Travis Kelce has lifted the lid on his post-game conversation with Bill Belichick, when the pair were seen speaking on the field following the Chiefs’ victory against the Patriots.
Cameras caught Belichick sharing a warm embrace with the Kansas City tight end at the end of the Chiefs’ 27-17 victory at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
The precise details of their conversation were unclear but on Wednesday, during the latest episode of New Heights, Kelce discussed with his brother Jason what he told the six-time Super Bowl winning head coach – and why.
‘I just mentioned how much I respect him and how it’s always the biggest challenge I go up against in the National Football League, going up against one of his defenses,’ Kelce said.
‘I just wanted to make sure he heard that from my mouth, because it’s been a pleasure going up against him all these years.’
With the Patriots now 3-11 after defeat by the Chiefs, the future of 71-year-old Belichick as head coach beyond the end of this season is unclear.
‘I got asked after the game: did I feel it was going to be the last time or anything like that? And honestly I was just going up to him to pay respect,’ Kelce continued.
‘The 10 years I’ve been going up against him, how much I appreciate the challenge every single time – hats off to him for always being that great.’
The tight end reiterated comments he made after the game, when he suggested Belichick’s time at the top is not over.
‘They asked me if it’s the last (time), I was just like: “I don’t know”‘ Kelce said.
‘It might not be here, whatever situation is going on here, this might not be it, but this guy’s got some football left in him.’
Eagles center Jason also heaped praise on Belichick, who has been in charge of the Patriots since 2000.
‘I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know this: he’s one of the best football coaches of all-time. He’s right up there with all of them.
‘I don’t think people truly, truly realize how good he is as a coach, he smart he is, how creative he is, how detailed those defenses are.’
Travis added: ‘How good of a leader he is… the intangibles, you know what I mean?’
And then his brother continued: ‘He gets the best out of everybody that plays for him… he’s such a phenomenal coach, it’s weird hearing things that are being said. It’s hard to imagine a guy of that stature not being coveted by anybody in the NFL.’
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