Travis Kelce apologizes for his “Outburst by throwing away his helmet” during the Chiefs game

As a leader on this team that’s not how you switch momentum,” he noted during an episode of the ‘New Heights’ podcast.

Travis Kelce is opening up about the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day, and his emotional sideline outburst during the game.

The tight end spoke about the game, which his team lost to the Raiders 20-14, during a new episode of the New Heights podcast.

“We handed that team a win on Christmas. We literally played Santa and gave them a present,” Kelce said. “That was embarrassing … It’s frustrating when you know you got the guys and you got everybody that you need and things just aren’t going your way.”

In the first half of their Christmas game, the Chiefs managed to secure only 121 total offensive yards and were trailing the Raiders 17–7, causing some fans to boo from the stands. After throwing his helmet to the ground, Kelce was seen talking to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

During a post-game interview, Reid noted that “things happen” during an “emotional game,” but maintained that Kelce “went back in and did a nice job.”

“He (Reid) is looking out for me and I love him for it,” Kelce responded during the podcast. However, he disagreed with the coach’s kind words about his performance.

“I didn’t go back out there and play good,” he continued. “He wanted to see the fire in me and I reacted in a bad way. He wanted to get the best out of me and right now I’m just not playing my best football.”

Kelce added, “I gotta f—— lock the f— in and be more accountable for him and be more accountable for my teammates,” he continued. “I gotta keep my f—— cool, man, ’cause as a leader on this team, that’s not how you switch the momentum.”

Despite losing the game, Kelce managed to record his 900th career catch while facing off against the Raiders, an accolade that his brother, Jason Kelce, reminded him of during the podcast episode.

Kelce’s Christmas Day face-off against the Raiders was also attended by his father, Ed Kelce, as well as his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, and her parents, Scott and Andrea Swift.

The Chiefs will face the Cincinnati Bengals in a home game at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 31.