bv. Jason Kelce Calls Out the Bills and Urges the NFL to Review Player Safety Rules After Travis Kelce Takes Repeated Hits — But Head Coach Andy Reid’s Reaction Has Chiefs Nation Smiling and Nodding in Agreement
Kansas City, Missouri – November 3, 2025
NFL fans woke up Tuesday to a wave of strong words from Jason Kelce, the retired All-Pro center and brother of Chiefs star Travis Kelce, after the tight end endured yet another round of brutal hits — this time in Sunday night’s 21–13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Jason’s comments, directed at both the Bills’ defense and the league itself, have reignited the debate about how far physicality in the NFL should go before it crosses the line.
💥 “That’s Not Football — That’s Reckless.”
In an appearance on his New Heights podcast, Jason Kelce didn’t hold back when asked about the hit that left his brother gasping for air late in the second quarter.
“Some of those hits are beyond football,” Jason said firmly. “Travis plays tough, he blocks, he fights through coverage — but that doesn’t give defenders a free pass to take cheap shots. That hit from the Bills wasn’t football — it was reckless.”
He was referring to the collision between Bills safety Cole Bishop and Travis Kelce in the end zone, which knocked the tight end to the turf and sent him briefly to the locker room before halftime.
“If this keeps happening, the league needs to take a real look at what ‘player safety’ actually means,” Jason continued. “You can’t market toughness and family and then turn a blind eye when one of your biggest stars keeps getting blindsided.”
🧠 A Pattern of Dangerous Hits
This isn’t the first time Travis Kelce has absorbed heavy punishment this season. Over the past month, he’s taken multiple late and high hits — some flagged, many not — during games against the Raiders, Broncos, and now the Bills.
Despite the pounding, Kelce continues to play through pain, showcasing the same toughness that’s defined his career.
Jason’s comments come amid growing frustration among players and fans who believe that NFL’s “defenseless receiver” protections are inconsistently enforced, especially for physical tight ends who line up across the line of scrimmage.
🗣️ Chiefs President Responds: “We’ve Sent the Tape to the League.”
Shortly after Jason’s comments went viral, Chiefs president Clark Hunt confirmed the organization has formally submitted film of the play to the NFL for review.
“We stand by our players — always,” Clark said. “The game is built on toughness, but there’s a line. What we saw on Sunday deserves another look. We’ve sent the tape to the league and we expect consistency in how these hits are evaluated.”
Donovan stopped short of criticizing the Bills directly but emphasized the Chiefs’ priority: player safety and fair competition.
⚖️ A Broader Conversation for the NFL
As the story spread across social media, fans and analysts debated whether tight ends like Kelce, who line up in both blocking and receiving roles, are getting enough protection under current NFL rules.
Jason’s comments, while emotional, echoed a larger sentiment among current and former players: that the balance between physicality and safety remains one of the league’s toughest challenges.
Head coach Andy Reid also couldn’t stay silent after the repeated hits aimed at Travis Kelce — though he chose to address it in his trademark humorous way.
“Travis isn’t just our main weapon,” Reid said with a grin. “He’s also the guy keeping the pop charts alive every Sunday. So maybe defenders should remember — when they hit him, they’re also taking a shot at half the music industry.”
The locker room erupted in laughter, but beneath the joke was a clear message: the Chiefs want their star tight end protected — both for what he means to football and, apparently, to pop culture.
The NFL has yet to issue a formal statement, but the message from Kansas City — and from one of football’s most respected voices — couldn’t be clearer: it’s time for the league to draw the line before someone gets seriously hurt.
