finance, Taylor Swift.
This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM.